Written by: Jacob Nevis
Everyone has a favorite athlete. That athlete could be a football player, a baseball player or even a bowler (shoutout to Pete Weber). But what if I said that my favorite athlete is a professional wrestler? A wrestler by the name of Cody Rhodes. A man who is one of the most inspirational and kindest athletes in the world.
Rhodes is currently signed to the World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., or WWE. His father, Dusty Rhodes, wrestled for WWE in his early days, as well. Cody Rhodes made his debut with WWE in 2007 and stayed with the company till 2016, when he moved to the indie wrestling shows after feeling he was no longer wanted in WWE.
In 2022, Rhodes returned to WWE, where he was revealed as the mystery opponent for Seth “Freakin” Rollins at WrestleMania 38. Some fans saw the return of Rhodes to the WWE as the prodigal son finally returning home.
That same year, wrestling fans would see something that is unheard of in the sport. Rhodes would tear his pectoral muscle while training for the Hell in a Cell match against Rollins and wrestle in that event, despite suffering such a serious injury.
Rhodes wrestled for WWE at the Royal Rumble in 2023 and appeared in the main event for WWE’s flagship show, where he would lose to the WWE universal champion Roman Reigns.
Now Rhodes continues his uphill climb in WWE as a main eventer.
So why is Cody Rhodes my athlete? Well, for one, his grit and determination are an example for us all. I could never imagine participating in a wrestling match with a torn pec. Rhodes knew that people had come to see him perform that day, so he made sure he gave them their show.
Second, Rhodes always puts the fans first. At events for WWE, he has been known to stick around long after the shows are completed to make sure every fan who wants an autograph gets an autograph.
Whenever I see Rhodes on television, I know the smile he has on his face is genuine. Even though wrestlers have personas they are playing, Rhodes’ persona is really just his personality. He makes sure that all of the fans who see him have a smile on their faces.
Well, you can say what you like about professional wrestling — just know that most wrestlers are some of the most genuine human beings, and they love what they do. Cody Rhodes will always be an inspiration to me, and I am very glad I am a wrestling fan to get to enjoy that.
Editor’s Note: If you want to know more about Cody Rhodes, watch the documentary on Peacock titled “American Nightmare: Becoming Cody Rhodes.”
