1 00:00:08,551 --> 00:00:11,179 [soft dramatic music] 2 00:00:11,220 --> 00:00:13,139 - WrestleMania 39-- 3 00:00:13,181 --> 00:00:17,602 it's the biggest thing anyone in my family has ever done. 4 00:00:17,643 --> 00:00:20,563 I'm living the first dream I ever had, 5 00:00:20,605 --> 00:00:24,275 and part of that is terrifying. 6 00:00:26,110 --> 00:00:33,242 * * 7 00:00:38,748 --> 00:00:41,626 - If your father came before you 8 00:00:41,667 --> 00:00:44,879 and was a huge star, like Dusty Rhodes was... 9 00:00:44,921 --> 00:00:49,008 - Get a dream, hold on to it, and shoot for the sky! 10 00:00:49,050 --> 00:00:52,261 - To fill those shoes 11 00:00:52,303 --> 00:00:54,263 is practically impossible. 12 00:00:54,305 --> 00:00:59,811 * * 13 00:00:59,852 --> 00:01:02,021 - You're already behind the eight ball 14 00:01:02,063 --> 00:01:04,607 in trying to live up to the expectations people put on you 15 00:01:04,649 --> 00:01:06,067 just because of your last name. 16 00:01:06,109 --> 00:01:08,403 - When your dad is on the sports entertainment 17 00:01:08,444 --> 00:01:09,779 Mount Rushmore, 18 00:01:09,821 --> 00:01:11,447 you have to do everything in your power 19 00:01:11,489 --> 00:01:13,699 to get their mind off of him 20 00:01:13,741 --> 00:01:15,701 and get everything centered on you. 21 00:01:15,743 --> 00:01:18,079 * * 22 00:01:18,121 --> 00:01:19,455 - Stardust? 23 00:01:19,497 --> 00:01:21,332 - Don't know what quite to make of this. 24 00:01:21,374 --> 00:01:22,792 - [laughs maniacally] 25 00:01:22,834 --> 00:01:25,712 - I felt pain for him through that period. 26 00:01:25,753 --> 00:01:27,255 - Maddening. 27 00:01:27,296 --> 00:01:29,298 [bleep] maddening. 28 00:01:29,340 --> 00:01:31,384 - Frustration really sets in with Cody 29 00:01:31,426 --> 00:01:33,136 more than anything I've ever done. 30 00:01:33,177 --> 00:01:35,638 I see how talented he is. 31 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:37,515 What are they not seeing here? 32 00:01:37,557 --> 00:01:40,435 - I knew I had... 33 00:01:40,476 --> 00:01:42,478 to get out. 34 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:45,940 - He went off into the unknown for him. 35 00:01:45,982 --> 00:01:51,070 - This business is all about betting on yourself. 36 00:01:51,112 --> 00:01:54,490 all: [chanting] Cody, Cody, Cody! 37 00:01:54,532 --> 00:01:58,828 - Cody went from being in WWE... 38 00:01:58,870 --> 00:02:01,372 to being the star 39 00:02:01,414 --> 00:02:04,542 of every single other promotion out there. 40 00:02:04,584 --> 00:02:06,878 - Vince McMahon flew to his house to get him back. 41 00:02:06,919 --> 00:02:09,505 I don't know how many people can say they did that. 42 00:02:09,547 --> 00:02:14,343 - From undesirable to undeniable! 43 00:02:14,385 --> 00:02:16,345 - In wrestling, things can change... 44 00:02:16,387 --> 00:02:17,597 [snaps fingers] Like that. 45 00:02:17,638 --> 00:02:20,016 - Cody tore his pec. 46 00:02:20,058 --> 00:02:23,311 Then you have the uncertainty about coming back. 47 00:02:23,352 --> 00:02:26,314 * * 48 00:02:26,355 --> 00:02:28,357 - He did have a chip on his shoulder 49 00:02:28,399 --> 00:02:30,151 because he had a lot to prove. 50 00:02:30,193 --> 00:02:32,862 - The American Nightmare is here! 51 00:02:32,904 --> 00:02:36,741 - Believing in himself-- that's his superpower. 52 00:02:36,783 --> 00:02:39,952 - I have waited my whole life! 53 00:02:39,994 --> 00:02:41,454 I will wait no more! 54 00:02:41,496 --> 00:02:46,793 * * 55 00:02:50,963 --> 00:02:54,425 [soft guitar music] 56 00:02:54,467 --> 00:02:56,302 - I grew up... 57 00:02:56,344 --> 00:03:00,556 God's country-- Marietta, Georgia. 58 00:03:00,598 --> 00:03:03,184 - I remember us just looking at him, 59 00:03:03,226 --> 00:03:05,478 thinking, "What are we gonna name him?" 60 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:09,023 And my husband said, "Well, what about Cody?" 61 00:03:09,065 --> 00:03:12,819 And Cody was just a delight as a child. 62 00:03:12,860 --> 00:03:14,862 He was easy. 63 00:03:14,904 --> 00:03:17,865 He was a little shy, not like his sister, 64 00:03:17,907 --> 00:03:21,411 who never had a shy day in her life. 65 00:03:21,452 --> 00:03:24,247 - He always wanted to be like my dad. 66 00:03:24,288 --> 00:03:26,958 You know, if your dad's Batman, you're not gonna want to be-- 67 00:03:26,999 --> 00:03:28,751 you know, work in a bank. 68 00:03:28,793 --> 00:03:31,963 Looked up to him and wanted to be like him. 69 00:03:32,004 --> 00:03:35,967 [wind whistling softly] 70 00:03:36,008 --> 00:03:39,095 - Life is a journey. 71 00:03:39,137 --> 00:03:43,891 Cody Rhodes is on a quest to fulfill his destiny. 72 00:03:43,933 --> 00:03:47,562 The origins of this story are simple. 73 00:03:47,603 --> 00:03:51,482 It's about a son and his legendary hero... 74 00:03:53,943 --> 00:03:55,820 His father. 75 00:03:55,862 --> 00:03:57,822 - Millions of American people 76 00:03:57,864 --> 00:04:00,074 have that same dream Dusty Rhodes has built, 77 00:04:00,116 --> 00:04:03,244 that same dream of being somebody. 78 00:04:03,286 --> 00:04:05,413 - I was a spokesman for the common man. 79 00:04:05,455 --> 00:04:06,622 Reaching for a dream 80 00:04:06,664 --> 00:04:07,457 and becoming the American Dream, 81 00:04:07,498 --> 00:04:08,833 that's my mission. 82 00:04:08,875 --> 00:04:12,003 - Who's your favorite wrestler? - Dusty Rhodes! 83 00:04:12,045 --> 00:04:14,714 - Dusty Rhodes, we're talking about John Wayne meets Elvis. 84 00:04:14,756 --> 00:04:16,007 - Whoo! 85 00:04:16,049 --> 00:04:17,717 Take it from Dusty Rhodes, the American Dream. 86 00:04:17,759 --> 00:04:19,552 Make the Mello Yello move. 87 00:04:19,594 --> 00:04:22,972 - Dusty could relate to the richest man, 88 00:04:23,014 --> 00:04:25,308 and Dusty could relate to that guy 89 00:04:25,349 --> 00:04:26,976 that was digging ditches every day. 90 00:04:27,018 --> 00:04:29,854 - I have wined and dined with kings and queens, 91 00:04:29,896 --> 00:04:32,982 and I've slept in alleys and dined on pork and beans. 92 00:04:33,024 --> 00:04:36,694 - Look at that strut from the American Dream! 93 00:04:36,736 --> 00:04:39,572 [cheers and applause] 94 00:04:39,614 --> 00:04:41,949 - My first memory of my dad 95 00:04:41,991 --> 00:04:45,828 is actually my first memory altogether. 96 00:04:45,870 --> 00:04:48,289 I think people maybe think it's legend. 97 00:04:48,331 --> 00:04:50,833 It's not. It's really my first memory. 98 00:04:50,875 --> 00:04:55,004 It was him putting me down on the mat at WrestleMania. 99 00:04:55,046 --> 00:04:57,340 And I'll never forget because I got to see 100 00:04:57,382 --> 00:05:00,760 how tall the top rope was. 101 00:05:00,802 --> 00:05:02,136 And the turnbuckle pad 102 00:05:02,178 --> 00:05:06,182 had the gold and blue letters on it. 103 00:05:06,224 --> 00:05:09,977 I actually initially assumed he was a movie star. 104 00:05:10,019 --> 00:05:11,771 - You know, I'm here to show America 105 00:05:11,813 --> 00:05:13,981 that justice does prevail. 106 00:05:14,023 --> 00:05:15,858 You know, I'm just a... [laughs] 107 00:05:15,900 --> 00:05:18,194 A common man. 108 00:05:18,236 --> 00:05:21,114 - Then as I was able to learn how to work that VCR 109 00:05:21,155 --> 00:05:23,658 and watch, even at a young age, 110 00:05:23,699 --> 00:05:27,286 I was so proud that was my dad. 111 00:05:27,328 --> 00:05:30,039 - For more than two decades, Dusty Rhodes 112 00:05:30,081 --> 00:05:33,668 won just about every title in sports entertainment, 113 00:05:33,710 --> 00:05:35,253 except one--- 114 00:05:35,294 --> 00:05:38,548 the WWE Championship. 115 00:05:38,589 --> 00:05:40,717 - Superstar Billy Graham, 116 00:05:40,758 --> 00:05:43,261 the reigning Worldwide Wrestling Entertainment 117 00:05:43,302 --> 00:05:45,096 Heavyweight Champion. 118 00:05:45,138 --> 00:05:47,557 - The year was 1977, 119 00:05:47,598 --> 00:05:50,435 almost a decade before Cody was even born. 120 00:05:50,476 --> 00:05:52,061 In New York City, 121 00:05:52,103 --> 00:05:55,189 in front of a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden, 122 00:05:55,231 --> 00:05:58,860 Dusty battled for the WWE Championship. 123 00:05:58,901 --> 00:06:00,653 - The referee's out there counting. 124 00:06:00,695 --> 00:06:02,655 [bell dinging] 125 00:06:02,697 --> 00:06:05,742 - Dusty Rhodes wins it! 126 00:06:05,783 --> 00:06:08,494 - When I put the belt on around my waist, 127 00:06:08,536 --> 00:06:11,080 that was huge. 128 00:06:11,122 --> 00:06:14,917 - Threw the belt on for a second, held it up. 129 00:06:14,959 --> 00:06:16,627 You know, we had that picture of him 130 00:06:16,669 --> 00:06:19,255 on the mantel in the master bedroom. 131 00:06:19,297 --> 00:06:22,675 - The winner, but not the new world champion, 132 00:06:22,717 --> 00:06:25,928 Dusty Rhodes! 133 00:06:25,970 --> 00:06:28,556 - A competitor cannot win the championship 134 00:06:28,598 --> 00:06:30,391 when their opponent has been counted 135 00:06:30,433 --> 00:06:32,268 outside the ring for ten seconds. 136 00:06:32,310 --> 00:06:35,646 In this case, Dusty won due to a count-out. 137 00:06:35,688 --> 00:06:39,442 - Because it was a count-out, title doesn't change hands. 138 00:06:39,484 --> 00:06:41,569 And it was the one title that eluded 139 00:06:41,611 --> 00:06:43,321 the American Dream, Dusty Rhodes, 140 00:06:43,362 --> 00:06:45,198 throughout his career. 141 00:06:45,239 --> 00:06:47,700 - Dusty would never get that close to winning 142 00:06:47,742 --> 00:06:52,413 the WWE Championship ever again. 143 00:06:52,455 --> 00:06:55,124 - First time I heard it, I was eight years old. 144 00:06:55,166 --> 00:06:56,918 I believe I asked him, 145 00:06:56,959 --> 00:07:01,381 "I didn't know you were champ like Hulk Hogan," 146 00:07:01,422 --> 00:07:04,217 which probably upset my dad. 147 00:07:04,258 --> 00:07:07,637 But he didn't get upset when I asked. 148 00:07:07,678 --> 00:07:09,597 He explained it to me. 149 00:07:09,639 --> 00:07:13,810 The champ can't lose the title that way. 150 00:07:13,851 --> 00:07:18,064 That was the big first goal I ever had. 151 00:07:18,106 --> 00:07:20,775 I just want to win this championship 152 00:07:20,817 --> 00:07:22,985 that he didn't win, 153 00:07:23,027 --> 00:07:24,987 and I can bring it to him. 154 00:07:25,029 --> 00:07:27,782 As time went on, I thought I can tell him, 155 00:07:27,824 --> 00:07:31,494 you know, "Nobody can take it away from you now." 156 00:07:31,536 --> 00:07:35,164 That was my whole purpose. 157 00:07:35,206 --> 00:07:37,417 [crowd clamoring] 158 00:07:37,458 --> 00:07:39,335 - 1995-- 159 00:07:39,377 --> 00:07:41,838 a young Cody was standing by his father's side 160 00:07:41,879 --> 00:07:45,758 when he was inducted into the WCW Hall of Fame, 161 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:49,554 marking the end of Dusty's in-ring career. 162 00:07:49,595 --> 00:07:52,223 - I want to thank my two children, 163 00:07:52,265 --> 00:07:55,268 Teil and Cody, Kristin, 164 00:07:55,309 --> 00:07:57,311 and The Natural Dustin Rhodes 165 00:07:57,353 --> 00:08:01,149 for standing behind me through all of this. 166 00:08:01,190 --> 00:08:03,234 - Dusty mentioned all of his kids, 167 00:08:03,276 --> 00:08:05,903 including Cody's older brother Dustin, 168 00:08:05,945 --> 00:08:09,532 who debuted as WWE superstar Goldust 169 00:08:09,574 --> 00:08:11,492 later that year. 170 00:08:11,534 --> 00:08:12,994 - There are ten years 171 00:08:13,035 --> 00:08:15,371 separating the two sets of kids. 172 00:08:15,413 --> 00:08:20,376 And it was a different season in Dusty's life. 173 00:08:20,418 --> 00:08:24,338 - With Teil Margaret and Cody, I was determined... 174 00:08:24,380 --> 00:08:27,675 "I'm gonna be there. I'm not gonna miss a thing." 175 00:08:27,717 --> 00:08:30,678 - Dusty was a great father. 176 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:33,806 He was just such a huge personality. 177 00:08:33,848 --> 00:08:36,851 - Ho, ho, ho. 178 00:08:36,893 --> 00:08:40,313 Hey, I'm watching "A Christmas Story," eh, 179 00:08:40,354 --> 00:08:43,691 right here with my Santa Claus hat on. 180 00:08:43,733 --> 00:08:46,152 - Cody was really close with my dad. 181 00:08:46,194 --> 00:08:48,654 You know, they were little besties. 182 00:08:48,696 --> 00:08:50,031 They did everything together. 183 00:08:50,073 --> 00:08:52,450 - This guy drove me to school every day, 184 00:08:52,492 --> 00:08:55,286 listening to '90s country. 185 00:08:55,328 --> 00:08:58,748 I mean, this guy put the decals on our helmets. 186 00:08:58,790 --> 00:09:00,500 He was there for everything. 187 00:09:00,541 --> 00:09:02,835 He was just the perfect dad. 188 00:09:02,877 --> 00:09:04,921 - When he was playing football, 189 00:09:04,962 --> 00:09:07,757 one of the coaches for the junior football team 190 00:09:07,799 --> 00:09:09,342 was a coach, wrestling coach. 191 00:09:09,384 --> 00:09:11,302 He said, "You really should get him into wrestling." 192 00:09:11,344 --> 00:09:14,639 Cody started wrestling. He was about nine years old. 193 00:09:14,680 --> 00:09:17,725 - There was a lot of times when I would wrestle 194 00:09:17,767 --> 00:09:19,310 in these tournaments-- 195 00:09:19,352 --> 00:09:22,563 a lot of the parents would kind of spotlight me 196 00:09:22,605 --> 00:09:25,191 and focus on me because of Dusty. 197 00:09:25,233 --> 00:09:26,901 And that was uncomfortable for him, 198 00:09:26,943 --> 00:09:28,569 probably far more for me. 199 00:09:28,611 --> 00:09:31,781 I remember I wrestled this kid from a place called Nicula. 200 00:09:31,823 --> 00:09:34,909 And his dad was screaming, 201 00:09:34,951 --> 00:09:37,578 "Beat Dusty! Beat Dusty!" 202 00:09:37,620 --> 00:09:40,415 And even at nine, I wanted to, like, get up off the mat 203 00:09:40,456 --> 00:09:43,543 and be like, "Hey, my name is not Dusty. 204 00:09:43,584 --> 00:09:47,213 That's Dusty. I'm a child, sir." 205 00:09:47,255 --> 00:09:50,758 I was initially terrible at it. 206 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:52,176 I was missing strength. 207 00:09:52,218 --> 00:09:55,263 And I remember my dad took some weights. 208 00:09:55,304 --> 00:09:58,349 He built me a whole gym in my garage. 209 00:09:58,391 --> 00:09:59,517 Next thing you know, 210 00:09:59,559 --> 00:10:01,477 I'm working out in that gym every day. 211 00:10:01,519 --> 00:10:04,021 I just treated it like it was a profession. 212 00:10:06,774 --> 00:10:10,903 - In 2001, Cody was a freshman at Lassiter High School 213 00:10:10,945 --> 00:10:14,365 and was determined to be a star athlete. 214 00:10:14,407 --> 00:10:16,284 - I was up at 5:00. 215 00:10:16,325 --> 00:10:19,203 I went to school to run on the track, 216 00:10:19,245 --> 00:10:22,540 participated in the classes the best I could. 217 00:10:22,582 --> 00:10:24,709 I'd go to practice. 218 00:10:24,751 --> 00:10:26,502 - He worked really hard. 219 00:10:26,544 --> 00:10:30,506 And I remember there was this huge board in the garage 220 00:10:30,548 --> 00:10:33,634 that had goals on it for him. 221 00:10:33,676 --> 00:10:35,678 - Freshman year, he was unseeded. 222 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:38,431 He took on the number-one seed in the Cobb County tournament 223 00:10:38,473 --> 00:10:39,557 as a freshman. 224 00:10:39,599 --> 00:10:41,017 Cody beat him. 225 00:10:41,059 --> 00:10:42,602 So, right from then on, everybody knew 226 00:10:42,643 --> 00:10:46,397 he was going to be a factor in wrestling to come. 227 00:10:46,439 --> 00:10:49,108 He basically had one move in the whole four years. 228 00:10:49,150 --> 00:10:51,486 That was a double-leg takedown. 229 00:10:51,527 --> 00:10:53,821 Start in the middle, shoot, and drive the guy 230 00:10:53,863 --> 00:10:55,448 all the way to the out of bounds, 231 00:10:55,490 --> 00:10:58,201 and then drag his toes to stay in. 232 00:10:58,242 --> 00:11:01,204 - I'll never forget the time he said, 233 00:11:01,245 --> 00:11:03,998 "My junior year, I'm gonna win the States." 234 00:11:04,040 --> 00:11:08,294 I went, "Wow, that's a bold statement, young man." 235 00:11:08,336 --> 00:11:11,047 - He was like a local sports celebrity, you know. 236 00:11:11,089 --> 00:11:12,590 They were always coming to the house 237 00:11:12,632 --> 00:11:14,050 to do, like, an interview. 238 00:11:14,092 --> 00:11:16,427 He was always in the local newspaper. 239 00:11:16,469 --> 00:11:19,138 - Cody and I were at rival high schools. 240 00:11:19,180 --> 00:11:21,682 My goal was to wrestle Cody, 241 00:11:21,724 --> 00:11:24,143 beat him in front of Dusty, and then Dusty would go, 242 00:11:24,185 --> 00:11:25,853 "Oh, man, "I got to train you. 243 00:11:25,895 --> 00:11:27,522 You're gonna be the best wrestler ever." 244 00:11:27,563 --> 00:11:28,731 Like, that was what-- 245 00:11:28,773 --> 00:11:31,109 My teenage brain said that was my path. 246 00:11:31,150 --> 00:11:33,236 That was how I was gonna make it to WWE. 247 00:11:33,277 --> 00:11:35,113 - He was really, really frustrated. 248 00:11:35,154 --> 00:11:37,407 It's one of the reasons why he always kind of sat up 249 00:11:37,448 --> 00:11:39,575 in the furthest part of the stands to watch. 250 00:11:39,617 --> 00:11:41,077 He didn't want to be down there 251 00:11:41,119 --> 00:11:43,329 and take away from what I was doing. 252 00:11:43,371 --> 00:11:46,999 Overall, in junior, senior year, I was 101-2, 253 00:11:47,041 --> 00:11:49,252 so 101 wins, only 2 losses. 254 00:11:49,293 --> 00:11:53,005 But, also, I think I'd only been taken down twice. 255 00:11:53,047 --> 00:11:55,550 - State champ as a junior, senior. 256 00:11:55,591 --> 00:11:56,843 - He was the best. 257 00:11:56,884 --> 00:11:58,845 He was the best. 258 00:11:58,886 --> 00:12:00,430 This is how smart he was, 259 00:12:00,471 --> 00:12:03,099 'cause he knew the business was going to be his life. 260 00:12:03,141 --> 00:12:05,393 In the final match, he walks out. 261 00:12:05,435 --> 00:12:08,646 He comes out. He gave them a sheet of paper. 262 00:12:08,688 --> 00:12:10,314 He wins the state title. 263 00:12:10,356 --> 00:12:14,402 They made this announcement-- "The winner, Cody Rhodes." 264 00:12:14,444 --> 00:12:17,071 - They billed me as Cody Rhodes 265 00:12:17,113 --> 00:12:20,450 for the first time ever, not as Cody Runnels. 266 00:12:20,491 --> 00:12:22,410 - And he made them do it. 267 00:12:22,452 --> 00:12:24,746 - Just a time to be a little eclectic, 268 00:12:24,787 --> 00:12:26,247 to live a little of your dream. 269 00:12:26,289 --> 00:12:29,292 But, also, it was unsustainable. 