WWE News: Cody Rhodes Issues Lengthy Statement On WWE Departure
After a series of rumors regarding Cody Rhodes’ status with WWE, the company officially announced that the third-generation grappler has been released from the company. With the release comes the end of a successful, decade-long career within the WWE system.
Instead of going the route of several other wrestlers, appearing on a shoot-style program or a podcast to vent his frustrations, Rhodes issued a statement about his departure on his personal Twitter account.
My one&only statement on the matter. No podcasts or tell-all nonsense.
Thank you friends. pic.twitter.com/c5MNKw6spH
— Hyrule Husky (@PrinceCGR) May 22, 2016
Rhodes, 30, begins his statement saying that he had a moment of clarity at the last Monday Night RAW taping at the Greensborough Coliseum. He mentions not being used on the show and sitting backstage while “watching a monitor advertising a returning star and kicking open by tumi gear bag to find an outfit I had long outgrown and a face paint kit.”
Triple H and Vince McMahon are mentioned and spoken about fondly. Rhodes says both men provided with him interesting challenges and characters throughout his stint in WWE. While WWE compensated Rhodes well during his time, he says that he spent the past decade trying to convince the company that he could be the WWE champion — something his father, “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes never achieved. However, after all this time, he came to the realization that the WWE does not view him that way.
Spending the past two years as Stardust, an obvious spoof of his real-life brother Goldust’s gimmick, Rhodes says he pitched all the head writers in the WWE constantly about reverting back to his real name. Yet, it all brought him back to a recent comment from Triple H when the two last spoke.
“WWE is a play, and everybody has their role and needs to act it their best.”
However, in Rhodes’ mind, “the best actors don’t settle for lesser roles.” With a lengthy stint as Stardust under his belt, Rhodes pitched both the leader writer of RAW and SmackDown about a gimmick change. However, the Marietta, Georgia, native said that one writer was too busy acting like former WWE creative writer Brian Gewirtz and the other was too busy “hitting on developmental divas” to care about much else.
.@WWE has come to terms on the release of Cody Rhodes as of today, May 22, 2016. https://t.co/E5jQtOWlbO pic.twitter.com/jI1w4bS6p6
— WWE (@WWE) May 22, 2016
Rhodes went on to say that both writers ignored a litany of phone calls, e-mails, and pretended to busy in front of powered off laptops during face-to-face meetings. Still, he said that he tried to make the best of any situation, including ideas such as “paint up like your brother,” an obvious knock on the Stardust gimmick.
With all that time spent trying to convince others, Rhodes decided that he’s done trying to prove himself; especially since he has done so on several occasions. He also does not want a free pass because of his family lineage.
“I realized that blood is thicker than paint, that I know who I am and what I’m capable of…I’m not Dusty Rhodes. I’m Cody Rhodes. I’m a pro wrestler. I’m proud of that.”
In his conclusion, Rhodes thanked several WWE talents, including Cesaro, Zack Ryder, Tyler Breeze, Kevin Owens, Luke Harper, Kofi Kingston, and Tye Dillinger. In addition to those names, Rhodes thanked both critics and fans alike, stating that they motivate him to become a better performer. In regards to his future, Rhodes said he’s a wrestler and will do just that — wrestle.
After a decade-long WWE career, Rhodes leaves as a six-time WWE Tag Team champion with four different partners (Hardcore Holly, Ted DiBiase, Jr., Goldust, and Drew McIntyre). He is also a two-time Intercontinental champion and Slammy award-winner.
[Featured Image via WWE]
