Cody Rhodes on His In-Ring Wrestling Career Future, The “Irony” of Him Being The Face of WWE, & Him Being Proud How He Handled WrestleMania 42

A recent episode of The Ariel Helwani Show featured Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Rhodes’ thoughts about the future of his in-ring wrestling career.

“I do think it does take a toll, at a certain point and I don’t think in 10 years I’ll still be going. I think there will be another QB1 of WWE at that point.”

Rhodes also gave his thoughts about if he currently feels he will be done wrestling in 10 years.

“As far as in-ring competition and I don’t think that’s breaking news to anyone. Turning 41 in a week and I feel the best I’ve ever felt as an athlete, but I do think in 10 years, I will no longer be wrestling bell to bell. No.”

Rhodes also gave his thoughts about how long in length he would want to sign a potential new contract.

“I think five years would be a, you know… Five years sounds good. Like, if I was to sign a new contract, maybe it would be for five years.”

Rhodes also gave his thoughts about how the face of WWE is whoever each individual fan decides it is.

“Whoever you deem the face of WWE is the face of WWE, and the beautiful thing now is the candidates are more than two, maybe even more than five.”

Rhodes also gave his thoughts about who he currently considers the face of WWE to be.

“I’m gonna go ahead and say it on your show, as somebody who’s played darts with you before, I am the face of WWE.”

Rhodes also gave his thoughts about the irony of being in that position considering his family history and his decision to leave WWE in 2016.

“I know that there are times when it’s so ironic to me, particularly my family having fought against WWE with Jim Crockett Promotions, my own personal journey about leaving and coming back. There’s such an irony in even being WWE Champion for the better part of the last two years.”

Rhodes also gave his thoughts about how there are numerous options for who is currently the face of WWE including Roman Reigns, Rhea Ripley, CM Punk, and Liv Morgan.

“I think you’re safe if you say Roman Reigns is. You’re safe if you say Rhea Ripley is. If you say CM Punk is, Liv Morgan, if you say those names, those seem to be safe names. WWE is in really great hands right now because the roster is so experienced and so connected with our audience.”

Rhodes also gave his thoughts about how he is proud of how he handled himself behind the scenes for this past April’s WrestleMania 42 event.

“I hope that wrestling fans can understand that behind the scenes, for me, it was probably the most proud I’d ever been of how I dealt with anything. It was probably the most calm I’d ever been on the day, and probably even though my eye was shot, afterwards, it was probably the most calm I’d ever been leaving the ring. Because there were a lot of new factors. Companies change, directives change. That’s part of every walk of life, every type of entertainment and I really just wanted to take a page out of the guys who had been mentors for me. I thought a lot about my dad and I thought a lot about Hunter, and how they would deal with something that was unique. You’re wrestling the guy you’ve got almost 20 years of history with but then there’s this unbelievably bold Pat McAfee character with such a crossover appeal and doing so great on ESPN and then there’s Jelly Roll who’s just coming off winning these Grammys. I just wanted to make it work for the night, and for everyone to feel that we had given them our best efforts. Looking back at it, I may be thinking too internally about it, but internally, I was so proud, because, you know, you’re dealing with a lot of big names and potentially a lot of big egos and I wanted to do right, again, by the people who raised me in the business and hey, I’m gonna make this work, and not just make it work. I’m gonna make it sing if I can.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com 1 & 2, F4WOnline.com