270 00:12:29,333 --> 00:12:32,879 In my last state tournament after I won, 271 00:12:32,920 --> 00:12:35,298 I specifically remember taking a bow. 272 00:12:35,339 --> 00:12:39,427 And the bow was, 100%, that's it. 273 00:12:39,469 --> 00:12:41,220 I thought it was a little nicer 274 00:12:41,262 --> 00:12:42,680 than throwing my shoes away. 275 00:12:42,722 --> 00:12:44,307 But that's what I wanted to do, 276 00:12:44,348 --> 00:12:46,142 was throw my amateur wrestling shoes away 277 00:12:46,184 --> 00:12:48,311 because I'd given everything-- I'd missed dances. 278 00:12:48,352 --> 00:12:50,271 I'd cut out a huge chunk of my social life. 279 00:12:50,313 --> 00:12:52,482 I just-- This is what I wanted. 280 00:12:52,523 --> 00:12:55,651 And I knew I'd be moving into the next juncture of my life. 281 00:12:55,693 --> 00:12:57,653 * * 282 00:12:57,695 --> 00:13:01,616 - I really thought Cody was gonna go to college. 283 00:13:01,657 --> 00:13:04,744 - As much as my mom would have loved that, 284 00:13:04,786 --> 00:13:06,162 I didn't want to go, 285 00:13:06,204 --> 00:13:08,581 and I had no intentions on going. 286 00:13:08,623 --> 00:13:09,916 - He kept saying, 287 00:13:09,957 --> 00:13:12,168 "You know, Mom, college isn't for everybody." 288 00:13:12,210 --> 00:13:14,128 And I said, "Well, how do you know? 289 00:13:14,170 --> 00:13:16,589 How do you know? You hadn't been yet." 290 00:13:16,631 --> 00:13:19,175 - At the time, I thought, "Well, I can do acting, 291 00:13:19,217 --> 00:13:23,554 "learn the craft, and then plug myself into pro wrestling 292 00:13:23,596 --> 00:13:25,640 and sports entertainment." 293 00:13:25,681 --> 00:13:28,434 - He had joined the thespian society 294 00:13:28,476 --> 00:13:30,603 and all of that in high school. 295 00:13:30,645 --> 00:13:32,397 And I really thought, "Well, that's it. 296 00:13:32,438 --> 00:13:34,607 That's what he wants to be." 297 00:13:34,649 --> 00:13:36,818 - I had left college after two years 298 00:13:36,859 --> 00:13:39,112 to pursue a career in acting, 299 00:13:39,153 --> 00:13:41,447 and I think that he thought, "Well, I'll just go. 300 00:13:41,489 --> 00:13:43,074 I'll just go with Teil." 301 00:13:44,951 --> 00:13:47,787 - 2004-- Cody and his sister Teil 302 00:13:47,829 --> 00:13:50,748 wanted to pursue an acting career in Hollywood. 303 00:13:50,790 --> 00:13:52,875 But that would be challenging. 304 00:13:52,917 --> 00:13:54,377 Their father, Dusty, 305 00:13:54,419 --> 00:13:57,213 who had made millions of dollars in his career, 306 00:13:57,255 --> 00:14:00,174 was struggling to pay the bills. 307 00:14:00,216 --> 00:14:03,720 - The late '70s and '80s was boom time for me. 308 00:14:03,761 --> 00:14:05,805 Nobody lives this way! 309 00:14:05,847 --> 00:14:08,725 Nobody has crystal glass in the back seat 310 00:14:08,766 --> 00:14:11,018 of their Chevrolet, Jack! 311 00:14:11,060 --> 00:14:13,396 Overspending, got behind the IRS-- 312 00:14:13,438 --> 00:14:16,441 the thing you hear every day about athletes. 313 00:14:16,482 --> 00:14:19,610 When it's all there, you think it's never gonna end. 314 00:14:19,652 --> 00:14:21,028 - We were basically broke. 315 00:14:21,070 --> 00:14:23,531 And you know, we had a lifestyle 316 00:14:23,573 --> 00:14:25,491 that, you know, my dad wanted to keep up. 317 00:14:25,533 --> 00:14:27,285 But it was getting brokebroke, 318 00:14:27,326 --> 00:14:30,371 where it's not even about, you know, having nice things. 319 00:14:30,413 --> 00:14:33,166 It's, can you keep food on the table? 320 00:14:33,207 --> 00:14:36,127 - You know, one night the power goes out, 321 00:14:36,169 --> 00:14:38,504 but there's no storm. 322 00:14:38,546 --> 00:14:42,592 And my sister and I both knew he just hadn't paid the bill. 323 00:14:42,633 --> 00:14:45,136 * * 324 00:14:45,178 --> 00:14:47,180 And we didn't want to tell him we knew. 325 00:14:47,221 --> 00:14:48,723 And we didn't. [chuckles] 326 00:14:48,765 --> 00:14:53,227 - Dusty Rhodes is living on the end of a lightning bolt. 327 00:14:53,269 --> 00:14:55,354 - Living on the edge of a lightning bolt-- 328 00:14:55,396 --> 00:14:56,856 that's what it looks like. 329 00:14:56,898 --> 00:14:58,941 I've seen the glorious side of what it looks like, 330 00:14:58,983 --> 00:15:00,485 but then there's another side. 331 00:15:00,526 --> 00:15:03,404 It was just--he tried to shield us from it, 332 00:15:03,446 --> 00:15:05,615 but I know when you're doing a car commercial 333 00:15:05,656 --> 00:15:08,117 and you're not getting paid, you're doing the car commercial 334 00:15:08,159 --> 00:15:10,369 so that you can keep your truck, 335 00:15:10,411 --> 00:15:12,747 I know things aren't great. 336 00:15:12,789 --> 00:15:16,292 - Best of all, there's no credit check, no hassle. 337 00:15:16,334 --> 00:15:18,461 - When we had made the decision to go to LA, 338 00:15:18,503 --> 00:15:21,506 that's a big decision, and he wanted to support it. 339 00:15:21,547 --> 00:15:23,549 He gave both my sister and I-- 340 00:15:23,591 --> 00:15:26,844 we went together-- $10,000 cash each, 341 00:15:26,886 --> 00:15:29,097 just wrapped in a rubber band. 342 00:15:29,138 --> 00:15:30,473 Gave it to us at the kitchen table. 343 00:15:30,515 --> 00:15:33,226 It felt like the Mafia or something. 344 00:15:33,267 --> 00:15:37,688 And I would find out later... 345 00:15:37,730 --> 00:15:39,982 that he had sold his-- 346 00:15:40,024 --> 00:15:42,318 pawned his Rolex. 347 00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:45,196 And I always thought I would get that Rolex. 348 00:15:45,238 --> 00:15:48,491 [clicks tongue] 349 00:15:48,533 --> 00:15:50,284 So that was... 350 00:15:50,326 --> 00:15:53,830 He was willing to go to great lengths 351 00:15:53,871 --> 00:15:56,916 to keep us whole 352 00:15:56,958 --> 00:15:59,293 and to let us live our dreams. 353 00:16:00,878 --> 00:16:03,214 We wanted to go to the Howard Fine Acting Studio, 354 00:16:03,256 --> 00:16:06,926 which Howard Fine is a name that carries a lot of weight. 355 00:16:06,968 --> 00:16:09,470 - Cody came to the studio in 2004. 356 00:16:09,512 --> 00:16:12,432 He started in the foundation course, 357 00:16:12,473 --> 00:16:15,518 and he worked his way up to scene study. 358 00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:18,271 He also took a course called emotional range, 359 00:16:18,312 --> 00:16:19,814 which teaches people 360 00:16:19,856 --> 00:16:22,900 how to use their own life as source. 361 00:16:22,942 --> 00:16:24,861 He's brave in that way. 362 00:16:24,902 --> 00:16:29,449 He's willing to tap into some very personal things. 363 00:16:29,490 --> 00:16:32,618 - I loved the Howard Fine Acting Studio. 364 00:16:32,660 --> 00:16:36,247 It was so cathartic and therapeutic. 365 00:16:36,289 --> 00:16:38,499 But that's two, three days a week. 366 00:16:38,541 --> 00:16:40,960 - That year he spent in California, 367 00:16:41,002 --> 00:16:44,005 he just hadn't seemed himself. 368 00:16:44,047 --> 00:16:45,506 - We didn't have a lot of money. 369 00:16:45,548 --> 00:16:47,216 You know, you can't get in anywhere. 370 00:16:47,258 --> 00:16:50,845 He did not love the West Coast life. 371 00:16:50,887 --> 00:16:54,098 - Being 19 years old in Hollywood 372 00:16:54,140 --> 00:16:57,643 with no real prospects, 373 00:16:57,685 --> 00:17:01,397 especially when you come off of having such success 374 00:17:01,439 --> 00:17:03,900 with amateur wrestling in high school, 375 00:17:03,941 --> 00:17:07,361 definitely was a bit depressed and dealing with that. 376 00:17:07,403 --> 00:17:11,657 But I'm okay with it 'cause... 377 00:17:11,699 --> 00:17:15,536 'cause without it, I wouldn't have known what I was missing. 378 00:17:15,578 --> 00:17:18,206 You can't fabricate a dream. 379 00:17:18,247 --> 00:17:20,124 It's not something that's just in your head. 380 00:17:20,166 --> 00:17:22,752 It's in your heart. 381 00:17:22,794 --> 00:17:25,588 I couldn't fabricate what I was out there to do. 382 00:17:25,630 --> 00:17:28,508 I knew what I needed to be doing 383 00:17:28,549 --> 00:17:31,094 was being around sports entertainment, 384 00:17:31,135 --> 00:17:32,387 pro wrestling. 385 00:17:32,428 --> 00:17:34,013 And I needed to get back to that. 386 00:17:34,055 --> 00:17:37,558 I'd driven home from LA in almost 48 hours. 387 00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:41,145 I mean, barely stopped, just kept going. 388 00:17:41,187 --> 00:17:42,647 I needed to get to my dream. 389 00:17:42,688 --> 00:17:45,650 I needed to get to what this was all about. 390 00:17:45,691 --> 00:17:48,736 The first person I had to tell was my dad, 391 00:17:48,778 --> 00:17:51,614 and it couldn't be just a conversation on the phone. 392 00:17:51,656 --> 00:17:54,659 He needed to know because I needed his help. 393 00:18:01,207 --> 00:18:05,712 - In early 2006, Cody returned home to Georgia 394 00:18:05,753 --> 00:18:10,383 to meet with his father and tell him his dream. 395 00:18:10,425 --> 00:18:14,887 - I got home, and it was probably the next day. 396 00:18:14,929 --> 00:18:16,097 We went to eat breakfast, 397 00:18:16,139 --> 00:18:19,392 and I told him that I was serious about it. 398 00:18:19,434 --> 00:18:22,228 He thought about it for a moment, 399 00:18:22,270 --> 00:18:23,771 and, finally, he just-- 400 00:18:23,813 --> 00:18:25,690 he said, "Okay, well, if you're gonna do it, 401 00:18:25,732 --> 00:18:27,734 you're gonna do it to be the best." 402 00:18:29,444 --> 00:18:31,904 When you're someone's son or daughter 403 00:18:31,946 --> 00:18:34,866 and you get into this, it's like an alumni network. 404 00:18:34,907 --> 00:18:37,952 You have these connections available to you to get in. 405 00:18:37,994 --> 00:18:40,079 - Dusty came in 2005 406 00:18:40,121 --> 00:18:42,498 to be a part of the creative team. 407 00:18:42,540 --> 00:18:45,626 And Dusty, you know, wasn't necessarily a writer, 408 00:18:45,668 --> 00:18:48,463 but Dusty was an idea guy. 409 00:18:48,504 --> 00:18:50,048 - With his father's help, 410 00:18:50,089 --> 00:18:53,384 Cody was put in a position to succeed. 411 00:18:53,426 --> 00:18:58,014 At 20 years old, he joined WWE's developmental program-- 412 00:18:58,056 --> 00:19:01,225 Ohio Valley Wrestling. 413 00:19:01,267 --> 00:19:03,853 - OVW-- tomorrow's stars today. 414 00:19:03,895 --> 00:19:07,315 WWE developmental system, no real prior experience. 415 00:19:07,356 --> 00:19:08,816 Although if you ask Miz, 416 00:19:08,858 --> 00:19:11,611 he acts like I trained for years before I came. 417 00:19:11,652 --> 00:19:14,280 - Cody walks in, and I'll never forget. 418 00:19:14,322 --> 00:19:16,949 Like, he tells us all that he's never wrestled before. 419 00:19:16,991 --> 00:19:19,869 And then he gets in the ring and just spot-on arm drags, 420 00:19:19,911 --> 00:19:22,872 hip tosses, you know, doing like cartwheels 421 00:19:22,914 --> 00:19:24,707 and frickin', like, celebrating himself. 422 00:19:24,749 --> 00:19:27,627 And we're all like--all of us, like, watching the match 423 00:19:27,668 --> 00:19:30,630 looked at each other like, this guy got us. 424 00:19:30,671 --> 00:19:33,800 - Cody Runnels definitely has a bright future 425 00:19:33,841 --> 00:19:36,052 in professional wrestling. 426 00:19:36,094 --> 00:19:40,973 - My experience at OVW was the greatest experience, 427 00:19:41,015 --> 00:19:42,642 was essentially college. 428 00:19:42,683 --> 00:19:44,977 It's the best way to put it. It was my college. 429 00:19:45,019 --> 00:19:47,397 You do not know Cody Runnels! 430 00:19:47,438 --> 00:19:48,981 I'm a ghost. 431 00:19:49,023 --> 00:19:52,276 And everything that you try to take away from me, 432 00:19:52,318 --> 00:19:55,154 I am going to take away from you. 433 00:19:55,196 --> 00:19:57,156 [crowd cheering] 434 00:19:57,198 --> 00:20:00,701 - Less than one year into Cody's training, 435 00:20:00,743 --> 00:20:04,330 his father was bestowed the honor of being inducted 436 00:20:04,372 --> 00:20:07,959 into the WWE Hall of Fame. 437 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:09,836 - Tonight should be an incredible moment 438 00:20:09,877 --> 00:20:11,796 when your sons induct you into the Hall of Fame. 439 00:20:11,838 --> 00:20:13,881 How does that feel? - Well, it's a-- 440 00:20:13,923 --> 00:20:16,092 I'm gonna tell you, man, it's-- 441 00:20:16,134 --> 00:20:18,344 I'm trying very hard to keep-- 442 00:20:18,386 --> 00:20:19,679 I tear up pretty easy. 443 00:20:19,721 --> 00:20:21,097 When you get old, you start to-- 444 00:20:21,139 --> 00:20:22,974 My wife tells me I babble about everything. 445 00:20:23,015 --> 00:20:25,226 You know what I mean? But it's a great honor. 446 00:20:25,268 --> 00:20:27,186 - I remember thinking, 447 00:20:27,228 --> 00:20:31,023 because Dusty was such a prolific promo master, 448 00:20:31,065 --> 00:20:34,068 I needed to make sure that his induction 449 00:20:34,110 --> 00:20:36,028 matched that. 450 00:20:36,070 --> 00:20:38,698 - I was really worried about Cody's speech, 451 00:20:38,740 --> 00:20:41,367 because he was 21. 452 00:20:41,409 --> 00:20:45,872 And that was the first time that he spoke publicly, 453 00:20:45,913 --> 00:20:49,417 and to speak publicly for the first time 454 00:20:49,459 --> 00:20:52,253 to such a huge audience... 455 00:20:52,295 --> 00:20:55,298 - I drilled and practiced. 456 00:20:55,339 --> 00:20:57,633 I was pacing in my hotel room. 457 00:20:57,675 --> 00:20:58,843 - Please welcome 458 00:20:58,885 --> 00:21:03,222 Dustin Runnels and Cody Rhodes. 459 00:21:03,264 --> 00:21:06,517 - I treated his induction the same way I treat 460 00:21:06,559 --> 00:21:08,102 walking into WrestleMania. 461 00:21:08,144 --> 00:21:09,520 It's got to deliver. 462 00:21:09,562 --> 00:21:11,814 If anything, it's got to more than deliver. 463 00:21:11,856 --> 00:21:13,900 When he donned polka dots, 464 00:21:13,941 --> 00:21:17,070 he reminded us something so, so important, 465 00:21:17,111 --> 00:21:21,866 and that is that being common is absolutely uncommon 466 00:21:21,908 --> 00:21:26,704 because there is strength in numbers. 467 00:21:26,746 --> 00:21:30,124 - You could tell the amount of love and respect 468 00:21:30,166 --> 00:21:31,667 that he had for his father. 469 00:21:31,709 --> 00:21:35,046 - He was my seat in school. He was the food on our table. 470 00:21:35,088 --> 00:21:37,173 He was everywhere. 471 00:21:37,215 --> 00:21:39,217 And if there was a Hall of Fame for fathers, 472 00:21:39,258 --> 00:21:42,261 you could bet he would be in that one as well. 473 00:21:42,303 --> 00:21:45,098 [cheers and applause] 474 00:21:45,139 --> 00:21:48,226 - He's just a natural when it comes to that. 475 00:21:48,267 --> 00:21:50,645 So I was just super proud. 476 00:21:50,686 --> 00:21:53,106 - Our father, the American Dream, 477 00:21:53,147 --> 00:21:54,565 Dusty Rhodes. 478 00:21:54,607 --> 00:21:56,818 [cheers and applause] 479 00:21:56,859 --> 00:21:58,027 - He was impressive. 480 00:21:58,069 --> 00:22:00,530 It was an amazing night for him, 481 00:22:00,571 --> 00:22:03,116 so it made it amazing for me. 482 00:22:03,157 --> 00:22:04,700 - Cody's got it. 483 00:22:04,742 --> 00:22:08,538 The poise in which Cody delivered that speech, 484 00:22:08,579 --> 00:22:10,957 everything about it was real. 485 00:22:10,998 --> 00:22:13,126 - I remember sitting backstage, 486 00:22:13,167 --> 00:22:15,712 and I was sitting next to Vince McMahon at the time. 487 00:22:15,753 --> 00:22:17,714 And I said, "Wow." 488 00:22:17,755 --> 00:22:20,758 - What happened after, I will never forget. 489 00:22:20,800 --> 00:22:24,178 Bruce Prichard grabbed me, and he said, 490 00:22:24,220 --> 00:22:27,181 "The chairman wants to speak with you." 491 00:22:27,223 --> 00:22:28,933 So that's Vince. 492 00:22:28,975 --> 00:22:32,603 He was just so impressed and excited 493 00:22:32,645 --> 00:22:35,815 at how I was able to talk about my dad. 494 00:22:35,857 --> 00:22:37,817 - I remember Bruce Prichard coming to me afterwards 495 00:22:37,859 --> 00:22:40,653 and saying, "Vince just said to me, 496 00:22:40,695 --> 00:22:45,533 'This kid is going to be huge.'" 497 00:22:46,909 --> 00:22:48,619 - I knew right away, 498 00:22:48,661 --> 00:22:51,831 I'm screwed because that was good, 499 00:22:51,873 --> 00:22:54,500 and they're looking at it from the business perspective, 500 00:22:54,542 --> 00:22:56,335 and I'm gonna get called up. 501 00:22:56,377 --> 00:22:59,338 I'm not ready physically. I'm not ready mentally. 502 00:22:59,380 --> 00:23:02,508 But I know it's gonna happen, so I better get ready. 503 00:23:02,550 --> 00:23:04,844 And that's exactly what happened. 504 00:23:04,886 --> 00:23:07,305 Tonight is my first night on "Monday Night RAW," 505 00:23:07,346 --> 00:23:11,017 and I plan on making a good impression. 506 00:23:11,059 --> 00:23:13,770 - If your father came before you 507 00:23:13,811 --> 00:23:15,897 and was a huge star... 508 00:23:15,938 --> 00:23:18,483 - Let's go, son. Go. 509 00:23:18,524 --> 00:23:23,404 - To fill those shoes is practically impossible. 510 00:23:23,446 --> 00:23:26,491 - Cody Rhodes! 511 00:23:26,532 --> 00:23:29,285 - Just three months after his Hall of Fame speech, 512 00:23:29,327 --> 00:23:32,997 Cody made his debut on "Monday Night RAW." 513 00:23:33,039 --> 00:23:35,208 - I have John Deere green-- 514 00:23:35,249 --> 00:23:37,377 that would be the color you would describe them as-- 515 00:23:37,418 --> 00:23:40,338 trunks on with yellow CR. 516 00:23:40,380 --> 00:23:43,966 I have hand-me-down yellow boots from my father. 517 00:23:44,008 --> 00:23:48,346 - Cody Rhodes, the young son of Dusty Rhodes... 518 00:23:48,388 --> 00:23:53,059 - I was less than 50 matches when I debuted 519 00:23:53,101 --> 00:23:54,769 for the biggest sports entertainment company 520 00:23:54,811 --> 00:23:56,229 in the world. 521 00:23:56,270 --> 00:23:57,855 [bell dinging] 522 00:23:57,897 --> 00:24:00,274 - He's got to have butterflies in his stomach 523 00:24:00,316 --> 00:24:01,901 the size of eagles. 524 00:24:01,943 --> 00:24:04,237 - Cody had a very tough opponent, 525 00:24:04,278 --> 00:24:07,907 former World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton. 526 00:24:07,949 --> 00:24:10,118 - [chuckles] He was green through and through, 527 00:24:10,159 --> 00:24:11,661 but there was something there, man. 528 00:24:11,702 --> 00:24:14,914 I could tell he had fight. I could tell he had heart. 529 00:24:14,956 --> 00:24:17,500 He was definitely his old man's son. 530 00:24:17,542 --> 00:24:20,920 - Oh, the arm throw! 