Cody Rhodes Honors Father’s Legacy at Madison Square Garden

One big thing: Cody Rhodes recreates father’s iconic moment

Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes paid tribute to his late father, Dusty Rhodes, at Madison Square Garden after “WWE SmackDown” went off the air last Friday.

• Rhodes retold the story of Dusty’s 1977 WWWF Heavyweight Championship victory over Superstar Billy Graham.
• He revealed the original 1977 championship belt.
• Rhodes raised the title in the same corner where Dusty celebrated his win.

Why it matters

This moment connects wrestling’s past and present, highlighting the Rhodes family’s enduring legacy in professional wrestling.

Cody’s perspective

Speaking on “The Pivot Podcast,” Rhodes shared:

• “Truthfully at eight years old that was my goal, my goal was to do what I did last night.”
• “I often get emotional on the microphone, there’s a good chunk of wrestling fans, that is not what they are tuning in for.”
• “He loved the Garden and the Garden was really good to Dusty and they didn’t have to be.”

The bigger picture

This tribute showcases WWE’s ability to weave personal narratives and wrestling history into their current storylines, enhancing fan engagement.

By the numbers

• 46 years: Time elapsed between Dusty’s MSG moment and Cody’s tribute.
• 2: Generations of Rhodes family members to hold major world championships in WWE.

What’s next

As Undisputed WWE Champion, Cody Rhodes is set to lead the company into a new era, building on his family’s rich wrestling heritage.

How do you think Cody Rhodes’ tribute to his father will impact his current championship run? Share your thoughts in the comments below.