Cody Rhodes
A wrestler who bet on himself, left a corporate giant to help start a rival, and returned to complete a story his father began.
Born 1985 (age 41)·American professional wrestler·Birthday: June 30·Millennials
Biography
Cody Rhodes was born into wrestling royalty as the son of the 'American Dream' Dusty Rhodes, but his early career was defined by a struggle to escape his father's shadow. In WWE, he was often cast in cartoonish roles, from a mustachioed dandy to a face-painted villain. His real breakthrough came when he left the company in 2016, embarking on a global tour that reinvented him as a top-tier star. That journey culminated in 2019 when he became a founding executive and cornerstone performer of All Elite Wrestling, a move that fundamentally reshaped the industry's landscape. His 2022 return to WWE wasn't a simple homecoming; it was the final act of a personal odyssey, culminating in a historic WrestleMania victory to claim the championship that had eluded his father, a moment that resonated as both triumph and tribute.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Cody was born in 1985, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Cody Was Born
The biggest hits of 1985
#1 Movie
Back to the Future
Best Picture
Out of Africa
#1 TV Show
Dynasty
Cody's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1985Born
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1990Started school
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1998Became a teenager
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Could drive
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2003Could vote
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Turned 21
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2015Turned 30
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 40
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 41 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40, a title his father Dusty Rhodes never held.
- Co-founded All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in 2019, serving as an Executive Vice President and top star.
- Became the first Grand Slam Champion of the modern era in Ring of Honor.
- Won the WWE Intercontinental Championship twice, including a reign where he successfully defended the title every week on television.
Did You Know?
He is an avid comic book collector and has a tattoo of the Green Lantern symbol.
He wrote and published a 200-page manifesto detailing his wrestling philosophy before starting AEW.
He is married to brand strategist and television personality Brandi Rhodes.
He once wrestled in a match with a torn pectoral muscle, an injury visibly evident during his entrance.
“Finish the story.”