531 00:24:20,962 --> 00:24:23,756 - Randy Orton beating Cody Rhodes 532 00:24:23,798 --> 00:24:26,509 in Rhodes' first match on "RAW." 533 00:24:26,551 --> 00:24:28,720 - Even though I said wasn't ready, which I wasn't, 534 00:24:28,761 --> 00:24:30,430 even though they pulled me up too soon, 535 00:24:30,471 --> 00:24:32,223 I couldn't have asked for a better debut 536 00:24:32,265 --> 00:24:33,975 because I was presented as a rookie. 537 00:24:34,016 --> 00:24:36,102 When you're presented as a rookie, 538 00:24:36,144 --> 00:24:39,230 you can make mistakes, and there will be forgiveness. 539 00:24:39,272 --> 00:24:42,108 but also you get to grow up in front of them. 540 00:24:42,150 --> 00:24:47,238 I have literally grown up in front of the WWE audience. 541 00:24:47,280 --> 00:24:49,282 - I think when you arrive on the scene 542 00:24:49,323 --> 00:24:52,243 and you're the son of a legend or a daughter of a legend, 543 00:24:52,285 --> 00:24:54,412 there is a shitload of pressure on you, man. 544 00:24:54,454 --> 00:24:56,456 I mean, there is a lot. 545 00:24:56,497 --> 00:24:58,249 - In the beginning, there was a little bit 546 00:24:58,291 --> 00:25:01,627 of apprehension for Cody to be a Rhodes, 547 00:25:01,669 --> 00:25:04,964 because immediately you would make that comparison. 548 00:25:05,006 --> 00:25:07,091 - Well, King, you and I both watched Dusty Rhodes 549 00:25:07,133 --> 00:25:08,676 wrestle for 30 years. 550 00:25:08,718 --> 00:25:10,053 He's never backed down, 551 00:25:10,094 --> 00:25:12,680 and this kid's never gonna back down either. 552 00:25:12,722 --> 00:25:14,807 - It's more difficult when you come in and say, 553 00:25:14,849 --> 00:25:16,976 "Hey, guys, I'm Cody Rhodes." 554 00:25:17,018 --> 00:25:18,978 Okay, well, what can you do that he did? 555 00:25:19,020 --> 00:25:21,564 Well, I can't necessarily do what he did, 556 00:25:21,606 --> 00:25:22,982 but I can do what I can do. 557 00:25:23,024 --> 00:25:26,694 And it's a great challenge, and it's very motivating. 558 00:25:26,736 --> 00:25:28,613 - There's just so many pressures 559 00:25:28,654 --> 00:25:31,115 that come along with being a generational talent. 560 00:25:31,157 --> 00:25:32,784 You want to make him proud. 561 00:25:32,825 --> 00:25:34,827 You want to show him that you can do it, 562 00:25:34,869 --> 00:25:37,413 but then you have so much to prove once you start. 563 00:25:37,455 --> 00:25:40,500 - People don't forget how they felt 564 00:25:40,541 --> 00:25:42,877 when they saw a Ric Flair or a Dusty Rhodes perform. 565 00:25:42,919 --> 00:25:44,170 They don't forget. 566 00:25:44,212 --> 00:25:45,963 So when they see you, they can't help 567 00:25:46,005 --> 00:25:48,424 but make that connection. 568 00:25:48,466 --> 00:25:50,510 - To sort of create your own path, 569 00:25:50,551 --> 00:25:53,012 your own career, your own identity, your own-- 570 00:25:53,054 --> 00:25:56,182 all those things is extremely difficult. 571 00:25:56,224 --> 00:25:59,560 No matter how good you are or what you do, 572 00:25:59,602 --> 00:26:01,354 you're just Dusty's kid. 573 00:26:01,396 --> 00:26:05,858 Coming in, I thought Cody did a really good job 574 00:26:05,900 --> 00:26:08,986 of trying to balance all that. 575 00:26:10,738 --> 00:26:12,198 - Around that time, 576 00:26:12,240 --> 00:26:14,742 I didn't want to be solely identified 577 00:26:14,784 --> 00:26:17,995 as being the son of Dusty Rhodes. 578 00:26:18,037 --> 00:26:21,040 The joke was, what do you know about Cody? 579 00:26:21,082 --> 00:26:23,501 That's Dusty Rhodes' son. 580 00:26:23,543 --> 00:26:25,878 Remember, I'm talking to you about being a little kid 581 00:26:25,920 --> 00:26:28,923 and dad thinking he's wrestling Dusty. 582 00:26:28,965 --> 00:26:30,925 When you're making your way in your career, 583 00:26:30,967 --> 00:26:32,301 it's the same thing. 584 00:26:32,343 --> 00:26:34,637 You have to do everything in your power 585 00:26:34,679 --> 00:26:36,097 to get their mind off of him 586 00:26:36,139 --> 00:26:39,142 and get their attention and mind and everything 587 00:26:39,183 --> 00:26:41,519 centered on you-- who are you? 588 00:26:41,561 --> 00:26:44,063 - Not that he's not learned from me 589 00:26:44,105 --> 00:26:46,107 and schooled from me privately, 590 00:26:46,149 --> 00:26:47,984 but no interference, Dad, 591 00:26:48,025 --> 00:26:51,154 I do this myself or don't get it done. 592 00:26:51,195 --> 00:26:53,489 I'm not you. I'm not pretending to be you. 593 00:26:53,531 --> 00:26:56,284 I'm Cody Rhodes. 594 00:26:56,325 --> 00:26:59,412 - Sometimes stepping away and realizing that you have 595 00:26:59,454 --> 00:27:02,915 to do something different than the old man did, 596 00:27:02,957 --> 00:27:05,251 that's even harder. 597 00:27:05,293 --> 00:27:08,629 - In 2008, Cody began teaming with Randy Orton 598 00:27:08,671 --> 00:27:10,923 and Ted DiBiase Jr. 599 00:27:10,965 --> 00:27:14,385 This group would be known as Legacy. 600 00:27:14,427 --> 00:27:17,096 - Knowing that I was gonna be a bad guy, 601 00:27:17,138 --> 00:27:19,265 that was very exciting 602 00:27:19,307 --> 00:27:22,310 because everything was very, very different 603 00:27:22,351 --> 00:27:25,021 from what you would be getting from a Dusty Rhodes. 604 00:27:25,063 --> 00:27:27,815 When you're this talented... 605 00:27:27,857 --> 00:27:30,401 you don't pay dues. 606 00:27:30,443 --> 00:27:33,071 - I think that was just what he needed then 607 00:27:33,112 --> 00:27:36,616 to kind of step out from under his father's shadow. 608 00:27:36,657 --> 00:27:38,743 - Randy will tell you when he's better than you. 609 00:27:38,785 --> 00:27:41,412 He'll also tell you how to get as good as he is. 610 00:27:41,454 --> 00:27:42,872 When you're a second generation 611 00:27:42,914 --> 00:27:44,874 and everyone thinks your dad taught you everything 612 00:27:44,916 --> 00:27:46,375 and, really, your dad didn't, 613 00:27:46,417 --> 00:27:48,336 you need those people who help you, 614 00:27:48,378 --> 00:27:51,464 and he helped me immensely. 615 00:27:51,506 --> 00:27:53,966 - After multiple years learning from him, 616 00:27:54,008 --> 00:27:55,593 Cody had gained confidence, 617 00:27:55,635 --> 00:27:58,930 and WWE executives took notice. 618 00:27:58,971 --> 00:28:03,559 A new plan and character emerged. 619 00:28:03,601 --> 00:28:05,395 - Smile, and action. 620 00:28:05,436 --> 00:28:08,481 - My name is "Dashing" Cody Rhodes, 621 00:28:08,523 --> 00:28:13,319 and I'm here to tell you how you, too, can be dashing. 622 00:28:13,361 --> 00:28:16,155 When the idea that "Dashing" Cody Rhodes came up, 623 00:28:16,197 --> 00:28:20,159 I was beyond excited and thrilled. 624 00:28:20,201 --> 00:28:22,078 And I'm gonna be this character. 625 00:28:22,120 --> 00:28:23,788 But what is the character? 626 00:28:23,830 --> 00:28:25,998 Snip, snip, snip. 627 00:28:26,040 --> 00:28:28,209 A couple equal clips on each nail 628 00:28:28,251 --> 00:28:30,128 should do the trick. 629 00:28:30,169 --> 00:28:31,546 Not too short, though. 630 00:28:31,587 --> 00:28:33,673 You don't want to damage your cuticles. 631 00:28:33,715 --> 00:28:37,176 - I knew if I go in hard on this, 632 00:28:37,218 --> 00:28:40,805 if I'm all-in with this, that it can yield results. 633 00:28:40,847 --> 00:28:43,975 - Those vignettes that he put out there 634 00:28:44,016 --> 00:28:46,018 were second to none. 635 00:28:46,060 --> 00:28:48,354 And you wanted to punch him in the face. 636 00:28:48,396 --> 00:28:50,106 - Dashing. 637 00:28:50,148 --> 00:28:52,108 - He's the guy who thinks he's more handsome 638 00:28:52,150 --> 00:28:54,527 than everybody else, and that makes him a dick. 639 00:28:54,569 --> 00:28:55,737 You know what I mean? 640 00:28:55,778 --> 00:28:57,697 That's pretty easy to wrap your head around. 641 00:28:57,739 --> 00:28:59,824 - I'm really good-looking, and you can't hit me in my face, 642 00:28:59,866 --> 00:29:02,368 because you hit me in my face, this is the bread and butter. 643 00:29:02,410 --> 00:29:04,787 And then once he got hit in the face... 644 00:29:04,829 --> 00:29:06,873 - The 619... - Oh! 645 00:29:06,914 --> 00:29:08,708 - Right to the face! 646 00:29:08,750 --> 00:29:10,877 - What happens? 647 00:29:10,918 --> 00:29:13,337 - Oh, God! 648 00:29:13,379 --> 00:29:15,298 There's still people today that ask me 649 00:29:15,339 --> 00:29:17,216 if my nose really got broke. 650 00:29:17,258 --> 00:29:19,469 When legend becomes fact, print the legend. 651 00:29:19,510 --> 00:29:22,722 I don't recall if my nose was broken or not. 652 00:29:22,764 --> 00:29:26,726 * * 653 00:29:26,768 --> 00:29:29,312 In January of 2011, 654 00:29:29,353 --> 00:29:31,731 the "Dashing" Cody Rhodes character 655 00:29:31,773 --> 00:29:33,816 needed a change. 656 00:29:33,858 --> 00:29:36,736 And Cody had an idea. 657 00:29:36,778 --> 00:29:42,200 * * 658 00:29:42,241 --> 00:29:44,368 - Cody Rhodes is an emotional mess, 659 00:29:44,410 --> 00:29:45,828 still a tortured man ever since 660 00:29:45,870 --> 00:29:49,415 his dashing good looks were ripped away from him. 661 00:29:49,457 --> 00:29:51,250 - Rip Hamilton, he was playing for the Detroit Pistons 662 00:29:51,292 --> 00:29:54,754 at the time--he wore a mask to protect his nose. 663 00:29:54,796 --> 00:29:56,714 I contacted the same doctor. 664 00:29:56,756 --> 00:29:59,342 Don't film me. Stop. 665 00:29:59,384 --> 00:30:02,011 If you've seen the movie "American Psycho" 666 00:30:02,053 --> 00:30:03,763 and you've seen how you can go from being 667 00:30:03,805 --> 00:30:07,809 this polished, regimented, routined individual, 668 00:30:07,850 --> 00:30:11,270 but also being deeply unhinged 669 00:30:11,312 --> 00:30:14,273 and psychologically willing to go 670 00:30:14,315 --> 00:30:16,109 where others aren't going to go. 671 00:30:16,150 --> 00:30:18,945 I see what once was... 672 00:30:18,986 --> 00:30:21,614 dashing... 673 00:30:21,656 --> 00:30:24,575 reduced to this! 674 00:30:24,617 --> 00:30:26,786 The best part of it, I'm gonna have paper bags 675 00:30:26,828 --> 00:30:29,705 which I can hand out to ugly people in the crowd, 676 00:30:29,747 --> 00:30:32,458 and I can put it over their heads. 677 00:30:32,500 --> 00:30:35,336 - When he first started doing that, the audience-- 678 00:30:35,378 --> 00:30:37,255 you know, a couple would put it on. 679 00:30:37,296 --> 00:30:38,756 And then all of a sudden, the audience 680 00:30:38,798 --> 00:30:40,299 would start bringing their own paper bags. 681 00:30:40,341 --> 00:30:41,676 And when Cody would come out, 682 00:30:41,718 --> 00:30:43,386 they would put paper bags over their head. 683 00:30:43,428 --> 00:30:45,096 I mean, did the audience not realize, 684 00:30:45,138 --> 00:30:46,639 you're being made fun of right now? 685 00:30:46,681 --> 00:30:50,017 He's telling you that he doesn't want to see your face 686 00:30:50,059 --> 00:30:52,228 because it's too ugly to see. 687 00:30:52,270 --> 00:30:53,980 He found his groove. 688 00:30:54,021 --> 00:30:58,067 He found, like, something that he could sink his teeth into. 689 00:30:58,109 --> 00:31:00,570 - Cody's hard work had paid off. 690 00:31:00,611 --> 00:31:04,574 Just three months later, he was on the grand stage 691 00:31:04,615 --> 00:31:06,826 of WrestleMania. 692 00:31:06,868 --> 00:31:09,829 - It's a singles match on a pay-per-view at WrestleMania. 693 00:31:09,871 --> 00:31:12,915 It's also my first singles match on a pay-per-view. 694 00:31:12,957 --> 00:31:15,877 And not just that-- in my home state, in Georgia. 695 00:31:15,918 --> 00:31:18,171 - Cody got us two passes. 696 00:31:18,212 --> 00:31:19,839 Seeing him come out there, it was like 697 00:31:19,881 --> 00:31:22,425 I just wanted to go, "Hey, that was my guy. 698 00:31:22,467 --> 00:31:24,552 "He wouldn't be here-- Well, yeah, he would." 699 00:31:24,594 --> 00:31:25,928 [chuckles] 700 00:31:25,970 --> 00:31:28,389 - We connected right away. 701 00:31:28,431 --> 00:31:32,727 And WrestleMania 27 was a really fun match. 702 00:31:32,769 --> 00:31:35,188 [cheers and applause] 703 00:31:35,229 --> 00:31:38,649 - One, two, three! 704 00:31:38,691 --> 00:31:42,403 [bell dings] 705 00:31:42,445 --> 00:31:46,532 - Actually, one of the highlights of WrestleMania... 706 00:31:46,574 --> 00:31:49,494 I remember my dad had a BlackBerry. 707 00:31:49,535 --> 00:31:53,873 And I caught him taking a picture of me from the side. 708 00:31:53,915 --> 00:31:56,751 [soft music] 709 00:31:56,793 --> 00:31:59,879 And that was... 710 00:31:59,921 --> 00:32:04,384 It felt good because he was... 711 00:32:04,425 --> 00:32:07,720 I'm the biggest fan of his, right? 712 00:32:07,762 --> 00:32:12,600 But he got to be a fan of mine just for that moment. 713 00:32:12,642 --> 00:32:15,686 * * 714 00:32:19,357 --> 00:32:21,901 - What I hold in my hand 715 00:32:21,943 --> 00:32:26,781 is the classic Intercontinental Championship title! 716 00:32:29,409 --> 00:32:34,414 - In 2011, Cody was thriving as Intercontinental Champion, 717 00:32:34,455 --> 00:32:37,875 proving his value as a singles star. 718 00:32:37,917 --> 00:32:40,712 [wind whistling softly] 719 00:32:40,753 --> 00:32:45,591 Despite it all, something was still missing... 720 00:32:45,633 --> 00:32:47,343 until... 721 00:32:47,385 --> 00:32:50,179 he met a girl. 722 00:32:50,221 --> 00:32:53,683 - When you're doing the job in the industry like we have, 723 00:32:53,725 --> 00:32:57,186 where you're on the road, the people you ride with-- 724 00:32:57,228 --> 00:32:59,230 they become your family. 725 00:32:59,272 --> 00:33:01,107 They become your friends. 726 00:33:01,149 --> 00:33:03,317 You're always told you don't want to really mix 727 00:33:03,359 --> 00:33:04,736 that personal and professional, 728 00:33:04,777 --> 00:33:07,947 but when you are together so often, 729 00:33:07,989 --> 00:33:10,908 that is almost unavoidable. 730 00:33:10,950 --> 00:33:12,410 And my dad had mentioned 731 00:33:12,452 --> 00:33:14,287 he was working on something at FCW. 732 00:33:14,328 --> 00:33:15,788 He mentioned this girl he'd met, 733 00:33:15,830 --> 00:33:17,790 who had just these beautiful eyes. 734 00:33:17,832 --> 00:33:19,584 - These chicks will learn to love me. 735 00:33:19,625 --> 00:33:22,545 Oh, yeah, they will love me. 736 00:33:22,587 --> 00:33:24,380 - His dad, Dusty, 737 00:33:24,422 --> 00:33:25,757 was one of the coaches there. 738 00:33:25,798 --> 00:33:29,343 And one day he came and was just kind of watching 739 00:33:29,385 --> 00:33:31,971 at one of the shows. 740 00:33:32,013 --> 00:33:35,016 Next interaction I had with him was at a show. 741 00:33:35,058 --> 00:33:37,977 I was about to go out to start ring announcing. 742 00:33:38,019 --> 00:33:39,854 - The hair and makeup department had given her 743 00:33:39,896 --> 00:33:44,650 a real, like, Texas white housewife-style hairdo, 744 00:33:44,692 --> 00:33:47,820 where it was giant, legit giant. 745 00:33:47,862 --> 00:33:49,989 - I was getting ready to walk out, 746 00:33:50,031 --> 00:33:52,533 and Cody says, "Are you about to go out there?" 747 00:33:52,575 --> 00:33:54,077 And I said, "Yeah." 748 00:33:54,118 --> 00:33:57,955 And he said, "You might want to take a look at your hair." 749 00:33:57,997 --> 00:33:59,999 Beth Phoenix was in the locker room, 750 00:34:00,041 --> 00:34:01,459 and she said, "What are you doing? 751 00:34:01,501 --> 00:34:02,835 Don't you have to be out there?" 752 00:34:02,877 --> 00:34:04,879 I said, "Yeah," but I said, "My hair's messed up." 753 00:34:04,921 --> 00:34:07,507 And she said, "Who said your hair was messed up?" 754 00:34:07,548 --> 00:34:08,925 And I said, "Cody." 755 00:34:08,966 --> 00:34:11,928 And she said, "Nothing's wrong with your hair. 756 00:34:11,969 --> 00:34:13,388 You're fine." 757 00:34:13,429 --> 00:34:15,306 That's just his way of flirting with you. 758 00:34:15,348 --> 00:34:18,476 And I was like, "Really?" 759 00:34:18,518 --> 00:34:21,270 - I think she's got a whole spin on it now. 760 00:34:21,312 --> 00:34:23,564 I was being dead honest. 761 00:34:23,606 --> 00:34:27,276 - And we started dating pretty much immediately. 762 00:34:27,318 --> 00:34:30,446 [cheers and applause] 763 00:34:33,074 --> 00:34:36,285 In the earlier stages of our dating, 764 00:34:36,327 --> 00:34:38,287 Cody sat me down. 765 00:34:38,329 --> 00:34:41,249 He showed me a picture of his dad holding the title. 766 00:34:41,290 --> 00:34:44,794 And it looks in the picture as if his dad won the title. 767 00:34:44,836 --> 00:34:46,796 Cody just thought like, "How unfair. 768 00:34:46,838 --> 00:34:48,798 "He won, but he didn't win. 769 00:34:48,840 --> 00:34:51,134 "Well, I can fix that because I'm going to winwin. 770 00:34:51,175 --> 00:34:52,802 And then it's a win for us." 771 00:34:52,844 --> 00:34:54,929 And that's the sweetest story to hear, 772 00:34:54,971 --> 00:34:56,889 especially when you're, you know, dating somebody. 773 00:34:56,931 --> 00:34:59,684 It's, "Aw, you know, he really loves his dad. 774 00:34:59,726 --> 00:35:02,019 This is really, really sweet." 775 00:35:02,061 --> 00:35:06,733 - After two years of dating, in September of 2013, 776 00:35:06,774 --> 00:35:09,694 Cody and Brandi tied the knot. 777 00:35:09,736 --> 00:35:13,823 - I am incredibly lucky to have ever had 778 00:35:13,865 --> 00:35:16,117 a hair and makeup person screw her hair up that bad 779 00:35:16,159 --> 00:35:18,661 that I needed to tell her. 780 00:35:18,703 --> 00:35:20,747 - A month later, the Rhodes family 781 00:35:20,788 --> 00:35:23,207 would be together again... 782 00:35:23,249 --> 00:35:26,169 this time in the ring. 783 00:35:26,210 --> 00:35:29,881 Cody, his brother, known in WWE as Goldust, 784 00:35:29,922 --> 00:35:33,051 and his father, Dusty, joined forces. 785 00:35:33,092 --> 00:35:38,473 - Battleground, the whole day was really a gift... 786 00:35:38,514 --> 00:35:40,767 my brother and I being a tag team. 787 00:35:40,808 --> 00:35:42,852 Looking at it, too, we're all young. 788 00:35:42,894 --> 00:35:44,604 Seth's young. Roman's young. 789 00:35:44,645 --> 00:35:46,731 I'm young. We're developing. 790 00:35:46,773 --> 00:35:50,151 It almost feels like it was part of the story 791 00:35:50,193 --> 00:35:52,904 that I never even knew. 792 00:35:52,945 --> 00:35:54,030 - Cross Rhodes! 793 00:35:54,072 --> 00:35:57,575 all: One, two, three! [bell dings] 794 00:35:57,617 --> 00:35:59,535 - The Rhodes have done it! 795 00:35:59,577 --> 00:36:01,704 [cheers and applause] 796 00:36:01,746 --> 00:36:04,540 - It was just a real moment 797 00:36:04,582 --> 00:36:07,126 where we got to be a family. 