Cody Rhodes
One of the most important wrestlers in the last decade. From his role in helping AEW be the alternate promotion, to the role he played in WWE’s boom period when he made his return to the company. Cody also did something that was non existent at times, helped bring back the white meat babyface in mainstream wrestling again. While he can be a bit too company guy at times, more times than not he’s just being himself. Does a great job combining old school and modern day elements into his presentation and how he approaches wrestling, has shown to be very adaptable with who he wrestles, throws a great working punch, underrated brawler, and does a great job of displaying what pro wrestling is all about to the core, even while being super ambitious at times depending on the context of the match he’s working. He does a great job of crafting different matches to specific opponents while factoring in heel/face dynamics and changing approach and structures depending on these elements by actually focusing on the goal of each match within a story. Details matter.
Recommended matches in no order
Any of his tag matches involving his brother from 2013-2014. The Battleground tag is the one that’s received a lot of praised over the years and rightfully so, but they also have a bunch of sick tag matches on raw, smackdown, some other ppvs, and even on main event.
Vs Roman Reigns, Wrestlemania 39 and 40
Vs Aj Styles Backalsh 2024, Clash at the Castle 2024
Vs Seth Rollins Hell in a Cell 2022, Wrestlemania 38, and Wrestlemania Backlash
Vs Brodie Lee Dog Collar match, AEW Dynamite (sick squash match/angle)
Vs Kevin Owens Royal Rumble 2025, Bash in Berlin 2024
Vs Eddie Kingston AEW Dynamite 2020
Vs Solo Sikoa Smackdown 2024 (September 13)
Vs Darby Allin Full gear 2020, AEW homecoming 2020, AEW Fyter Fest 2019. Their series of matches is extremely underrated in AEW lore
Vs Gunther Crown Jewel 2024
Vs Chad Gable Smackdown 2024
Vs Chris Jericho Full Gear 2019
Vs Shane Strickland DEFY1 Legacy 2017
Vs Kurt Angle Steel Cage Match NEW Wrestlefest XXI
Vs Wardlow AEW Dynamite 2020
Vs Kyle O’Reilly DEFY4 Gigantic 2017
Vs Dustin AEW DON 2019
Vs Brock Lesnar Summerslam 2023, Night of Champions 2023, Backlash 2023
Vs Lance Archer AEW DON 2020
Vs Jay Lethal ROH Supercard Of Honor XI
Vs John Cena Summerslam 2025
Vs Rey Mysterio Wrestlemania 27, Extreme Rules 2011
Vs Christian No Way Out 2012
Vs Kenny Omega vs Kota Ibushi NJPW King Of Pro-Wrestling 2018
Vs Nick Aldis NWA 70th Anniversary Show
Vs the Golden Lovers ROH/NJPW Honor Rising: Japan 2018
Vs Sammy Guevara AEW Dynamite Beach Break 2022
Vs Logan Paul (yeah I know) WWE Queen And King Of The Ring 2024
with Hangman vs the Golden Lovers NJPW Sakura Genesis 2018
with Dusty Rhodes and Goldust vs Curt Hawkins and The Dudebusters
Vs Will Ospreay ROH/NJPW War Of The Worlds 2017
Vs Drew McIntyre RAW 2024, Smackdown 2026
There’s a bunch more stuff from his Indy run, his short time in TNA, New Japan, AEW, and even WWE but I have already said too much. I’m aware he’s been nominated already but I wanted to add more matches to highlight what he’s done.
