Cody Rhodes wants to surpass his father Dusty Rhodes’ WWE Legacy

Cody Rhodes, known as “The American Nightmare,” is determined to create his own legacy in the world of professional wrestling, separate from the shadow of his late father, Dusty Rhodes. In a recent interview with ESPN Radio, Cody openly discussed his aspirations to surpass his father’s achievements while honoring his memory.

Cody acknowledged the common struggle faced by second or third-generation wrestlers who constantly face comparisons to their famous family members. He emphasized that although the desire to honor their parents is inherent, they also strive to exceed their predecessors in a positive way. 

Cody Rhodes want to surpass late father Dusty Rhodes’ WWE legacy

For Cody, reaching his father’s accomplishments means taking his own career to new heights and achieving things that Dusty didn’t have the opportunity to do. 

He said:

“Well, I think a bit secret that there is when it comes to second or third-generation wrestlers, honesty this trickles down to any athlete, that your parent came before you and did something great. It’s a thing you don’t always say is, ‘Yeah, I want to honor them. I want to honor my mom or my dad,’ but also, you want to be better than they were, and not in a negative way. You want to take it a step further. For me, winning the Royal Rumble you mentioned, my dad passed away in 2015, and it’s so unique that he’s not able to really see it, but I feel like he’s still here with me.”

Winning the Royal Rumble, an event that his father couldn’t witness as he passed away in 2015, holds special significance for Cody. Despite Dusty’s absence, Cody believes his father’s spirit is still with him. Cody expressed his gratitude and acknowledged his luck and blessings for accomplishing feats that his father hadn’t achieved. However, he also mentioned that he is still hungry for more success and is constantly searching for new opportunities.

While Cody Rhodes has already achieved notable victories, such as his recent win against Dominik Mysterio at Money In The Bank, he still aims to climb higher and challenge Roman Reigns for the WWE Championship. Cody is determined to forge his own path and establish a unique legacy in the wrestling business, separate from the shadows of his father and brother.

The constant comparison to his father has challenged Cody to find his identity in the wrestling industry. However, his drive to surpass his father’s achievements while paying homage to his legacy fuels his determination to carve out his own successful career.