798 00:36:07,168 --> 00:36:10,755 - Get your dictionary out and look up "feel-good moment," 799 00:36:10,797 --> 00:36:13,758 and this is what you'll see right here. 800 00:36:13,800 --> 00:36:15,676 - Our business is entertainment, 801 00:36:15,718 --> 00:36:18,513 but there's moments that are real. 802 00:36:18,554 --> 00:36:20,348 Being around my son and being able to do 803 00:36:20,390 --> 00:36:24,227 a pay-per-view with them, my God, it was just amazing. 804 00:36:24,268 --> 00:36:26,145 [cheers and applause] 805 00:36:26,187 --> 00:36:28,648 - After four years as a singles star, 806 00:36:28,689 --> 00:36:30,858 Cody's momentum had stalled. 807 00:36:30,900 --> 00:36:32,777 - That was a point in Cody's career 808 00:36:32,819 --> 00:36:35,571 where he had sort of plateaued. 809 00:36:35,613 --> 00:36:36,989 He hit this roadblock. 810 00:36:37,031 --> 00:36:40,284 He just was not, at that time in his career, 811 00:36:40,326 --> 00:36:41,869 going to live up to the potential 812 00:36:41,911 --> 00:36:43,788 of "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes. 813 00:36:43,830 --> 00:36:45,289 It wasn't gonna happen. 814 00:36:45,331 --> 00:36:46,874 - WWE wanted to create 815 00:36:46,916 --> 00:36:50,378 a new, over-the-top character for him. 816 00:36:50,420 --> 00:36:52,964 - Creative Services came up with some really cool designs. 817 00:36:53,005 --> 00:36:55,925 At one point, I looked like Marvel's Quicksilver. 818 00:36:55,967 --> 00:36:57,969 Originally, there was a mask. 819 00:36:58,010 --> 00:37:01,681 It looked like a condom blown up on my head. 820 00:37:01,723 --> 00:37:03,266 We went through all these revisions 821 00:37:03,307 --> 00:37:05,226 on what Stardust could be. 822 00:37:05,268 --> 00:37:08,688 And then Stardust ended up being just a mini Goldust. 823 00:37:08,730 --> 00:37:12,984 [shimmering music] 824 00:37:13,025 --> 00:37:14,819 - Stardust. 825 00:37:14,861 --> 00:37:17,071 I don't know what quite to make of this. 826 00:37:18,406 --> 00:37:20,241 - Goldust. 827 00:37:20,283 --> 00:37:22,660 Stardust. 828 00:37:22,702 --> 00:37:24,662 - It was all character, you know, 829 00:37:24,704 --> 00:37:27,373 face paint, body suit, mannerisms. 830 00:37:27,415 --> 00:37:28,791 - [hisses] 831 00:37:28,833 --> 00:37:31,544 - He sunk his teeth into that character. 832 00:37:31,586 --> 00:37:33,296 And I think he did make it work. 833 00:37:33,337 --> 00:37:34,964 He took it so seriously. 834 00:37:35,006 --> 00:37:36,716 I think I even went to a Six Flags with Cody, 835 00:37:36,758 --> 00:37:38,176 and he's dressed up as Stardust. 836 00:37:38,217 --> 00:37:40,303 You know, so that's how serious 837 00:37:40,344 --> 00:37:41,763 he took this character. 838 00:37:41,804 --> 00:37:44,807 - Every single house show, every TV we had, 839 00:37:44,849 --> 00:37:46,768 he would be completely committed to it. 840 00:37:46,809 --> 00:37:48,436 He never phoned it in. 841 00:37:48,478 --> 00:37:51,230 - Cody Rhodes is now dead. It's now all about Stardust. 842 00:37:51,272 --> 00:37:53,733 - I never have seen someone in my life 843 00:37:53,775 --> 00:37:55,735 that took a character like that 844 00:37:55,777 --> 00:37:59,322 as seriously as Cody did and worked on that craft. 845 00:37:59,363 --> 00:38:03,034 * * 846 00:38:03,076 --> 00:38:06,829 - The Stardust character caught the eye of yours truly. 847 00:38:06,871 --> 00:38:09,791 - Stephen Amell, look, the Arrow. 848 00:38:09,832 --> 00:38:12,251 - In the spring of 2015, 849 00:38:12,293 --> 00:38:14,003 I was playing a comic book hero 850 00:38:14,045 --> 00:38:15,922 on the television show "Arrow." 851 00:38:15,963 --> 00:38:20,259 It was a natural fit to connect us in WWE. 852 00:38:20,301 --> 00:38:23,346 - Stephen Amell takes interest in me. 853 00:38:23,388 --> 00:38:24,764 We're able to do this crossover 854 00:38:24,806 --> 00:38:27,433 and do some stuff with Hollywood with "Arrow." 855 00:38:27,475 --> 00:38:28,684 - Let's do this. 856 00:38:30,645 --> 00:38:33,981 - A lot came from Stardust, really a lot. 857 00:38:34,023 --> 00:38:35,858 - But playing the Stardust character 858 00:38:35,900 --> 00:38:37,902 was challenging for Cody. 859 00:38:37,944 --> 00:38:39,779 And after a year, 860 00:38:39,821 --> 00:38:43,157 he began vocalizing his frustrations. 861 00:38:43,199 --> 00:38:45,368 - Stardust's level was beneath me. 862 00:38:45,410 --> 00:38:47,203 [party horn tooting] 863 00:38:47,245 --> 00:38:49,247 One more time, sorry. 864 00:38:49,288 --> 00:38:50,915 - I hated Stardust. 865 00:38:50,957 --> 00:38:53,251 Yes, he was entertaining. Yes, he owned it. 866 00:38:53,292 --> 00:38:56,212 He killed it as that character, as that Stardust character, 867 00:38:56,254 --> 00:39:00,633 but you just never saw him as a credible World Champion. 868 00:39:00,675 --> 00:39:05,388 - Stardust was locking me out of the top of the card. 869 00:39:05,430 --> 00:39:09,100 - Stardust is that mid-card. He's fun. He's entertaining. 870 00:39:09,142 --> 00:39:12,061 But he's never gonna be in the Main Event of WrestleMania. 871 00:39:12,103 --> 00:39:14,564 And that's where we all want to be. 872 00:39:14,605 --> 00:39:15,982 - What I did as Cody Rhodes, 873 00:39:16,023 --> 00:39:18,025 particularly as Intercontinental Champion, 874 00:39:18,067 --> 00:39:20,903 those brass rings I was really close to getting, 875 00:39:20,945 --> 00:39:23,072 I think the taste of being so near it 876 00:39:23,114 --> 00:39:26,909 is what made Stardust so bitter... 877 00:39:26,951 --> 00:39:30,079 dead inside, painting my face, 878 00:39:30,121 --> 00:39:33,082 mortified to be that character. 879 00:39:33,124 --> 00:39:35,126 You know, I had pity on Brandi 880 00:39:35,168 --> 00:39:37,378 for living with me throughout that period. 881 00:39:37,420 --> 00:39:40,423 [laughs maniacally] 882 00:39:40,465 --> 00:39:43,760 - I felt pain for him through that period 883 00:39:43,801 --> 00:39:46,262 because I knew how hard he was trying. 884 00:39:46,304 --> 00:39:50,016 - Pick a card, any card. 885 00:39:50,058 --> 00:39:53,561 Sometimes you've got to hit a rock bottom. 886 00:39:53,603 --> 00:39:56,064 That was rock bottom. 887 00:39:56,105 --> 00:39:59,484 - You can start to do something here creatively 888 00:39:59,525 --> 00:40:02,278 and wind up down a road that you think like, 889 00:40:02,320 --> 00:40:05,281 "Man, how did I end up here? This isn't what I want to do." 890 00:40:05,323 --> 00:40:09,077 You have a vision in your head of what you can be, 891 00:40:09,118 --> 00:40:10,536 of what you can accomplish. 892 00:40:10,578 --> 00:40:11,954 That's a tough blend 893 00:40:11,996 --> 00:40:13,790 because it's got to work for everybody in the company. 894 00:40:13,831 --> 00:40:15,708 It's got to work for the overall storytelling. 895 00:40:15,750 --> 00:40:17,126 It's got to work for the overall brand. 896 00:40:17,168 --> 00:40:18,878 It's not just about the individual. 897 00:40:18,920 --> 00:40:21,798 That's just the business. 898 00:40:21,839 --> 00:40:24,967 - My dad called me, and he was upset. 899 00:40:25,009 --> 00:40:28,054 He said he'll never be World Champ in this. 900 00:40:28,096 --> 00:40:29,680 - Frustration really sets in with Cody 901 00:40:29,722 --> 00:40:32,767 more than anything I've ever done. 902 00:40:32,809 --> 00:40:34,977 I see how talented he is. 903 00:40:35,019 --> 00:40:36,729 What are they not seeing here? 904 00:40:36,771 --> 00:40:40,650 To where you just want to go off--"Are you blind?" 905 00:40:40,691 --> 00:40:42,652 But they--Oh, Dad's talking. 906 00:40:42,693 --> 00:40:44,737 His dad wants him to be on top. 907 00:40:44,779 --> 00:40:47,615 - I remember him calling his dad on the phone 908 00:40:47,657 --> 00:40:48,991 almost every day, 909 00:40:49,033 --> 00:40:51,661 and all they ever talked about was the business. 910 00:40:51,702 --> 00:40:54,163 - The conversations when I was doing Stardust 911 00:40:54,205 --> 00:40:57,333 became so negative and downtrodden 912 00:40:57,375 --> 00:40:59,585 that that was one of the first times 913 00:40:59,627 --> 00:41:02,338 he just hit me with the basic, "well, you should quit." 914 00:41:08,428 --> 00:41:11,013 [tense music] 915 00:41:11,055 --> 00:41:13,766 * * 916 00:41:13,808 --> 00:41:16,936 - After nearly a year as the Stardust character, 917 00:41:16,978 --> 00:41:19,021 Cody was questioning his future. 918 00:41:19,063 --> 00:41:25,194 * * 919 00:41:26,320 --> 00:41:30,533 - I didn't quit because that's now how I had been raised. 920 00:41:30,575 --> 00:41:34,495 I didn't quit when I was a sophomore in high school 921 00:41:34,537 --> 00:41:37,498 and had to wrestle seven matches in a single day 922 00:41:37,540 --> 00:41:40,793 just to get on the podium at sixth place. 923 00:41:40,835 --> 00:41:44,881 Had I quit at anything, my mom would've disowned me. 924 00:41:44,922 --> 00:41:48,509 But it seemed like there was no way to get out of it. 925 00:41:48,551 --> 00:41:50,845 I used to say, "I'm way smarter than this." 926 00:41:50,887 --> 00:41:52,180 That's what I would tell myself-- 927 00:41:52,221 --> 00:41:53,514 "I'm way smarter than this," 928 00:41:53,556 --> 00:41:55,349 meaning, why can't I find the cheese? 929 00:41:55,391 --> 00:41:57,351 Why can't I get out of this? 930 00:41:57,393 --> 00:42:00,938 And, ultimately, I did hang on. 931 00:42:03,107 --> 00:42:05,026 - Meanwhile, his father, Dusty, 932 00:42:05,068 --> 00:42:07,111 had been molding a new class 933 00:42:07,153 --> 00:42:10,281 of superstars at the WWE Performance Center 934 00:42:10,323 --> 00:42:12,366 under the NXT banner. 935 00:42:12,408 --> 00:42:16,454 - When you talk about promo or promo and communication 936 00:42:16,496 --> 00:42:17,997 and the audience... 937 00:42:18,039 --> 00:42:19,165 I love teaching. 938 00:42:19,207 --> 00:42:20,750 That's why I'm still doing this. 939 00:42:20,792 --> 00:42:23,544 I love teaching young kids and seeing them move up. 940 00:42:23,586 --> 00:42:25,546 - It was the hot thing at the time. 941 00:42:25,588 --> 00:42:28,257 So it was like, these NXT kids and Dusty's kids. 942 00:42:28,299 --> 00:42:30,927 Meanwhile, he's spinning his wheels. 943 00:42:30,968 --> 00:42:33,388 - I used to tell Brandi on NXT nights, 944 00:42:33,429 --> 00:42:35,139 I'd always say, "It's gonna be a bad night." 945 00:42:35,181 --> 00:42:37,475 I'm not part of this resurgence, 946 00:42:37,517 --> 00:42:40,561 these indie stars coming in and being polished, 947 00:42:40,603 --> 00:42:44,982 all under the umbrella of Dusty Rhodes. 948 00:42:45,024 --> 00:42:46,609 - I was Dusty's kid. 949 00:42:46,651 --> 00:42:49,404 Huge influence on all the students. 950 00:42:49,445 --> 00:42:51,531 - Dusty had time for everybody, 951 00:42:51,572 --> 00:42:54,367 and he truly did treat us like his kids. 952 00:42:54,409 --> 00:42:57,245 - It did strike more of a nerve with him, I know, 953 00:42:57,286 --> 00:42:59,330 than I would have assumed, 954 00:42:59,372 --> 00:43:01,290 because I was like, "You know, it's just an expression. 955 00:43:01,332 --> 00:43:03,251 "We're not his kids. Like, we just like the guy, 956 00:43:03,292 --> 00:43:05,628 And he's so nice to us," you know? 957 00:43:05,670 --> 00:43:08,423 - I worked closely with Dusty for a few years 958 00:43:08,464 --> 00:43:09,590 down in Florida. 959 00:43:09,632 --> 00:43:11,342 He was a big supporter of mine. 960 00:43:11,384 --> 00:43:15,304 I mean, Dusty's responsible for almost everybody 961 00:43:15,346 --> 00:43:17,598 that came through Developmental 962 00:43:17,640 --> 00:43:20,977 over the course of five, six, seven years. 963 00:43:21,018 --> 00:43:22,520 - He's telling me I should quit. 964 00:43:22,562 --> 00:43:25,440 Meanwhile, he's grooming a Seth Rollins. 965 00:43:25,481 --> 00:43:28,276 He's grooming a Roman Reigns. He's grooming a Sami Zayn. 966 00:43:28,317 --> 00:43:29,902 He's grooming a Kevin Owens. 967 00:43:29,944 --> 00:43:33,114 Maddening, [bleep] maddening. 968 00:43:33,156 --> 00:43:35,241 Really just... 969 00:43:35,283 --> 00:43:38,619 It's like he's got his own Little League team, right? 970 00:43:38,661 --> 00:43:41,372 And they're just hitting home runs, and I can't play. 971 00:43:41,414 --> 00:43:42,749 The worst. 972 00:43:42,790 --> 00:43:46,753 And it made me really resent all of the Dusty's Kids. 973 00:43:46,794 --> 00:43:48,379 Made me resent them. 974 00:43:48,421 --> 00:43:50,173 Made me resent the idea 975 00:43:50,214 --> 00:43:53,217 that he would be a mascot for the Developmental. 976 00:43:53,259 --> 00:43:55,887 It was tough. 977 00:43:55,928 --> 00:43:59,307 - Cody's frustration was reaching a breaking point, 978 00:43:59,348 --> 00:44:03,519 but Dusty's support for his son never wavered. 979 00:44:03,561 --> 00:44:05,646 - I was very close to his dad. 980 00:44:05,688 --> 00:44:08,566 We sort of started NXT together. 981 00:44:08,608 --> 00:44:10,485 To know how he felt about Cody, 982 00:44:10,526 --> 00:44:12,737 to see how he felt about Cody's career 983 00:44:12,779 --> 00:44:15,364 and what Cody could accomplish... 984 00:44:15,406 --> 00:44:17,325 - He did speak very highly of Cody. 985 00:44:17,366 --> 00:44:18,993 He used to refer to him as The Prince. 986 00:44:19,035 --> 00:44:20,495 - Loved him, thought he was the best. 987 00:44:20,536 --> 00:44:22,663 The company wasn't doing enough with him. 988 00:44:22,705 --> 00:44:24,999 He's a great promo. He's great in the ring. 989 00:44:25,041 --> 00:44:26,501 - Should have been still 990 00:44:26,542 --> 00:44:29,003 Intercontinental Champion or World Champion. 991 00:44:29,045 --> 00:44:30,880 Cody is so passionate. 992 00:44:30,922 --> 00:44:34,509 He's one that doesn't like the status quo. 993 00:44:34,550 --> 00:44:36,427 - He knew I was somewhere where maybe 994 00:44:36,469 --> 00:44:38,429 I couldn't be retrieved, that I had to be the one. 995 00:44:38,471 --> 00:44:40,348 I had to be the one to make whatever decision 996 00:44:40,390 --> 00:44:42,809 would come next, and it sucks. 997 00:44:42,850 --> 00:44:45,520 And it's such a shame that he doesn't 998 00:44:45,561 --> 00:44:49,357 and didn't get to see the decision that was made next. 999 00:44:49,399 --> 00:44:52,402 - As Cody struggled with his life on-screen, 1000 00:44:52,443 --> 00:44:55,154 his personal life took a sharp turn 1001 00:44:55,196 --> 00:44:58,783 on June 10, 2015. 1002 00:44:58,825 --> 00:45:00,410 - My father had been sick. 1003 00:45:00,451 --> 00:45:03,204 He had terrible, like, trouble in his stomach. 1004 00:45:03,246 --> 00:45:04,705 It's just tearing him up, 1005 00:45:04,747 --> 00:45:07,125 and they thought perhaps an infection. 1006 00:45:07,166 --> 00:45:09,252 - Early, very early in the morning, 1007 00:45:09,293 --> 00:45:12,714 he got up, and he told me, "I'm really sick. 1008 00:45:12,755 --> 00:45:15,883 Something is wrong." 1009 00:45:15,925 --> 00:45:19,178 And he collapsed, and I called the ambulance. 1010 00:45:19,220 --> 00:45:22,724 [siren whooping] 1011 00:45:22,765 --> 00:45:25,393 The doctor came in the room, and he said, 1012 00:45:25,435 --> 00:45:27,603 "You've got an infection." 1013 00:45:27,645 --> 00:45:30,314 He said, "We're gonna have to keep you here for the weekend, 1014 00:45:30,356 --> 00:45:33,443 and we're going to put you on IV antibiotics." 1015 00:45:35,987 --> 00:45:39,907 - I remember every coat of paint on the wall, 1016 00:45:39,949 --> 00:45:41,617 every scratch on the floor. 1017 00:45:41,659 --> 00:45:44,746 I remember the hallway I took to get coffee. 1018 00:45:44,787 --> 00:45:47,707 I remember going by the piano in the chapel. 1019 00:45:47,749 --> 00:45:51,335 Every piece of it is burned into my brain. 1020 00:45:51,377 --> 00:45:53,713 It's the last memories I have of him. 1021 00:45:56,049 --> 00:46:00,386 I found out about septicemia and septic shock. 1022 00:46:00,428 --> 00:46:02,472 And I found out the return rate-- 1023 00:46:02,513 --> 00:46:04,974 once your body goes into shock like that, 1024 00:46:05,016 --> 00:46:07,268 the organs start to fail. 1025 00:46:07,310 --> 00:46:10,605 It's not a good return rate. 1026 00:46:10,646 --> 00:46:12,815 And... 1027 00:46:12,857 --> 00:46:16,903 I went from praying he would live 1028 00:46:16,944 --> 00:46:19,989 to praying he would pass... 1029 00:46:20,031 --> 00:46:22,450 because, you know, once the nurse tells you 1030 00:46:22,492 --> 00:46:25,369 he has no quality of life, 1031 00:46:25,411 --> 00:46:27,747 if you can't live, you can't live. 1032 00:46:27,789 --> 00:46:30,750 [monitor beeping] 1033 00:46:30,792 --> 00:46:32,710 * * 1034 00:46:32,752 --> 00:46:37,590 It's not like movies or TV, where the thing goes flat. 1035 00:46:37,632 --> 00:46:39,926 It takes longer. 1036 00:46:39,967 --> 00:46:41,302 A doctor has to come in 1037 00:46:41,344 --> 00:46:44,430 and literally put his ear to the chest. 1038 00:46:44,472 --> 00:46:47,308 The doctor tells you, "No, he's still alive." 1039 00:46:47,350 --> 00:46:50,228 [sighs] It's just a... 1040 00:46:51,687 --> 00:46:55,650 I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. 1041 00:46:55,691 --> 00:46:58,194 It was just two days of sitting there 1042 00:46:58,236 --> 00:47:01,614 and watching your hero... 1043 00:47:01,656 --> 00:47:05,743 watching your favorite person just die. 1044 00:47:11,457 --> 00:47:14,460 [soft music] 1045 00:47:14,502 --> 00:47:17,588 - On June 11, 2015, 1046 00:47:17,630 --> 00:47:20,007 Dusty Rhodes passed on. 1047 00:47:20,049 --> 00:47:23,219 He was 69. 1048 00:47:23,261 --> 00:47:27,265 - You know, it's your hero, and he's-- 1049 00:47:27,306 --> 00:47:31,227 Anybody who loses a parent, there's no good time for it, 1050 00:47:31,269 --> 00:47:34,188 but the shock of it for us as a family 1051 00:47:34,230 --> 00:47:38,151 was just hard to sort through. 1052 00:47:38,192 --> 00:47:40,027 - People say, "Oh, he's there. He's with you." 1053 00:47:40,069 --> 00:47:41,571 No, he's not. 1054 00:47:41,612 --> 00:47:44,532 I understand what you mean, but he's physically not. 1055 00:47:44,574 --> 00:47:49,162 But he was there in so many ways. 1056 00:47:49,203 --> 00:47:51,164 I describe him as a perfect father. 1057 00:47:51,205 --> 00:47:56,044 * * 1058 00:47:56,085 --> 00:47:59,338 It's almost selfish to want him any longer than I had him. 1059 00:47:59,380 --> 00:48:01,632 [voice breaking] And I had them for-- 1060 00:48:01,674 --> 00:48:03,926 I had him for what I had him. 1061 00:48:08,222 --> 00:48:10,183 [somber music] 1062 00:48:10,224 --> 00:48:13,186 - Dusty's passing wasn't just felt by his family 1063 00:48:13,227 --> 00:48:17,065 but by the entire wrestling industry. 1064 00:48:17,106 --> 00:48:20,193 His memorial service was a glowing tribute 1065 00:48:20,234 --> 00:48:24,906 to both the legend and the father he was. 1066 00:48:24,947 --> 00:48:26,741 - It's an honor... 1067 00:48:26,783 --> 00:48:31,037 it's a privilege to tell you who Dusty was 1068 00:48:31,079 --> 00:48:34,999 and who he was in his heart. 1069 00:48:35,041 --> 00:48:36,918 - That's a tough thing-- to be able 1070 00:48:36,959 --> 00:48:41,589 to deliver your dad's eulogy in front of all your peers, 1071 00:48:41,631 --> 00:48:45,802 and you're having to deal with your own emotions. 1072 00:48:45,843 --> 00:48:48,596 - There was a period of time in my mid-teens 1073 00:48:48,638 --> 00:48:52,183 when we lost our fortune and we went broke. 1074 00:48:52,225 --> 00:48:54,727 And you'd never know. 1075 00:48:54,769 --> 00:48:57,230 We ate like kings. We danced like stars. 1076 00:48:57,271 --> 00:48:58,564 We partied like the monarchy. 1077 00:48:58,606 --> 00:49:01,609 We pretend to be because my dad refuted 1078 00:49:01,651 --> 00:49:05,530 the idea that his children would go without. 1079 00:49:05,571 --> 00:49:08,908 - I swear to God, every father in the world 1080 00:49:08,950 --> 00:49:12,120 would love to have someone speak about him 1081 00:49:12,161 --> 00:49:15,540 the way he spoke about Dusty. 1082 00:49:15,581 --> 00:49:19,419 - Today I consider myself the luckiest man 1083 00:49:19,460 --> 00:49:21,963 on the face of this Earth 1084 00:49:22,004 --> 00:49:25,967 for having stood in the company of Dusty Rhodes. 1085 00:49:26,008 --> 00:49:28,010 * * 1086 00:49:28,052 --> 00:49:31,639 Tonight when we lay down, when we fall asleep, 1087 00:49:31,681 --> 00:49:34,016 when we put our heads against the pillow, 1088 00:49:34,058 --> 00:49:37,812 I ask you, don't just have a dream... 1089 00:49:37,854 --> 00:49:41,399 [sighs] Have an American Dream. 1090 00:49:44,110 --> 00:49:46,112 * * 1091 00:49:46,154 --> 00:49:48,948 When my father passed away, I think a lot of people assumed 1092 00:49:48,990 --> 00:49:50,992 I would just come back as Cody Rhodes. 1093 00:49:51,033 --> 00:49:53,786 And it's actually the one time I wanted to make it clear, 1094 00:49:53,828 --> 00:49:57,123 no, I wasn't ready to be Cody Rhodes. 1095 00:49:57,165 --> 00:49:59,250 I wasn't even close to ready to being Cody Rhodes. 1096 00:49:59,292 --> 00:50:01,669 So now I had a mask already 1097 00:50:01,711 --> 00:50:03,463 that I could dive right back into. 1098 00:50:03,504 --> 00:50:06,507 I had a suit that could become armor 1099 00:50:06,549 --> 00:50:08,384 while I grieved and while I processed 1100 00:50:08,426 --> 00:50:10,136 and while I figured out, 1101 00:50:10,178 --> 00:50:13,389 how do I move the family forward now? 1102 00:50:15,058 --> 00:50:17,393 - Two months later, Cody and I were slated 1103 00:50:17,435 --> 00:50:20,188 to have a match at SummerSlam. 1104 00:50:20,229 --> 00:50:23,900 It had been ten weeks since Dusty's passing. 1105 00:50:23,941 --> 00:50:28,362 * * 1106 00:50:28,404 --> 00:50:30,031 - I put a blog out. 1107 00:50:30,073 --> 00:50:31,824 My wife has a blog. 1108 00:50:31,866 --> 00:50:35,953 I put it out to kind of, like, cool the fires 1109 00:50:35,995 --> 00:50:39,248 as far as... 1110 00:50:39,290 --> 00:50:41,042 coming back as Stardust. 1111 00:50:41,084 --> 00:50:43,127 It would've been real easy to come back as Cody Rhodes. 1112 00:50:43,169 --> 00:50:44,545 It would've been real easy. 1113 00:50:44,587 --> 00:50:46,589 It also would have been really tacky. 1114 00:50:46,631 --> 00:50:48,716 Many years ago, there was a death 1115 00:50:48,758 --> 00:50:50,510 in the sports entertainment industry, 1116 00:50:50,551 --> 00:50:52,011 and my dad even said-- 1117 00:50:52,053 --> 00:50:53,429 he said, people were saying, "Oh, such-and-such 1118 00:50:53,471 --> 00:50:54,764 "would've loved that. 1119 00:50:54,806 --> 00:50:56,557 They would love being mentioned on TV." 1120 00:50:56,599 --> 00:50:57,892 And my dad said to me, 1121 00:50:57,934 --> 00:50:59,560 "I won't want to be mentioned on TV. 1122 00:50:59,602 --> 00:51:01,562 What I did is what I did." 1123 00:51:01,604 --> 00:51:03,064 And the last thing-- 1124 00:51:03,106 --> 00:51:05,691 you know, barring some stuff with Goldust and myself-- 1125 00:51:05,733 --> 00:51:08,361 the last thing he did was Battleground, really. 1126 00:51:08,403 --> 00:51:10,530 He was... 1127 00:51:10,571 --> 00:51:13,741 much more sick than I realized. 1128 00:51:16,202 --> 00:51:17,578 I can't believe we're here, 1129 00:51:17,620 --> 00:51:20,248 and I can't believe he is not here. 1130 00:51:20,289 --> 00:51:22,625 But I hope... 1131 00:51:24,460 --> 00:51:26,504 I really hope... 1132 00:51:26,546 --> 00:51:29,215 because I have had his voice in my head 1133 00:51:29,257 --> 00:51:30,550 and not in a forced way, 1134 00:51:30,591 --> 00:51:32,301 like, oh, I need to hear him, you know? 1135 00:51:32,343 --> 00:51:35,012 Because I'm very skeptical about what happens 1136 00:51:35,054 --> 00:51:37,765 after one dies, but I can hear him. 1137 00:51:37,807 --> 00:51:39,934 And he always would say-- It was a promo of his. 1138 00:51:39,976 --> 00:51:41,853 And I can't even find the promo. 1139 00:51:41,894 --> 00:51:44,147 He'd say, "This is the Super Bowl. 1140 00:51:44,188 --> 00:51:46,232 It's Broadway." 1141 00:51:46,274 --> 00:51:48,025 He's talking about a big match. 1142 00:51:48,067 --> 00:51:51,779 I can hear him-- how he talked, how he sounded. 1143 00:51:53,489 --> 00:51:55,908 And I hope... 1144 00:51:55,950 --> 00:51:58,703 when I tag in tonight, I can hear him. 1145 00:51:58,745 --> 00:52:01,205 It would mean a lot to me. 1146 00:52:01,247 --> 00:52:03,791 And it would mean a lot to his family, 1147 00:52:03,833 --> 00:52:06,544 'cause you can do a tag tournament for him, 1148 00:52:06,586 --> 00:52:07,837 and that's great, 1149 00:52:07,879 --> 00:52:10,006 and his NXT kids can be his kids, 1150 00:52:10,048 --> 00:52:12,633 but I'm one of his actual kids. 1151 00:52:12,675 --> 00:52:15,136 * * 1152 00:52:15,178 --> 00:52:17,263 The idea that we had this crossover element-- 1153 00:52:17,305 --> 00:52:18,848 we've got Stephen Amell, 1154 00:52:18,890 --> 00:52:21,851 who's on top of the world at the time with "Arrow." 1155 00:52:21,893 --> 00:52:24,771 I felt like taking a bow essentially. 1156 00:52:24,812 --> 00:52:26,355 This is it. 1157 00:52:26,397 --> 00:52:28,858 The character was tapped out. 1158 00:52:28,900 --> 00:52:30,860 I can call myself Stardust. 1159 00:52:30,902 --> 00:52:32,445 You can debate all day, 1160 00:52:32,487 --> 00:52:34,280 but there's still a Rhodes wrestling, 1161 00:52:34,322 --> 00:52:37,366 and it felt good for there to be a Rhodes wrestling 1162 00:52:37,408 --> 00:52:39,118 in a premier spot. 1163 00:52:40,495 --> 00:52:42,330 I didn't think I wanted to even see a ring 1164 00:52:42,371 --> 00:52:43,581 if my dad wasn't in it. 1165 00:52:43,623 --> 00:52:46,125 And that... 1166 00:52:46,167 --> 00:52:49,003 that tonight ramped me right back up to, 1167 00:52:49,045 --> 00:52:51,923 I feel like one of the boys again. 1168 00:52:51,964 --> 00:52:54,675 I was at the point now where my heart was ready for it. 1169 00:52:54,717 --> 00:52:58,262 I was ready to tell the story of becoming Cody Rhodes again. 1170 00:52:58,304 --> 00:53:01,224 And that wasn't even on their radar. 1171 00:53:01,265 --> 00:53:02,892 I'm thinking, "Well, this is the end 1172 00:53:02,934 --> 00:53:04,310 of the Stardust chapter." 1173 00:53:04,352 --> 00:53:06,104 I'm thinking, "There'll be another thing. 1174 00:53:06,145 --> 00:53:08,564 "This is the same company that has raised me. 1175 00:53:08,606 --> 00:53:10,691 "They're absolutely gonna have something new 1176 00:53:10,733 --> 00:53:12,360 "for me to dive into. 1177 00:53:12,402 --> 00:53:13,778 Now what?" 1178 00:53:13,820 --> 00:53:16,280 And "now what?" was a whole lot of nothing. 1179 00:53:16,322 --> 00:53:19,617 I remember writing so many different emails-- 1180 00:53:19,659 --> 00:53:22,203 like, reset me. 1181 00:53:22,245 --> 00:53:25,206 At one point, when I went to talk to one of the writers, 1182 00:53:25,248 --> 00:53:26,457 they ignored me. 1183 00:53:26,499 --> 00:53:28,126 They actually did the hand shun. 1184 00:53:28,167 --> 00:53:30,211 And they were typing on their laptop. 1185 00:53:30,253 --> 00:53:35,049 And I leaned in and looked, and the laptop was powered off. 1186 00:53:35,091 --> 00:53:38,636 So that was the moment where I headed up to Gorilla 1187 00:53:38,678 --> 00:53:41,013 and told Triple H, 1188 00:53:41,055 --> 00:53:43,349 "I want to punch that writer in the face." 1189 00:53:43,391 --> 00:53:46,310 And then as I was leaving, he said, 1190 00:53:46,352 --> 00:53:48,896 "Hey, if you really want to make some noise, 1191 00:53:48,938 --> 00:53:50,898 "you got to rattle the cages. 1192 00:53:50,940 --> 00:53:53,401 Got to rattle the cages." 1193 00:53:53,443 --> 00:53:56,154 And I just nodded at him and walked on through. 1194 00:53:57,655 --> 00:53:59,115 - When you're younger 1195 00:53:59,157 --> 00:54:00,700 and you're in the business and you're working hard 1196 00:54:00,742 --> 00:54:01,909 and you're doing all those things, 1197 00:54:01,951 --> 00:54:03,411 everything is very personal, 1198 00:54:03,453 --> 00:54:06,080 and it's emotional, and you can be blinded by that. 1199 00:54:06,122 --> 00:54:09,083 You're always in a rush to get to where you want to be. 1200 00:54:09,125 --> 00:54:11,335 You want it to be a different way. 1201 00:54:11,377 --> 00:54:13,463 You know, you're having to talk him off the ledge 1202 00:54:13,504 --> 00:54:15,131 almost every week. 1203 00:54:15,173 --> 00:54:17,216 - No matter what chicken salad 1204 00:54:17,258 --> 00:54:19,761 he made out of the chicken shit that was Stardust, 1205 00:54:19,802 --> 00:54:21,304 he couldn't get out of it. 1206 00:54:21,345 --> 00:54:23,139 [dramatic music] 1207 00:54:23,181 --> 00:54:25,016 - Over the next eight months, 1208 00:54:25,058 --> 00:54:28,102 Cody would continue to portray the Stardust character. 1209 00:54:28,144 --> 00:54:33,066 During this time, his resentment only grew. 1210 00:54:33,107 --> 00:54:35,359 - They wouldn't let him call himself Rhodes and all that. 1211 00:54:35,401 --> 00:54:37,278 I mean, does that make sense? 1212 00:54:37,320 --> 00:54:39,530 * * 1213 00:54:39,572 --> 00:54:42,325 - He was burned out of trying to convince people 1214 00:54:42,366 --> 00:54:43,785 that he should be Cody. 1215 00:54:43,826 --> 00:54:47,038 I mean, he's a [bleep] Rhodes. He should be Cody Rhodes. 1216 00:54:47,080 --> 00:54:48,956 - It's kind of like being told, 1217 00:54:48,998 --> 00:54:51,125 "We don't really think who you are 1218 00:54:51,167 --> 00:54:53,252 "is interesting enough to be on our show, 1219 00:54:53,294 --> 00:54:55,713 so we need you to play this crazy character." 1220 00:54:55,755 --> 00:54:58,841 - I would wrestle in the live events as Stardust, 1221 00:54:58,883 --> 00:55:01,511 and I had a steel tumbler that traveled with me 1222 00:55:01,552 --> 00:55:02,762 for coffee and stuff. 1223 00:55:02,804 --> 00:55:04,472 So, once I was done with my match, 1224 00:55:04,514 --> 00:55:09,185 I would fill it with whiskey and pour Gatorade on top of it 1225 00:55:09,227 --> 00:55:11,062 so nobody knew what was going on, 1226 00:55:11,104 --> 00:55:12,980 and I was drinking at the monitor, 1227 00:55:13,022 --> 00:55:14,941 watching the rest of the live event. 1228 00:55:14,982 --> 00:55:16,984 That's how checked out I was. 1229 00:55:17,026 --> 00:55:18,945 I wasn't trying to get drunk. 1230 00:55:18,986 --> 00:55:21,823 I feel like I was almost trying to get fired 1231 00:55:21,864 --> 00:55:23,449 just because I couldn't bring myself to quit, 1232 00:55:23,491 --> 00:55:25,493 even though I needed to bring myself to quit. 1233 00:55:25,535 --> 00:55:29,247 * * 1234 00:55:29,288 --> 00:55:31,791 And the next steps I took were the steps of, 1235 00:55:31,833 --> 00:55:34,794 let Triple H know, let Vince know 1236 00:55:34,836 --> 00:55:36,671 I'm not putting the suit back on 1237 00:55:36,713 --> 00:55:39,048 unless I'm telling the story of getting out of it. 1238 00:55:40,466 --> 00:55:44,303 And that was met very much poorly. 1239 00:55:44,345 --> 00:55:48,641 And that was where I knew I had to get out. 1240 00:55:48,683 --> 00:55:51,728 * * 1241 00:55:55,273 --> 00:55:57,024 - I was a legacy individual in WWE, 1242 00:55:57,066 --> 00:55:58,901 and I was a hard worker. 1243 00:55:58,943 --> 00:56:00,111 I wasn't gonna be fired 1244 00:56:00,153 --> 00:56:02,029 no matter how many budget cuts there were 1245 00:56:02,071 --> 00:56:04,449 or anything like that. 1246 00:56:04,490 --> 00:56:07,994 I told WWE, good luck in your future endeavors. 1247 00:56:08,035 --> 00:56:11,038 I fired WWE. 1248 00:56:11,080 --> 00:56:14,125 - In May of 2016, 1249 00:56:14,167 --> 00:56:16,669 after a decade with WWE, 1250 00:56:16,711 --> 00:56:20,131 Cody was granted his release. 1251 00:56:20,173 --> 00:56:21,632 - You could've collected 1252 00:56:21,674 --> 00:56:23,634 a six-figure check for the rest of your life. 1253 00:56:23,676 --> 00:56:27,221 You just bought a house, at the time, in Denton, Texas. 1254 00:56:27,263 --> 00:56:29,474 I'm married. We want to have a family. 1255 00:56:29,515 --> 00:56:32,643 Every bit of security and every guarantee you have 1256 00:56:32,685 --> 00:56:34,645 you just threw out, and now you can't get 1257 00:56:34,687 --> 00:56:37,315 those securities or those guarantees back--you can't. 1258 00:56:37,356 --> 00:56:40,151 - He walked away from a lot of money, 1259 00:56:40,193 --> 00:56:44,906 but he knew he was never gonna get the opportunity... 1260 00:56:44,947 --> 00:56:46,115 if he didn't leave. 1261 00:56:46,157 --> 00:56:48,117 - I was terrified. 1262 00:56:48,159 --> 00:56:50,870 I just was not on board with that. 1263 00:56:50,912 --> 00:56:53,122 - Her exact reaction was that I was gonna end up, 1264 00:56:53,164 --> 00:56:55,792 and I quote, "dead or in jail." 1265 00:56:55,833 --> 00:56:59,003 - I said, "Thank God. Let's go." 1266 00:56:59,045 --> 00:57:01,214 [chuckles] Like, no one's happy. 1267 00:57:01,255 --> 00:57:04,550 Leave this in a place of love. Leave this as a good memory. 1268 00:57:04,592 --> 00:57:06,886 Let's not leave this as purgatory, you know? 1269 00:57:06,928 --> 00:57:08,179 Move on. 1270 00:57:08,221 --> 00:57:10,807 And so we moved on together. [chuckles] 1271 00:57:10,848 --> 00:57:12,683 - A bold, brave, 1272 00:57:12,725 --> 00:57:15,686 incredibly difficult step to make, but he did it. 1273 00:57:15,728 --> 00:57:19,148 He went off sort of into the unknown for him. 1274 00:57:19,190 --> 00:57:21,359 All he'd ever known was WWE. 1275 00:57:21,401 --> 00:57:23,861 - The next step has to matter more than anything you do. 1276 00:57:23,903 --> 00:57:28,449 That very first move has to matter, has to mobilize, 1277 00:57:28,491 --> 00:57:32,245 which in my case was putting the list out. 1278 00:57:32,286 --> 00:57:35,081 - He created a list which he publicized, 1279 00:57:35,123 --> 00:57:37,542 a checklist of all the things he wanted to do, 1280 00:57:37,583 --> 00:57:40,253 guys he specifically wanted to wrestle. 1281 00:57:40,294 --> 00:57:43,631 No one had ever really done anything like that actually. 1282 00:57:43,673 --> 00:57:47,552 It was a very clever way to take these fans 1283 00:57:47,593 --> 00:57:50,805 and get them along with you on a journey, 1284 00:57:50,847 --> 00:57:52,515 which is actually kind of ingenious, 1285 00:57:52,557 --> 00:57:54,058 when you think about it. 1286 00:57:54,100 --> 00:57:58,271 - Cody Rhodes! [cheers and applause] 1287 00:57:58,312 --> 00:58:01,649 - A rather warm welcome for Cody Rhodes... 1288 00:58:01,691 --> 00:58:02,984 first wrestling match 1289 00:58:03,025 --> 00:58:06,738 since leaving World Wrestling Entertainment. 1290 00:58:06,779 --> 00:58:09,323 - Cody went from wrestling in WWE 1291 00:58:09,365 --> 00:58:13,745 to smaller, independent promotions around the world. 1292 00:58:13,786 --> 00:58:16,414 - The famous list that Cody put out-- 1293 00:58:16,456 --> 00:58:18,249 the word of mouth, and everybody was excited 1294 00:58:18,291 --> 00:58:19,625 to see Cody. and what would he do 1295 00:58:19,667 --> 00:58:22,545 on his own and on his own terms? 1296 00:58:22,587 --> 00:58:24,589 - I wrestled Cody Rhodes a couple of times 1297 00:58:24,630 --> 00:58:28,176 during that year, and we had some incredible matches. 1298 00:58:28,217 --> 00:58:30,053 - He's got him. 1299 00:58:30,094 --> 00:58:31,888 - He did have a chip on his shoulder 1300 00:58:31,929 --> 00:58:34,307 because he had a lot to prove. 1301 00:58:34,348 --> 00:58:37,935 - I wanted to prove that the person I was 1302 00:58:37,977 --> 00:58:39,979 in 2011, '12-- 1303 00:58:40,021 --> 00:58:42,023 I was Intercontinental Champion. 1304 00:58:42,065 --> 00:58:43,608 I wanted to prove that that 1305 00:58:43,649 --> 00:58:45,985 was just scratching the surface, 1306 00:58:46,027 --> 00:58:48,321 that that guy was actually supposed to keep going 1307 00:58:48,362 --> 00:58:49,781 up the damn ladder, 1308 00:58:49,822 --> 00:58:52,492 that that guy could make it to the Main Event spot. 1309 00:58:52,533 --> 00:58:53,951 That's what I wanted to prove-- 1310 00:58:53,993 --> 00:58:55,328 that I could be in the Main Event. 1311 00:58:55,369 --> 00:58:57,038 - He went everywhere. 1312 00:58:57,080 --> 00:58:58,748 He worked three, four times a week. 1313 00:58:58,790 --> 00:59:00,625 He wasn't just doing the big weekend shows. 1314 00:59:00,666 --> 00:59:03,127 He was doing the shitty ones in front of 10, 15 people. 1315 00:59:03,169 --> 00:59:05,463 He did everything to get noticed. 1316 00:59:05,505 --> 00:59:09,926 - This business is all about betting on yourself, 1317 00:59:09,967 --> 00:59:14,972 and he made some really good choices to get re-established 1318 00:59:15,014 --> 00:59:17,141 and to make his net worth skyrocket. 1319 00:59:17,183 --> 00:59:19,685 - That ability to gamble on yourself 1320 00:59:19,727 --> 00:59:21,479 and say, "I can do more than this, 1321 00:59:21,521 --> 00:59:24,190 let me step away"-- my hat's off to him for, 1322 00:59:24,232 --> 00:59:26,150 because not a lot of people could have done it. 1323 00:59:26,192 --> 00:59:28,945 all: [chanting] Cody, Cody, Cody! 1324 00:59:28,986 --> 00:59:31,989 - I think fans saw in Cody 1325 00:59:32,031 --> 00:59:35,118 what they wanted to see in themselves. 1326 00:59:35,159 --> 00:59:36,786 Decided to bet on himself. 1327 00:59:36,828 --> 00:59:41,624 It was more worth it to Cody to follow his own heart 1328 00:59:41,666 --> 00:59:43,793 than it was to accept a paycheck 1329 00:59:43,835 --> 00:59:48,339 and be at the top place and not be the top person. 1330 00:59:48,381 --> 00:59:50,675 - You looked at him, and you could see 1331 00:59:50,717 --> 00:59:53,386 he looked at himself as a Main Eventer. 1332 00:59:53,428 --> 00:59:56,180 - Going on last, really the thing that they remember 1333 00:59:56,222 --> 00:59:58,599 and the thing that they stay for. 1334 00:59:58,641 --> 01:00:00,309 - Holy! 1335 01:00:00,351 --> 01:00:02,353 Rhodes put it all on the line! 1336 01:00:02,395 --> 01:00:03,938 all: [chanting] Thank you, Cody! 1337 01:00:03,980 --> 01:00:05,523 [stomping and clapping] 1338 01:00:05,565 --> 01:00:08,568 Thank you, Cody! [stomping and clapping] 1339 01:00:10,027 --> 01:00:12,488 - A ton of other stuff came up. 1340 01:00:13,865 --> 01:00:16,367 A whole cathartic and beautiful experience 1341 01:00:16,409 --> 01:00:18,536 of connecting with people. 1342 01:00:18,578 --> 01:00:20,538 For ten years, 1343 01:00:20,580 --> 01:00:23,458 I have beamed across some of your TV sets. 1344 01:00:23,499 --> 01:00:26,252 I've grown up in front of you. 1345 01:00:26,294 --> 01:00:28,838 I was in a very large shadow, 1346 01:00:28,880 --> 01:00:32,842 but it wasn't a big deal because I loved that shadow. 1347 01:00:32,884 --> 01:00:37,055 - When Dusty passed, it became challenging 1348 01:00:37,096 --> 01:00:39,599 because he wanted to honor his father 1349 01:00:39,640 --> 01:00:43,478 while still trying to be his own man, which is tough. 1350 01:00:43,519 --> 01:00:46,314 - What happens on the morning when you wake up 1351 01:00:46,355 --> 01:00:48,775 and there is no shadow anymore? 1352 01:00:48,816 --> 01:00:50,401 What do you do? 1353 01:00:50,443 --> 01:00:52,904 Kick, punch, fight, scratch, 1354 01:00:52,945 --> 01:00:55,990 and tell every son of a bitch who said you couldn't do it 1355 01:00:56,032 --> 01:00:57,742 that you can do it! 1356 01:00:57,784 --> 01:00:59,535 [cheers and applause] 1357 01:00:59,577 --> 01:01:02,497 - He lost his father, and it motivated him 1358 01:01:02,538 --> 01:01:05,541 to be better, to do better. 1359 01:01:05,583 --> 01:01:08,252 - I didn't deal with Dusty's death well, 1360 01:01:08,294 --> 01:01:10,171 and I was faced with it. 1361 01:01:10,213 --> 01:01:12,924 all: [chanting] Dusty, Dusty, Dusty! 1362 01:01:12,965 --> 01:01:15,301 - Tons of people in line, you know, telling me 1363 01:01:15,343 --> 01:01:17,345 their specific stories, showing me their picture, 1364 01:01:17,387 --> 01:01:19,597 and that was where I was able to deal with it. 1365 01:01:19,639 --> 01:01:22,266 I was at a show in Dallas on Thursday, 1366 01:01:22,308 --> 01:01:24,769 and a fan brought me a pair of boots, 1367 01:01:24,811 --> 01:01:26,437 and they said, "These are your dad's." 1368 01:01:26,479 --> 01:01:28,523 And I thought, "These couldn't be my dad's." 1369 01:01:28,564 --> 01:01:30,983 And I look at them, and I go, "Oh, these are his. 1370 01:01:31,025 --> 01:01:32,610 "I can tell. 1371 01:01:32,652 --> 01:01:34,695 I can tell by the way the toe is taped." 1372 01:01:34,737 --> 01:01:37,824 As I meet fans and meet people who knew him, 1373 01:01:37,865 --> 01:01:39,617 I'm blown away. 1374 01:01:39,659 --> 01:01:41,786 When you're in it and you're feeling it 1375 01:01:41,828 --> 01:01:45,123 and you encounter people who have those moments, 1376 01:01:45,164 --> 01:01:47,625 it was something that they needed 1377 01:01:47,667 --> 01:01:50,002 and, unbeknownst to them, I needed. 1378 01:01:50,044 --> 01:01:52,463 [light music] 1379 01:01:52,505 --> 01:01:54,632 - For several months, Cody went on a journey 1380 01:01:54,674 --> 01:01:58,386 of self-discovery outside the WWE bubble. 1381 01:01:58,428 --> 01:02:01,848 [tense music] 1382 01:02:01,889 --> 01:02:04,809 But it was across the globe where he discovered something 1383 01:02:04,851 --> 01:02:08,312 that would change him forever... 1384 01:02:08,354 --> 01:02:11,274 a new identity. 1385 01:02:11,315 --> 01:02:13,985 - Going over to New Japan Pro-Wrestling, 1386 01:02:14,026 --> 01:02:16,738 New Japan had footage of the American Dream. 1387 01:02:16,779 --> 01:02:18,489 Said, "Yeah, we want you to come in 1388 01:02:18,531 --> 01:02:20,491 as the American Nightmare." 1389 01:02:20,533 --> 01:02:23,953 - 40,000 fans here at the Tokyo Dome 1390 01:02:23,995 --> 01:02:27,165 have their eyes on the American Nightmare. 1391 01:02:27,206 --> 01:02:30,835 - That first Tokyo Dome show, that's where I really decided, 1392 01:02:30,877 --> 01:02:33,671 I know what the American Nightmare is. 1393 01:02:33,713 --> 01:02:36,215 A little bit of "Dashing" Cody Rhodes, 1394 01:02:36,257 --> 01:02:38,009 a little bit of Stardust. 1395 01:02:38,051 --> 01:02:41,679 Here's every experience I've ever had in my life. 1396 01:02:41,721 --> 01:02:43,431 Had you given me that name five years before, 1397 01:02:43,473 --> 01:02:44,849 it wouldn't have worked. 1398 01:02:44,891 --> 01:02:47,351 I needed every piece of what I had done, 1399 01:02:47,393 --> 01:02:49,312 all my equity, everything. 1400 01:02:50,772 --> 01:02:52,356 - I call you the traveling man, 1401 01:02:52,398 --> 01:02:53,983 because you're in Ring of Honor. 1402 01:02:54,025 --> 01:02:55,443 You're in New Japan. 1403 01:02:55,485 --> 01:02:57,445 - And you mentioned the word "freedom." 1404 01:02:57,487 --> 01:02:59,363 He carved his own path. 1405 01:02:59,405 --> 01:03:01,407 He opened up that forbidden door. 1406 01:03:01,449 --> 01:03:03,701 [cheers and applause] 1407 01:03:03,743 --> 01:03:05,536 - You know, before it became a fun term, 1408 01:03:05,578 --> 01:03:06,954 the Forbidden Door, 1409 01:03:06,996 --> 01:03:09,290 what it meant was you would be locked out 1410 01:03:09,332 --> 01:03:10,875 of going specific places. 1411 01:03:10,917 --> 01:03:13,461 Okay, if you sign with Impact, you're locked in there. 1412 01:03:13,503 --> 01:03:14,921 If you sign with Ring of Honor, 1413 01:03:14,962 --> 01:03:16,214 you're locked in there. 1414 01:03:16,255 --> 01:03:18,758 I was in a position where I was very wanted, 1415 01:03:18,800 --> 01:03:22,053 that I was able to leverage that interest in me, 1416 01:03:22,095 --> 01:03:25,348 because the catch was, you can get this for sure. 1417 01:03:25,390 --> 01:03:26,682 The American Nightmare, 1418 01:03:26,724 --> 01:03:29,018 the whole deal-- you can have it, 1419 01:03:29,060 --> 01:03:30,812 but they're gonna have it, too. 1420 01:03:30,853 --> 01:03:34,565 - Cody Rhodes bringing his own brand 1421 01:03:34,607 --> 01:03:37,735 to worldwide recognition. 1422 01:03:37,777 --> 01:03:41,447 - Cody Rhodes! [speaking native language] 1423 01:03:41,489 --> 01:03:44,826 - Nobody created a bigger buzz on the independent scene 1424 01:03:44,867 --> 01:03:46,327 than Cody Rhodes. 1425 01:03:46,369 --> 01:03:49,997 - Cody went from being in WWE 1426 01:03:50,039 --> 01:03:52,083 to being the star 1427 01:03:52,125 --> 01:03:55,378 of every single other promotion out there, 1428 01:03:55,420 --> 01:03:56,754 and you couldn't deny it. 1429 01:03:56,796 --> 01:03:58,881 - Just showing up everywhere, 1430 01:03:58,923 --> 01:04:02,552 getting people talking about Cody Rhodes. 1431 01:04:02,593 --> 01:04:03,886 - The ability to stay relevant 1432 01:04:03,928 --> 01:04:06,097 over a long period of time in our industry, 1433 01:04:06,139 --> 01:04:08,766 especially without the mainstream exposure 1434 01:04:08,808 --> 01:04:11,477 that WWE offers, that is a difficult task. 1435 01:04:11,519 --> 01:04:13,396 - What up, Code? - Hey, bud, how you doing? 1436 01:04:13,438 --> 01:04:14,480 How you feeling? 1437 01:04:14,522 --> 01:04:15,815 - He's in over here. 1438 01:04:15,857 --> 01:04:17,942 Oh, wait, and he's in with these guys. 1439 01:04:17,984 --> 01:04:19,277 Oh, interesting. 1440 01:04:19,318 --> 01:04:20,778 How does that all come together? 1441 01:04:20,820 --> 01:04:22,530 - While he was the hottest thing 1442 01:04:22,572 --> 01:04:24,615 going on the independents, it wasn't enough. 1443 01:04:24,657 --> 01:04:28,411 all: [chanting] Cody, Cody, Cody, Cody! 1444 01:04:28,453 --> 01:04:30,079 - Of course, the hair-- 1445 01:04:30,121 --> 01:04:33,791 finally going through the transition. 1446 01:04:33,833 --> 01:04:36,878 When I first started in the industry, 1447 01:04:36,919 --> 01:04:40,214 I was told to do everything the opposite of your father 1448 01:04:40,256 --> 01:04:42,508 because you don't want to remind them of him 1449 01:04:42,550 --> 01:04:43,968 with every outing. 1450 01:04:44,010 --> 01:04:47,472 This was the safest time to remind them of him. 1451 01:04:47,513 --> 01:04:50,725 And I was able to change my hair color 1452 01:04:50,767 --> 01:04:52,935 because I had earned it. 1453 01:04:52,977 --> 01:04:55,229 It's like I finally have the right 1454 01:04:55,271 --> 01:04:57,899 to rely a little bit on him. 1455 01:04:57,940 --> 01:05:01,694 - Cody's success coincided with a groundswell of fandom 1456 01:05:01,736 --> 01:05:04,197 on the independent-wrestling scene. 1457 01:05:04,238 --> 01:05:05,656 The rise in popularity 1458 01:05:05,698 --> 01:05:08,534 had Cody's creative wheels spinning. 1459 01:05:08,576 --> 01:05:10,995 - It was clear we could run a bigger show. 1460 01:05:11,037 --> 01:05:14,165 And when I say we, I mean me, Matt, and Nick Jackson. 1461 01:05:14,207 --> 01:05:16,000 Now's the time. 1462 01:05:16,042 --> 01:05:19,879 Matt, Nick, myself, we are self-financing an event-- 1463 01:05:19,921 --> 01:05:20,755 All In. 1464 01:05:20,797 --> 01:05:23,633 The goal is 10,000 people. 1465 01:05:23,674 --> 01:05:25,676 - They got together and said, "You know what? 1466 01:05:25,718 --> 01:05:27,428 "If we take the best of the best 1467 01:05:27,470 --> 01:05:31,099 "from the independent world and put together one night, 1468 01:05:31,140 --> 01:05:35,144 one special event, what would happen?" 1469 01:05:35,186 --> 01:05:37,105 - My sister Teil is the one 1470 01:05:37,146 --> 01:05:39,190 who came up with the name All In. 1471 01:05:39,232 --> 01:05:41,734 That was truly the message of what we were doing. 1472 01:05:41,776 --> 01:05:44,529 We were going all-in. We were self-financing, 1473 01:05:44,570 --> 01:05:46,656 and all our, you know, cards, chips, 1474 01:05:46,697 --> 01:05:48,866 everything was on the table. 1475 01:05:48,908 --> 01:05:51,077 - At the time, it was unfathomable to think 1476 01:05:51,119 --> 01:05:53,329 10,000 people would be in a building 1477 01:05:53,371 --> 01:05:55,206 for an independent show. 1478 01:05:55,248 --> 01:05:57,625 - Well, first off, who's gonna call? 1479 01:05:57,667 --> 01:06:00,044 Hi, I'd like to run a show in your building. 1480 01:06:00,086 --> 01:06:01,921 Yep, that's how it works. 1481 01:06:01,963 --> 01:06:05,216 Can we get a billboard? How do we get a billboard? 1482 01:06:05,258 --> 01:06:08,219 My favorite part that I don't often share with people 1483 01:06:08,261 --> 01:06:09,679 was scaling for tickets. 1484 01:06:09,721 --> 01:06:11,556 This section's gonna cost this much. 1485 01:06:11,597 --> 01:06:13,391 This section's gonna cost that much. 1486 01:06:13,433 --> 01:06:15,393 We put the prices fair. 1487 01:06:15,435 --> 01:06:17,437 We wanted you to be there. 1488 01:06:17,478 --> 01:06:19,731 Tickets went on sale two minutes ago, 1489 01:06:19,772 --> 01:06:23,151 and the website is already experiencing 1490 01:06:23,192 --> 01:06:25,945 very heavy traffic. 1491 01:06:25,987 --> 01:06:27,572 - 49 minutes... 1492 01:06:27,613 --> 01:06:29,782 - well, it sold out in 30 minutes. 1493 01:06:29,824 --> 01:06:31,951 - It was the peak of my career, 1494 01:06:31,993 --> 01:06:33,786 to see how excited people were. 1495 01:06:33,828 --> 01:06:36,122 - I'm so proud of the three of you. 1496 01:06:36,164 --> 01:06:38,416 - Thank you, man. - Oh, thanks, Stephen. 1497 01:06:38,458 --> 01:06:43,379 - I really, really mean that. You did it, and I cannot wait. 1498 01:06:43,421 --> 01:06:47,592 - That first All In show-- he was having so much fun. 1499 01:06:47,633 --> 01:06:49,177 - Justin in the ring is going to say, 1500 01:06:49,218 --> 01:06:51,262 "Ladies and gentlemen, please rise." 1501 01:06:51,304 --> 01:06:54,640 - I mean, I could sit back and just watch, 1502 01:06:54,682 --> 01:06:56,100 like, him saying, 1503 01:06:56,142 --> 01:06:58,561 "Now, hey, the most important thing is have fun." 1504 01:06:58,603 --> 01:07:00,188 He said it to everybody. 1505 01:07:00,229 --> 01:07:02,356 - Everybody looked at Cody as, 1506 01:07:02,398 --> 01:07:03,691 well, he's a WWE guy. 1507 01:07:03,733 --> 01:07:05,943 He's a WWE lifer. 1508 01:07:05,985 --> 01:07:08,946 And then he's the one that was able to fill 1509 01:07:08,988 --> 01:07:11,282 an arena full of wrestling fans 1510 01:07:11,324 --> 01:07:14,243 outside of the WWE. 1511 01:07:14,285 --> 01:07:19,040 - On September 1, 2018, over 11,000 fans 1512 01:07:19,082 --> 01:07:22,960 descended on Chicago for All In. 1513 01:07:23,002 --> 01:07:24,796 - Buzz was already going around 1514 01:07:24,837 --> 01:07:27,340 that this was something special. 1515 01:07:27,382 --> 01:07:30,593 And that's when you got to see 1516 01:07:30,635 --> 01:07:32,595 the business side of Cody. 1517 01:07:35,014 --> 01:07:37,392 - I couldn't even have thought of this as a kid-- 1518 01:07:37,433 --> 01:07:39,977 how stupid fun it would be. 1519 01:07:40,019 --> 01:07:43,481 I have a plaque that's on the side of the arena still. 1520 01:07:43,523 --> 01:07:45,900 I hope they never tear it down. 1521 01:07:45,942 --> 01:07:50,822 - It's the perfect mix of timing and talent and fandom, 1522 01:07:50,863 --> 01:07:54,075 all crescendoing all at the same time 1523 01:07:54,117 --> 01:07:55,660 to show people, 1524 01:07:55,701 --> 01:07:59,497 if you build it, they will come. 1525 01:07:59,539 --> 01:08:01,165 - We all didn't know how big 1526 01:08:01,207 --> 01:08:04,627 or how incredible that show was gonna turn out 1527 01:08:04,669 --> 01:08:07,046 to lead into something even bigger. 1528 01:08:08,881 --> 01:08:11,384 - Following that success, Cody led a team 1529 01:08:11,426 --> 01:08:14,887 that created a new wrestling promotion. 1530 01:08:14,929 --> 01:08:18,349 - We're about to sign contracts with All Elite Wrestling. 1531 01:08:18,391 --> 01:08:21,310 - On January 1, 2019, 1532 01:08:21,352 --> 01:08:26,107 All Elite Wrestling, also known as AEW, was born. 1533 01:08:26,149 --> 01:08:27,692 - Bang. - Congratulations. 1534 01:08:27,734 --> 01:08:29,360 - Congratulations. - Yeah. 1535 01:08:29,402 --> 01:08:30,737 - Awesome. 1536 01:08:30,778 --> 01:08:33,614 - If the network at 11:00 night 1537 01:08:33,656 --> 01:08:36,826 asked us to be on a flight at 5:00 a.m. to LA, 1538 01:08:36,868 --> 01:08:38,369 Cody and I were on the flight. 1539 01:08:38,411 --> 01:08:40,455 We're behind the scenes. We're in front of the camera. 1540 01:08:40,496 --> 01:08:42,832 If we've got to make a cake, we're going to do it. 1541 01:08:42,874 --> 01:08:45,209 Like, we're just really blood, sweat, and tears, 1542 01:08:45,251 --> 01:08:47,086 all-in on this. 1543 01:08:47,128 --> 01:08:49,714 - Executive vice president of All Elite Wrestling, 1544 01:08:49,756 --> 01:08:51,215 Cody Rhodes. 1545 01:08:51,257 --> 01:08:53,551 Good to see you, sir. - Oh, thanks for having me. 1546 01:08:53,593 --> 01:08:57,764 What an exciting time to be a wrestler and a wrestling fan. 1547 01:08:57,805 --> 01:09:00,516 - This is a guy that was just struggling, 1548 01:09:00,558 --> 01:09:02,060 and now here he is. 1549 01:09:02,101 --> 01:09:03,936 He's a top guy for a different company 1550 01:09:03,978 --> 01:09:06,689 that he helped put together, so... 1551 01:09:06,731 --> 01:09:08,983 that's pretty impressive. 1552 01:09:09,025 --> 01:09:12,945 - For over three years, Cody elevated the competition 1553 01:09:12,987 --> 01:09:15,448 in sports entertainment. 1554 01:09:15,490 --> 01:09:20,244 He also became a father to a girl named Liberty. 1555 01:09:20,286 --> 01:09:22,455 - You don't become a man until you have a daughter. 1556 01:09:22,497 --> 01:09:25,249 At least in my case, that's what's happened. 1557 01:09:25,291 --> 01:09:27,877 First and foremost, I am there to support 1558 01:09:27,919 --> 01:09:30,963 and provide the world for her. 1559 01:09:31,005 --> 01:09:33,841 - All you want to do is provide for that child. 1560 01:09:33,883 --> 01:09:36,928 The most important thing becomes that little person. 1561 01:09:36,969 --> 01:09:39,889 - Wrestling is filled with politics. 1562 01:09:39,931 --> 01:09:43,601 And when she was born, it just became about, 1563 01:09:43,643 --> 01:09:46,270 I can just do this transparently. 1564 01:09:46,312 --> 01:09:49,440 Hey, guys, I'm the best wrestler in the world. 1565 01:09:49,482 --> 01:09:51,109 I hope you know that, 1566 01:09:51,150 --> 01:09:52,693 and I'm going to try and go out there and show you that, 1567 01:09:52,735 --> 01:09:54,987 because I have to report back now. 1568 01:09:55,029 --> 01:09:58,783 I have to report back to this little kid 1569 01:09:58,825 --> 01:10:02,328 who doesn't have any clue what... 1570 01:10:02,370 --> 01:10:04,080 [voice breaking] Like, I'm going through 1571 01:10:04,122 --> 01:10:05,998 and doesn't ever need to know. 1572 01:10:06,040 --> 01:10:09,460 But I thought I had a tough task in front of me 1573 01:10:09,502 --> 01:10:12,714 with wrestling and following Dusty Rhodes' act 1574 01:10:12,755 --> 01:10:13,965 as a wrestler. 1575 01:10:14,006 --> 01:10:17,593 Following his act as a father... 1576 01:10:17,635 --> 01:10:20,763 I hope I'm even close. 1577 01:10:25,059 --> 01:10:29,147 - By January of 2022, rumors began to surface 1578 01:10:29,188 --> 01:10:33,693 that Cody's status in AEW was uncertain. 1579 01:10:33,735 --> 01:10:35,319 - When I first started hearing, 1580 01:10:35,361 --> 01:10:37,613 all right, he's working without a contract, 1581 01:10:37,655 --> 01:10:40,825 I honestly just didn't believe it. 1582 01:10:40,867 --> 01:10:43,536 - You know, people were asking online, 1583 01:10:43,578 --> 01:10:44,871 is Cody's contract up? 1584 01:10:44,912 --> 01:10:47,498 Yeah, it is. It was. 1585 01:10:47,540 --> 01:10:49,500 * * 1586 01:10:49,542 --> 01:10:52,086 That's all stuff that is public information 1587 01:10:52,128 --> 01:10:53,921 that's being shared. 1588 01:10:53,963 --> 01:10:55,923 So, if the contracts 1589 01:10:55,965 --> 01:11:00,595 are not being renewed on time... 1590 01:11:00,636 --> 01:11:03,389 we're rocking foundation. 1591 01:11:03,431 --> 01:11:07,018 It's just odd to me to play with that kind of fire 1592 01:11:07,060 --> 01:11:09,103 in an industry that's competitive. 1593 01:11:09,145 --> 01:11:12,523 I mean, you can attract people who don't know that, 1594 01:11:12,565 --> 01:11:16,110 and things can happen. 1595 01:11:16,152 --> 01:11:19,489 - There were rumblings about Cody's contract being up. 1596 01:11:19,530 --> 01:11:22,867 And reached out through some mutual friends 1597 01:11:22,909 --> 01:11:24,952 and just asked if that was true 1598 01:11:24,994 --> 01:11:27,914 and, if it was true, for Cody to give me a call. 1599 01:11:27,955 --> 01:11:31,834 And Cody called me within, like, five minutes. 1600 01:11:33,586 --> 01:11:36,214 And I believe Vince and I were on a plane 1601 01:11:36,255 --> 01:11:38,925 the very next day to meet with Cody 1602 01:11:38,966 --> 01:11:41,260 in person in Atlanta, Georgia. 1603 01:11:46,808 --> 01:11:48,643 - In early 2022, 1604 01:11:48,684 --> 01:11:52,063 the chairman of WWE, Vince McMahon, 1605 01:11:52,105 --> 01:11:55,983 went to Atlanta, Georgia, to meet with Cody. 1606 01:11:56,025 --> 01:11:58,653 - I looked at it as closure. 1607 01:11:58,694 --> 01:12:00,905 That's true honesty. 1608 01:12:02,448 --> 01:12:05,159 I thought I'd be able to apologize for how I exited 1609 01:12:05,201 --> 01:12:07,787 but also stand before them 1610 01:12:07,829 --> 01:12:10,706 as someone who went out and rattled those cages 1611 01:12:10,748 --> 01:12:12,083 and did some different things 1612 01:12:12,125 --> 01:12:13,960 and be able to have that moment with them, 1613 01:12:14,001 --> 01:12:15,169 and it be closure. 1614 01:12:15,211 --> 01:12:17,422 That's not at all what I got out of it. 1615 01:12:17,463 --> 01:12:20,758 - It wasn't so much a business meeting. 1616 01:12:20,800 --> 01:12:22,218 It was, 1617 01:12:22,260 --> 01:12:26,013 but it was a meeting of, what have you been doing? 1618 01:12:26,055 --> 01:12:27,515 What do you want to do? 1619 01:12:27,557 --> 01:12:30,977 What we think we could do as well together. 1620 01:12:31,018 --> 01:12:33,771 - This wasn't changing. 1621 01:12:33,813 --> 01:12:35,690 To quote Vince, and it's one of my favorite things 1622 01:12:35,732 --> 01:12:37,275 I have ever heard, 1623 01:12:37,316 --> 01:12:39,152 "We're not gonna change it. It's not broke. 1624 01:12:39,193 --> 01:12:40,695 That's what we're buying." 1625 01:12:40,737 --> 01:12:43,823 - Vince McMahon flew to his house to get him back. 1626 01:12:43,865 --> 01:12:45,283 I don't know. 1627 01:12:45,324 --> 01:12:48,286 I don't know how many people can say they did that. 1628 01:12:48,327 --> 01:12:50,997 - We left there without any doubt in anyone's mind 1629 01:12:51,038 --> 01:12:53,124 that Cody was coming home. 1630 01:12:54,751 --> 01:12:56,044 - Huge news... 1631 01:12:56,085 --> 01:12:58,504 Cody Rhodes, Brandi Rhodes 1632 01:12:58,546 --> 01:13:02,550 now done with All Elite Wrestling. 1633 01:13:02,592 --> 01:13:05,595 - This is my one request in this entire documentary. 1634 01:13:05,636 --> 01:13:09,057 This one answer I don't want edited in any capacity. 1635 01:13:09,098 --> 01:13:11,350 Don't even edit this part. 1636 01:13:11,392 --> 01:13:14,562 I can't tell you why I left AEW. 1637 01:13:14,604 --> 01:13:16,147 I can't, and I won't, 1638 01:13:16,189 --> 01:13:19,067 but I'll tell you the reasons that were said 1639 01:13:19,108 --> 01:13:21,235 that didn't actually matter. 1640 01:13:21,277 --> 01:13:24,572 I didn't leave AEW because of money, 1641 01:13:24,614 --> 01:13:28,701 and I didn't leave AEW because of other talents. 1642 01:13:28,743 --> 01:13:32,580 I left AEW because of a personal issue. 1643 01:13:32,622 --> 01:13:34,207 That's it. 1644 01:13:34,248 --> 01:13:37,043 But the byproduct of leaving AEW 1645 01:13:37,085 --> 01:13:40,004 is the opportunity... 1646 01:13:40,046 --> 01:13:42,340 to go for the biggest dream I ever had 1647 01:13:42,382 --> 01:13:46,135 and the first dream that I had in my life. 1648 01:13:48,721 --> 01:13:51,182 - To then take that gamble again and say, 1649 01:13:51,224 --> 01:13:53,142 this is not what I wanted to be. 1650 01:13:53,184 --> 01:13:57,021 I didn't grow up dreaming of being the champion 1651 01:13:57,063 --> 01:14:00,441 or the face of a secondary promotion. 1652 01:14:00,483 --> 01:14:03,778 I wanted to be the WWE Champion. 1653 01:14:03,820 --> 01:14:06,781 [soft dramatic music] 1654 01:14:06,823 --> 01:14:10,993 * * 1655 01:14:11,035 --> 01:14:13,663 - They say when one door closes, 1656 01:14:13,704 --> 01:14:16,707 another opens. 1657 01:14:16,749 --> 01:14:19,168 Cody was about to show the whole world 1658 01:14:19,210 --> 01:14:22,922 that the so-called forbidden door... 1659 01:14:22,964 --> 01:14:25,049 swings both ways. 1660 01:14:27,009 --> 01:14:28,678 - WrestleMania that year-- 1661 01:14:28,720 --> 01:14:32,390 we got to the point where everything for Seth 1662 01:14:32,432 --> 01:14:35,643 that we had planned had kind of fallen through. 1663 01:14:35,685 --> 01:14:36,978 And then all of a sudden, 1664 01:14:37,019 --> 01:14:42,150 you get this huge superstar from outside of WWE, 1665 01:14:42,191 --> 01:14:43,901 who is now entering. 1666 01:14:43,943 --> 01:14:48,322 And it was the perfect storm to bring them together. 1667 01:14:48,364 --> 01:14:49,824 - It wasn't finalized 1668 01:14:49,866 --> 01:14:53,536 until, like, two weeks before WrestleMania. 1669 01:14:53,578 --> 01:14:56,372 - Seth Rollins is as good as it gets, 1670 01:14:56,414 --> 01:14:59,417 and I'm going to be the one making his WrestleMania, 1671 01:14:59,459 --> 01:15:01,169 one of Dusty's kids? 1672 01:15:01,210 --> 01:15:03,004 - Thank you, sir. - You're welcome, kid. 1673 01:15:03,046 --> 01:15:05,757 - Absolutely. Hell, yes. 1674 01:15:05,798 --> 01:15:09,510 * * 1675 01:15:09,552 --> 01:15:11,804 - The element of surprise to me 1676 01:15:11,846 --> 01:15:13,723 is the greatest tool 1677 01:15:13,765 --> 01:15:16,184 that we have as storytellers sometimes. 1678 01:15:16,225 --> 01:15:20,438 If the audience is expecting a surprise 1679 01:15:20,480 --> 01:15:25,109 and you give them something that satisfies their hunger... 1680 01:15:26,235 --> 01:15:28,863 Bingo, man. That's perfect. 1681 01:15:28,905 --> 01:15:30,323 - We'd heard rumblings, 1682 01:15:30,364 --> 01:15:32,241 but all day backstage, I'm asking questions. 1683 01:15:32,283 --> 01:15:33,659 As the announcer, 1684 01:15:33,701 --> 01:15:36,037 I would have liked to have had some facts lined up, 1685 01:15:36,079 --> 01:15:37,538 but instead I was flying blind. 1686 01:15:37,580 --> 01:15:39,040 - I knew he was coming back. 1687 01:15:39,082 --> 01:15:41,250 He just wouldn't admit it until that day 1688 01:15:41,292 --> 01:15:43,044 when I finally texted him, "Where are you?" 1689 01:15:43,086 --> 01:15:44,420 He's like, "I'm on this bus." 1690 01:15:44,462 --> 01:15:46,255 - I'll never forget... 1691 01:15:46,297 --> 01:15:48,758 this was the last place I was in for a Mania, 1692 01:15:48,800 --> 01:15:51,344 and I didn't think I would get another opportunity 1693 01:15:51,386 --> 01:15:52,512 to go down this path. 1694 01:15:52,553 --> 01:15:54,972 So I can't take it for granted. 1695 01:15:55,014 --> 01:15:58,142 - For me, the anxiety in everything was, 1696 01:15:58,184 --> 01:15:59,477 I know my husband. 1697 01:15:59,519 --> 01:16:01,229 The people who are the closest to him 1698 01:16:01,270 --> 01:16:03,106 he needs in moments like that. 1699 01:16:03,147 --> 01:16:06,818 He needed me, his mom, 1700 01:16:06,859 --> 01:16:08,528 and his sister. 1701 01:16:08,569 --> 01:16:09,904 And the only one that made it was me, 1702 01:16:09,946 --> 01:16:12,698 and I've got a nine-month-old baby on a bus 1703 01:16:12,740 --> 01:16:15,284 that I'm trying to keep together 1704 01:16:15,326 --> 01:16:17,912 for the biggest moment of his career thus far. 1705 01:16:17,954 --> 01:16:20,081 [cell phone chimes] 1706 01:16:20,123 --> 01:16:21,332 - Hey. - Hey. 1707 01:16:21,374 --> 01:16:22,625 - Up close and personal. 1708 01:16:22,667 --> 01:16:25,962 I miss you. - I miss you, too. 1709 01:16:26,003 --> 01:16:29,257 I wish I could be in two places at once. 1710 01:16:29,298 --> 01:16:31,759 Unfortunately, I couldn't be there 1711 01:16:31,801 --> 01:16:34,887 'cause it was my granddaughter's wedding day, 1712 01:16:34,929 --> 01:16:37,098 but we had a watch party. 1713 01:16:37,140 --> 01:16:39,142 - It was a rural location. 1714 01:16:39,183 --> 01:16:40,560 You know, we're in a field. 1715 01:16:40,601 --> 01:16:43,271 I've got, like, barely any connection. 1716 01:16:43,312 --> 01:16:45,022 [cheers and applause] 1717 01:16:45,064 --> 01:16:49,277 - You are looking live at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas! 1718 01:16:49,318 --> 01:16:53,448 Welcome to WrestleMania! 1719 01:16:57,452 --> 01:16:59,537 [indistinct chatter] 1720 01:17:01,664 --> 01:17:04,500 - Yep. - Oh, here you go. 1721 01:17:04,542 --> 01:17:07,962 - I didn't have an idea how they would respond to me. 1722 01:17:08,004 --> 01:17:11,883 Some people had indicated, maybe they won't know you. 1723 01:17:11,924 --> 01:17:14,886 Then I thought, "Well, maybe they'll boo you. 1724 01:17:14,927 --> 01:17:17,305 "You were the alternative. 1725 01:17:17,346 --> 01:17:19,307 You were on the other side." 1726 01:17:19,348 --> 01:17:20,808 - I remember Cody saying, 1727 01:17:20,850 --> 01:17:24,812 "If they turn on me, get out of Gorilla." 1728 01:17:24,854 --> 01:17:27,065 - So just don't step off right away. 1729 01:17:27,106 --> 01:17:28,524 Wait for it to stop. 1730 01:17:31,360 --> 01:17:32,862 - Stadium shows are interesting 1731 01:17:32,904 --> 01:17:34,781 because the center of the ring's like the eye 1732 01:17:34,822 --> 01:17:35,907 of the storm. 1733 01:17:35,948 --> 01:17:38,367 * * 1734 01:17:38,409 --> 01:17:40,995 It's almost like a calm, right? It's peace. 1735 01:17:41,037 --> 01:17:45,166 * * 1736 01:17:45,208 --> 01:17:47,502 - Who's it gonna be? 1737 01:17:47,543 --> 01:17:50,380 - Wrestling has more than one... 1738 01:17:50,421 --> 01:17:52,632 royal family. [cheers and applause] 1739 01:17:52,673 --> 01:17:55,385 [Downstait's "Kingdom" playing] 1740 01:17:55,426 --> 01:18:02,558 * * 1741 01:18:06,437 --> 01:18:09,690 - * Adrenaline in my soul * 1742 01:18:09,732 --> 01:18:11,484 * Every thought... * 1743 01:18:11,526 --> 01:18:15,154 - This is surreal! 1744 01:18:15,196 --> 01:18:17,532 I have got chills! 1745 01:18:17,573 --> 01:18:19,700 [fireworks booming] 1746 01:18:19,742 --> 01:18:21,661 - * The crowd is here, about to blow * 1747 01:18:21,702 --> 01:18:22,954 - Boom! 1748 01:18:22,995 --> 01:18:25,498 - * Waitin' for me to start the show * 1749 01:18:25,540 --> 01:18:27,875 - I was just so glad 1750 01:18:27,917 --> 01:18:31,129 that he got such a warm reception. 1751 01:18:31,170 --> 01:18:34,549 You know, it was a homecoming, but it was also-- 1752 01:18:34,590 --> 01:18:37,135 It just felt that magic again. 1753 01:18:37,176 --> 01:18:41,222 - Here's the executive from the alternative company, 1754 01:18:41,264 --> 01:18:44,016 and he's here, and he's back. 1755 01:18:44,058 --> 01:18:48,062 - Here's a man who had such a shadow cast above him. 1756 01:18:48,104 --> 01:18:50,481 Here's a guy who took a big chance 1757 01:18:50,523 --> 01:18:54,569 leaving the only home he knew, betting on himself, 1758 01:18:54,610 --> 01:18:57,113 and becoming a bigger star because of it, 1759 01:18:57,155 --> 01:18:59,282 and then returning home 1760 01:18:59,323 --> 01:19:01,743 almost like the conquering hero. 1761 01:19:01,784 --> 01:19:05,830 - The prodigal son has returned! 1762 01:19:05,872 --> 01:19:08,583 - I'm just sitting there just watching the screen, 1763 01:19:08,624 --> 01:19:11,627 just, like, heart racing. 1764 01:19:11,669 --> 01:19:16,340 - From undesirable to undeniable! 1765 01:19:19,302 --> 01:19:23,014 Let's see what Cody brought to the table tonight. 1766 01:19:24,974 --> 01:19:28,311 Beautiful arm drag by Cody Rhodes. 1767 01:19:28,352 --> 01:19:31,731 - Oh, Cody Rhodes showboats a bit here at WrestleMania. 1768 01:19:31,773 --> 01:19:35,193 - That wasn't showboating. That was shedding skin. 1769 01:19:35,234 --> 01:19:39,155 That was a fresh start for the American Nightmare. 1770 01:19:39,197 --> 01:19:41,449 - One of the things that people are critical about is, 1771 01:19:41,491 --> 01:19:43,451 oh, this guy was this, this girl was this. 1772 01:19:43,493 --> 01:19:46,287 They can't kick out of that. 1773 01:19:46,329 --> 01:19:48,289 And I disagree with that. 1774 01:19:48,331 --> 01:19:51,876 I'm at my best form, and it requires all these experiences 1775 01:19:51,918 --> 01:19:53,669 that I've had, 1776 01:19:53,711 --> 01:19:56,047 and it requires all this leaning into the family 1777 01:19:56,089 --> 01:19:57,632 that I have. 1778 01:19:57,673 --> 01:20:02,512 - The Bionic Elbow, like the American Dream. 1779 01:20:02,553 --> 01:20:04,514 - We tell stories in the ring. 1780 01:20:04,555 --> 01:20:07,975 And I needed that story to be told in the ring. 1781 01:20:08,017 --> 01:20:10,520 [cheers and applause] 1782 01:20:10,561 --> 01:20:12,647 - Cross Rhodes! 1783 01:20:12,688 --> 01:20:15,400 all: One, two, three! 1784 01:20:15,441 --> 01:20:17,443 [bell dings] 1785 01:20:17,485 --> 01:20:21,614 [cheers and applause] 1786 01:20:21,656 --> 01:20:25,326 [soft dramatic music] 1787 01:20:25,368 --> 01:20:27,787 - There's not a word on Earth that can describe 1788 01:20:27,829 --> 01:20:29,705 coming up under those lights. 1789 01:20:29,747 --> 01:20:31,457 It's what every wrestler chases. 1790 01:20:31,499 --> 01:20:34,544 There's no drug on Earth that can provide a high like that. 1791 01:20:34,585 --> 01:20:36,713 I spent a long time chasing it. 1792 01:20:36,754 --> 01:20:38,631 There's a lot of wrestlers who got it right away, 1793 01:20:38,673 --> 01:20:39,841 and I don't begrudge them. 1794 01:20:39,882 --> 01:20:41,551 Great. They figured it out. 1795 01:20:41,592 --> 01:20:44,637 It took the Code man a while to figure it out. 1796 01:20:44,679 --> 01:20:47,515 - Right now high above the clouds, 1797 01:20:47,557 --> 01:20:49,684 a certain son of a plumber 1798 01:20:49,726 --> 01:20:53,020 is grinning from ear to ear. 1799 01:20:53,062 --> 01:20:56,023 - One of the best things about my dad-- 1800 01:20:56,065 --> 01:21:00,027 I was his biggest fan, but he was a fan of me. 1801 01:21:00,069 --> 01:21:01,612 He believed in me. 1802 01:21:02,905 --> 01:21:05,700 I hope-- You know, I'm a father now. 1803 01:21:05,742 --> 01:21:09,412 I hope that I can instill that same belief, 1804 01:21:09,454 --> 01:21:13,124 'cause, man, if he believed in me at 20, 1805 01:21:13,166 --> 01:21:15,710 he would have had to wait 16 years to be like, 1806 01:21:15,752 --> 01:21:17,628 "All right, that's what I was telling you about. 1807 01:21:17,670 --> 01:21:18,838 There he is." 1808 01:21:18,880 --> 01:21:21,591 But, yeah, I can't thank him enough. 1809 01:21:21,632 --> 01:21:23,593 If he was here, a lot I would tell him, 1810 01:21:23,634 --> 01:21:26,387 but the first thing I'd say is thank you, 1811 01:21:26,429 --> 01:21:29,724 'cause confidence in this-- 1812 01:21:29,766 --> 01:21:31,726 in wrestling will shake you. 1813 01:21:31,768 --> 01:21:34,228 And it never wavered, never did. 1814 01:21:34,270 --> 01:21:36,731 It just took time. 1815 01:21:36,773 --> 01:21:38,858 - Man, Dusty was looking down on him, 1816 01:21:38,900 --> 01:21:42,195 and I don't think Dusty could have been prouder, 1817 01:21:42,236 --> 01:21:44,947 because, man, I was proud. 1818 01:21:44,989 --> 01:21:47,408 - What Cody did was take how he was feeling, 1819 01:21:47,450 --> 01:21:49,327 and he turned it into fuel. 1820 01:21:49,368 --> 01:21:50,787 Undesirable to undeniable-- 1821 01:21:50,828 --> 01:21:53,247 and let's be honest, he's undeniable now. 1822 01:21:53,289 --> 01:21:55,792 - The Cody that came back was so different 1823 01:21:55,833 --> 01:21:57,418 from the Cody who left. 1824 01:21:57,460 --> 01:21:59,045 He was a kid when he left. 1825 01:21:59,087 --> 01:22:03,049 Cody came back a man with a newfound respect 1826 01:22:03,091 --> 01:22:04,801 for both WWE 1827 01:22:04,842 --> 01:22:07,595 and for the business in general. 1828 01:22:07,637 --> 01:22:11,516 - For WWE to be your home, that's... 1829 01:22:13,101 --> 01:22:14,685 That's special. 1830 01:22:15,978 --> 01:22:17,980 When I came back at WrestleMania, 1831 01:22:18,022 --> 01:22:20,149 that's what everyone kept saying-- 1832 01:22:20,191 --> 01:22:22,527 "Welcome home. Welcome home." 1833 01:22:22,568 --> 01:22:27,365 I have never once referred to this place as home publicly 1834 01:22:27,407 --> 01:22:30,535 because I felt like a hypocrite doing that, 1835 01:22:30,576 --> 01:22:33,538 especially after my departure and everything I did. 1836 01:22:33,579 --> 01:22:35,581 * * 1837 01:22:35,623 --> 01:22:37,375 It is, without a doubt, 1838 01:22:37,417 --> 01:22:41,963 without a shadow of a doubt, my home. 1839 01:22:42,004 --> 01:22:46,884 And it's wild how it's worked out, 1840 01:22:46,926 --> 01:22:48,052 but... 1841 01:22:50,179 --> 01:22:52,181 I couldn't ask for a better home. 1842 01:22:54,016 --> 01:22:55,852 - Two nights later on "RAW," 1843 01:22:55,893 --> 01:22:58,855 Cody addressed the WWE Universe. 1844 01:22:58,896 --> 01:23:03,151 - At eight years old, I knew not what I wanted to do, 1845 01:23:03,192 --> 01:23:05,111 what I needed to do! 1846 01:23:05,153 --> 01:23:06,612 I was going to win 1847 01:23:06,654 --> 01:23:09,824 this championship belt right here! 1848 01:23:09,866 --> 01:23:12,577 I was going to bestow it into the hands 1849 01:23:12,618 --> 01:23:14,454 of the American Dream, Dusty Rhodes, 1850 01:23:14,495 --> 01:23:15,705 and I would tell him, 1851 01:23:15,747 --> 01:23:18,082 "Nobody can take it away from you now!" 1852 01:23:18,124 --> 01:23:22,462 - He wants to have the things in his career 1853 01:23:22,503 --> 01:23:24,172 that Dusty didn't get in his. 1854 01:23:24,213 --> 01:23:26,883 I mean, it's like he wants to finish it off. 1855 01:23:26,924 --> 01:23:30,011 [cheers and applause] 1856 01:23:30,053 --> 01:23:33,056 - Cody's proclamation was a rallying cry 1857 01:23:33,097 --> 01:23:36,809 that united the WWE Universe around him 1858 01:23:36,851 --> 01:23:39,020 like never before. 1859 01:23:39,062 --> 01:23:41,355 - The fans wanted to love Cody. 1860 01:23:41,397 --> 01:23:45,276 And to know his story and to understand his story, 1861 01:23:45,318 --> 01:23:48,863 how could you not want to cheer for him? 1862 01:23:48,905 --> 01:23:52,033 - It's kind of like, "Hey, that's one of our own. 1863 01:23:52,075 --> 01:23:53,993 "Good for him, and I'm glad he's back. 1864 01:23:54,035 --> 01:23:56,579 I want to be on that team." 1865 01:23:56,621 --> 01:23:58,790 - Man, he had so much momentum. 1866 01:23:58,831 --> 01:24:01,751 People were so with him and behind him. 1867 01:24:01,793 --> 01:24:04,796 And you can tell, like, he's on that rocket, man. 1868 01:24:04,837 --> 01:24:06,631 He's on that rocket going up. 1869 01:24:06,672 --> 01:24:09,675 * * 1870 01:24:12,512 --> 01:24:14,305 - [scoffs] 1871 01:24:14,347 --> 01:24:16,766 [bleep]. Uh... 1872 01:24:32,323 --> 01:24:34,909 - Today we are near my ancestral home 1873 01:24:34,951 --> 01:24:36,953 in Atlanta, Georgia, 1874 01:24:36,994 --> 01:24:38,371 preparing and training 1875 01:24:38,413 --> 01:24:40,623 for my upcoming match with Seth Rollins 1876 01:24:40,665 --> 01:24:43,376 inside Hell in a Cell. 1877 01:24:43,418 --> 01:24:46,337 [tense music] 1878 01:24:46,379 --> 01:24:48,464 * * 1879 01:24:48,506 --> 01:24:52,051 - Just two months after returning to WWE, 1880 01:24:52,093 --> 01:24:56,180 Cody was faced with a daunting task. 1881 01:24:56,222 --> 01:24:58,725 He was set to battle Seth Rollins 1882 01:24:58,766 --> 01:25:02,353 in a match known as Hell in a Cell. 1883 01:25:03,980 --> 01:25:07,692 The structure itself has a brutal history. 1884 01:25:07,734 --> 01:25:10,403 - The cell will break bones. 1885 01:25:10,445 --> 01:25:12,029 It will shred flesh. 1886 01:25:12,071 --> 01:25:14,949 It will change careers forever. 1887 01:25:14,991 --> 01:25:16,993 - No! Oh, my! 1888 01:25:17,034 --> 01:25:20,413 As God is my witness, he is broken in half! 1889 01:25:21,831 --> 01:25:23,082 - Cody was training for one 1890 01:25:23,124 --> 01:25:25,376 of the biggest matches of his career. 1891 01:25:25,418 --> 01:25:29,714 Then, just three days before the event... 1892 01:25:29,756 --> 01:25:32,550 a monumental injury. 1893 01:25:32,592 --> 01:25:35,261 - I got hurt bench-pressing. 1894 01:25:35,303 --> 01:25:38,389 It was devastating and embarrassing. 1895 01:25:38,431 --> 01:25:41,434 How it happened, just putting a bar above your head, 1896 01:25:41,476 --> 01:25:45,438 and the next thing you know, your chest rips from the arm. 1897 01:25:47,148 --> 01:25:49,734 - Bruce Prichard called me on the phone, 1898 01:25:49,776 --> 01:25:51,694 told me, "Well... 1899 01:25:51,736 --> 01:25:53,780 Cody tore his pec." 1900 01:25:53,821 --> 01:25:55,948 I said, "Are you [bleep] kidding me?" 1901 01:25:57,658 --> 01:25:59,786 - Initially, we're thinking, "Oh, my gosh, 1902 01:25:59,827 --> 01:26:01,788 "how are we going to substitute 1903 01:26:01,829 --> 01:26:03,706 this match that we have in this event?" 1904 01:26:03,748 --> 01:26:05,291 It was the headline. 1905 01:26:05,333 --> 01:26:07,502 - I've had the same injury. 1906 01:26:07,543 --> 01:26:09,212 I know what it feels like when you do it. 1907 01:26:09,253 --> 01:26:11,297 I know what it feels like a couple days later. 1908 01:26:11,339 --> 01:26:13,966 You find out a lot about people when they get injured. 1909 01:26:14,008 --> 01:26:17,178 It really shows your true inside. 1910 01:26:17,220 --> 01:26:20,056 - The option to not wrestle was the option 1911 01:26:20,098 --> 01:26:22,517 for everybody but me. 1912 01:26:22,558 --> 01:26:24,352 I have them on my phone still, 1913 01:26:24,394 --> 01:26:27,271 the amount of voice notes I sent about, 1914 01:26:27,313 --> 01:26:29,899 please do not cancel the match. 1915 01:26:29,941 --> 01:26:33,486 Hey, Doc Amann and I just spoke. 1916 01:26:33,528 --> 01:26:38,116 He did tell me no more damage can come to it at this point. 1917 01:26:38,157 --> 01:26:40,034 I would really appreciate 1918 01:26:40,076 --> 01:26:43,663 being able to perform on Sunday. 1919 01:26:43,704 --> 01:26:45,206 We're on last, 1920 01:26:45,248 --> 01:26:48,835 and it's the first time I've had that opportunity. 1921 01:26:49,836 --> 01:26:54,298 - Cody was just adamant that he was going to have the match. 1922 01:26:54,340 --> 01:26:57,969 So we had all of our experts examine him 1923 01:26:58,010 --> 01:26:59,595 nine ways from Sunday, 1924 01:26:59,637 --> 01:27:02,306 and they agreed that he's got strength in his arms. 1925 01:27:02,348 --> 01:27:04,475 He's got strength in his chest. 1926 01:27:04,517 --> 01:27:06,477 He can do everything, 1927 01:27:06,519 --> 01:27:09,480 but it looked gruesome, 1928 01:27:09,522 --> 01:27:12,150 absolutely gruesome. 1929 01:27:12,191 --> 01:27:14,068 - Well, you definitely need to do it. 1930 01:27:14,110 --> 01:27:16,404 You need to compete if you can compete. 1931 01:27:17,905 --> 01:27:21,200 But let's not kill ourselves. 1932 01:27:21,242 --> 01:27:23,411 - I was adamant that I would perform, 1933 01:27:23,453 --> 01:27:24,662 that I compete. 1934 01:27:24,704 --> 01:27:26,706 These people paid their money, you know? 1935 01:27:26,748 --> 01:27:29,500 You would have had to kill me 1936 01:27:29,542 --> 01:27:32,211 for me not to be doing this tonight. 1937 01:27:32,253 --> 01:27:34,630 - I thought, "Oh, my God. 1938 01:27:34,672 --> 01:27:37,550 Do you have to do this?" 1939 01:27:37,592 --> 01:27:39,260 - Whew. 1940 01:27:41,554 --> 01:27:43,848 - And he said, "It doesn't hurt as much as it looks like." 1941 01:27:43,890 --> 01:27:44,974 And I said, "You're lying." 1942 01:27:45,016 --> 01:27:48,644 [dramatic music] 1943 01:27:48,686 --> 01:27:51,189 - Seth Rollins adorned 1944 01:27:51,230 --> 01:27:54,233 in the trademark polka dots 1945 01:27:54,275 --> 01:27:57,820 of the American Dream, Dusty Rhodes. 1946 01:27:57,862 --> 01:28:01,741 - Cody Rhodes looking to end this chapter. 1947 01:28:01,783 --> 01:28:04,327 - No one would have thought less of Rhodes 1948 01:28:04,368 --> 01:28:05,787 to back out of this matchup. 1949 01:28:05,828 --> 01:28:08,956 That's not who the American Nightmare is. 1950 01:28:08,998 --> 01:28:10,583 Cody will not miss this battle, 1951 01:28:10,625 --> 01:28:11,834 come hell or high water! 1952 01:28:11,876 --> 01:28:15,171 * * 1953 01:28:15,213 --> 01:28:17,256 - It's like oxygen. 1954 01:28:17,298 --> 01:28:19,675 I needed to be in the ring that night. 1955 01:28:19,717 --> 01:28:23,179 If I'm gonna go out, I'm gonna go out my way. 1956 01:28:23,221 --> 01:28:26,682 [cheers and applause] Let's go! Let's go! 1957 01:28:29,185 --> 01:28:31,062 - I didn't know what the audience was gonna think 1958 01:28:31,104 --> 01:28:33,940 when they saw what his arm looked like. 1959 01:28:33,981 --> 01:28:37,777 all: [chanting] Cody, Cody, Cody, Cody! 1960 01:28:37,819 --> 01:28:41,697 Cody, Cody, Cody, Cody! 1961 01:28:41,739 --> 01:28:46,577 Cody, Cody, Cody, Cody! 1962 01:28:46,619 --> 01:28:50,665 - Oh...my...God. 1963 01:28:50,706 --> 01:28:53,584 * * 1964 01:28:53,626 --> 01:28:55,837 - I hadn't seen the injury backstage 1965 01:28:55,878 --> 01:28:57,088 at any point during the day. 1966 01:28:57,130 --> 01:28:58,631 I saw it for the very first time 1967 01:28:58,673 --> 01:29:01,092 the same time the WWE Universe laid eyes 1968 01:29:01,134 --> 01:29:03,553 on that gruesome injury. 1969 01:29:03,594 --> 01:29:07,765 The audible collective gasp from the fans 1970 01:29:07,807 --> 01:29:09,892 sucked the air out of the building. 1971 01:29:09,934 --> 01:29:11,936 * * 1972 01:29:11,978 --> 01:29:13,146 It was uncomfortable. 1973 01:29:13,187 --> 01:29:15,440 * * 1974 01:29:15,481 --> 01:29:17,442 It felt like we were watching something 1975 01:29:17,483 --> 01:29:19,485 we weren't supposed to be seeing 1976 01:29:19,527 --> 01:29:22,280 and that it could go catastrophically bad. 1977 01:29:22,321 --> 01:29:24,449 It was a genuine concern 1978 01:29:24,490 --> 01:29:27,201 from everybody in the arena that night. 1979 01:29:29,078 --> 01:29:33,124 - My reaction when he took off that ring jacket was just, 1980 01:29:33,166 --> 01:29:35,168 "My gosh, what are you doing? 1981 01:29:35,209 --> 01:29:38,004 You must be in so much pain." 1982 01:29:39,380 --> 01:29:42,925 - It really added to the storyline and the drama 1983 01:29:42,967 --> 01:29:44,677 and the intrigue. 1984 01:29:44,719 --> 01:29:46,512 [cheers and applause] 1985 01:29:46,554 --> 01:29:48,806 - Cody Rhodes truly has the weight of the world 1986 01:29:48,848 --> 01:29:50,433 on his shoulders tonight. 1987 01:29:50,475 --> 01:29:52,518 [bell dings] 1988 01:29:52,560 --> 01:29:54,479 - I can't call it anything but what it was. 1989 01:29:54,520 --> 01:29:56,064 It was really old school. 1990 01:29:56,105 --> 01:29:57,440 We came up and lived by a moniker-- 1991 01:29:57,482 --> 01:29:58,983 if you walk, you go to the ring. 1992 01:29:59,025 --> 01:30:00,985 * * 1993 01:30:01,027 --> 01:30:03,863 - Aah! 1994 01:30:03,905 --> 01:30:06,115 - It's different when you're watching your dad 1995 01:30:06,157 --> 01:30:07,533 as opposed to watching your brothers. 1996 01:30:07,575 --> 01:30:10,703 You always have that fear that something really bad 1997 01:30:10,745 --> 01:30:12,121 is gonna happen. 1998 01:30:12,163 --> 01:30:16,959 * * 1999 01:30:17,001 --> 01:30:18,669 - It was brutal. 2000 01:30:18,711 --> 01:30:20,755 I watched like this. 2001 01:30:20,797 --> 01:30:24,342 * * 2002 01:30:24,384 --> 01:30:26,469 - Cody showed what he had inside, 2003 01:30:26,511 --> 01:30:29,222 and that's a lot more than a lot of people. 2004 01:30:29,263 --> 01:30:32,517 - Every, like, herky-jerky motion hurt. 2005 01:30:32,558 --> 01:30:34,936 And at one point, right after a Cody Cutter, 2006 01:30:34,977 --> 01:30:37,730 if there was gonna be a spot where the match ended, 2007 01:30:37,772 --> 01:30:40,858 it would have been right there, because I nearly vomited. 2008 01:30:40,900 --> 01:30:44,987 - Cody Cutter face down! 2009 01:30:45,029 --> 01:30:49,617 But how much damage did it do to Cody Rhodes delivering it? 2010 01:30:49,659 --> 01:30:51,702 - The referee that was in there with me that night, 2011 01:30:51,744 --> 01:30:53,996 he implored me, if you have a problem, 2012 01:30:54,038 --> 01:30:56,624 I'm gonna stop it. 2013 01:30:56,666 --> 01:31:01,379 So I had to make sure he knows, like, I'm okay. 2014 01:31:01,421 --> 01:31:03,047 - It was very tough to watch. 2015 01:31:03,089 --> 01:31:05,049 Even though you can't hurt it worse, 2016 01:31:05,091 --> 01:31:08,010 it doesn't mean it doesn't hurt. 2017 01:31:08,052 --> 01:31:09,262 - Aah! 2018 01:31:09,303 --> 01:31:11,848 - Oh, my. - This is just ruthless. 2019 01:31:11,889 --> 01:31:13,433 This is gruesome. 2020 01:31:15,685 --> 01:31:19,021 - Should this be happening? I don't know. 2021 01:31:19,063 --> 01:31:22,191 But this is to give them something to remember. 2022 01:31:22,233 --> 01:31:24,902 - Sledgehammer... 2023 01:31:24,944 --> 01:31:26,654 to Rollins! 2024 01:31:26,696 --> 01:31:28,740 * * 2025 01:31:28,781 --> 01:31:31,075 all: One, two, three! 2026 01:31:31,117 --> 01:31:32,410 - Unbelievable! 2027 01:31:32,452 --> 01:31:35,621 [cheers and applause] 2028 01:31:35,663 --> 01:31:39,584 * * 2029 01:31:39,625 --> 01:31:43,588 That was a downright Herculean effort 2030 01:31:43,629 --> 01:31:47,050 that we will likely never see again 2031 01:31:47,091 --> 01:31:49,761 in a WWE ring. 2032 01:31:49,802 --> 01:31:51,304 - Thanks, boys. 2033 01:31:51,345 --> 01:31:54,891 [applause] - Appreciate it. 2034 01:31:58,895 --> 01:32:01,939 - It showed people not just how good Cody was 2035 01:32:01,981 --> 01:32:04,275 but how tough Cody was. 2036 01:32:08,488 --> 01:32:11,240 - I think that he lied 2037 01:32:11,282 --> 01:32:13,743 about the pain. 2038 01:32:13,785 --> 01:32:15,953 - Anyone who's asked me how this feels, 2039 01:32:15,995 --> 01:32:17,580 I have lied through my teeth. 2040 01:32:17,622 --> 01:32:19,624 I have absolutely lied through my teeth. 2041 01:32:19,665 --> 01:32:21,375 This is the most painful thing 2042 01:32:21,417 --> 01:32:24,212 that could possibly ever be happening in my body. 2043 01:32:24,253 --> 01:32:26,297 I mean, it's completely ruptured. 2044 01:32:26,339 --> 01:32:28,299 So, yeah, you couldn't do it any more, 2045 01:32:28,341 --> 01:32:32,470 but, my God, it is the worst. 2046 01:32:32,512 --> 01:32:37,308 That was rough. That was rough. 2047 01:32:37,350 --> 01:32:39,394 Everyone asks about the pec. 2048 01:32:39,435 --> 01:32:41,479 I hate talking about it. 2049 01:32:41,521 --> 01:32:43,314 I'm embarrassed that it happened. 2050 01:32:43,356 --> 01:32:46,901 I'm not proud, but I do love 2051 01:32:46,943 --> 01:32:49,529 that it endeared me to a side of the audience 2052 01:32:49,570 --> 01:32:52,448 that maybe hadn't come around to me yet. 2053 01:32:52,490 --> 01:32:55,243 all: [chanting] Cody, Cody, Cody! 2054 01:32:55,284 --> 01:32:57,829 Cody, Cody, Cody! 2055 01:32:57,870 --> 01:33:02,291 - Cody Rhodes has earned every bit of adulation 2056 01:33:02,333 --> 01:33:05,920 for what he accomplished last night. 2057 01:33:05,962 --> 01:33:09,841 - But if that's what did it, then... 2058 01:33:09,882 --> 01:33:12,927 it's a pec well spent. 2059 01:33:12,969 --> 01:33:16,681 - Just days after his gutsy performance at Hell in a Cell, 2060 01:33:16,723 --> 01:33:19,392 Cody headed to Birmingham, Alabama, 2061 01:33:19,434 --> 01:33:22,729 to have his torn pectoral muscle repaired. 2062 01:33:22,770 --> 01:33:26,274 - We're gonna start by just making the standard approach 2063 01:33:26,315 --> 01:33:29,193 to the pec. 2064 01:33:29,235 --> 01:33:31,279 [monitor beeping] 2065 01:33:31,320 --> 01:33:34,699 - Big, deep breaths. 2066 01:33:34,741 --> 01:33:37,368 - Cody sustained a complete rupture 2067 01:33:37,410 --> 01:33:39,495 of his pectoralis major. 2068 01:33:39,537 --> 01:33:41,414 I saw the match, 2069 01:33:41,456 --> 01:33:45,668 and I couldn't believe he was doing it. 2070 01:33:45,710 --> 01:33:47,295 - Dr. Dugas is great. 2071 01:33:47,336 --> 01:33:49,964 He let me stand in there and watch. 2072 01:33:50,006 --> 01:33:50,965 [tube slurps] 2073 01:33:51,007 --> 01:33:54,802 * * 2074 01:33:54,844 --> 01:33:56,888 He told me that it was as successful 2075 01:33:56,929 --> 01:33:58,556 as successful could be. 2076 01:33:58,598 --> 01:34:00,433 - We were able to put all of it 2077 01:34:00,475 --> 01:34:02,727 basically right back to where it came from. 2078 01:34:02,769 --> 01:34:06,314 [monitor beeping] 2079 01:34:06,355 --> 01:34:08,733 * * 2080 01:34:08,775 --> 01:34:11,027 - I thought I was bulletproof. 2081 01:34:11,069 --> 01:34:13,988 News flash--I am not. 2082 01:34:14,030 --> 01:34:17,200 It took me ripping half my body off 2083 01:34:17,241 --> 01:34:19,660 to find out. 2084 01:34:19,702 --> 01:34:24,040 Can never come back and never recapture the fire, 2085 01:34:24,082 --> 01:34:26,626 or you can come back better than you ever were. 2086 01:34:32,548 --> 01:34:35,009 [soft dramatic music] 2087 01:34:35,051 --> 01:34:38,054 - It's been four months since Cody's surgery. 2088 01:34:38,096 --> 01:34:40,890 Today he's in his home state of Georgia, 2089 01:34:40,932 --> 01:34:42,642 welcoming a new crop of students 2090 01:34:42,683 --> 01:34:44,102 to his wrestling school, 2091 01:34:44,143 --> 01:34:48,564 aptly named the Nightmare Factory. 2092 01:34:48,606 --> 01:34:50,775 - I quit my job as a nurse and sold everything 2093 01:34:50,817 --> 01:34:52,652 that I own to come wrestle. 2094 01:34:52,693 --> 01:34:54,946 - Oh! [applause] 2095 01:34:54,987 --> 01:34:56,906 It doesn't matter who you are. 2096 01:34:56,948 --> 01:34:59,659 It is an absurdly difficult industry, 2097 01:34:59,700 --> 01:35:01,077 and you'll have success, 2098 01:35:01,119 --> 01:35:02,620 and then you'll wonder why you don't have more, 2099 01:35:02,662 --> 01:35:03,871 and then you'll realize, 2100 01:35:03,913 --> 01:35:05,832 oh, I just have to keep working harder. 2101 01:35:05,873 --> 01:35:08,543 This is the first time we get to sit down with them. 2102 01:35:08,584 --> 01:35:10,336 We try to loosen them up a little bit, 2103 01:35:10,378 --> 01:35:11,838 open it up for questions. 2104 01:35:11,879 --> 01:35:16,467 - How do you regain your confidence after a bad injury? 2105 01:35:16,509 --> 01:35:18,636 - Good question. 2106 01:35:20,304 --> 01:35:22,473 - For the first time in his career, 2107 01:35:22,515 --> 01:35:26,519 Cody was attempting to return from a major injury. 2108 01:35:26,561 --> 01:35:28,563 * * 2109 01:35:28,604 --> 01:35:30,106 - For someone who's been injured 2110 01:35:30,148 --> 01:35:32,275 and lost the thing that you love, 2111 01:35:32,316 --> 01:35:35,945 the journey to getting it back is not as simple as it sounds. 2112 01:35:35,987 --> 01:35:38,698 - It's good. It's good, intact. 2113 01:35:38,740 --> 01:35:40,616 - I think the toughest challenge 2114 01:35:40,658 --> 01:35:42,493 with specifically this type of tear 2115 01:35:42,535 --> 01:35:46,581 is after the third month, you feel relatively normal. 2116 01:35:46,622 --> 01:35:48,166 Then you get on a bench, 2117 01:35:48,207 --> 01:35:52,670 and you can only put up 3-pound or 5-pound dumbbells. 2118 01:35:52,712 --> 01:35:54,589 There's always a little bit of nerves 2119 01:35:54,630 --> 01:35:55,798 about picking something up 2120 01:35:55,840 --> 01:35:59,594 or moving in a way that there's a zinger. 2121 01:35:59,635 --> 01:36:01,095 - First concern you have is, 2122 01:36:01,137 --> 01:36:03,431 am I gonna be able to make it back? 2123 01:36:03,473 --> 01:36:05,725 And it runs through your mind during your healing process 2124 01:36:05,767 --> 01:36:07,143 and your rehabilitation. 2125 01:36:07,185 --> 01:36:09,854 - I hope I can perform better than I ever did. 2126 01:36:09,896 --> 01:36:11,814 I honestly thought I was the best wrestler in the world 2127 01:36:11,856 --> 01:36:15,610 the day I left Hell in the Cell 2128 01:36:15,651 --> 01:36:17,361 with the pec already torn, 2129 01:36:17,403 --> 01:36:21,824 but I would need to be at that same level or even better, 2130 01:36:21,866 --> 01:36:24,535 and there's an anchor on my bicep 2131 01:36:24,577 --> 01:36:28,247 with my pec tendon tied to it, so I am different. 2132 01:36:28,289 --> 01:36:31,417 So I got to be what I was but different at the same time. 2133 01:36:31,459 --> 01:36:32,668 Just... 2134 01:36:32,710 --> 01:36:34,170 It's a game. 2135 01:36:34,212 --> 01:36:36,839 It's a mental game of, okay, I feel really good about it, 2136 01:36:36,881 --> 01:36:40,343 and then I feel really terrible about it. 2137 01:36:40,385 --> 01:36:43,346 The biggest thing is not the injury itself. 2138 01:36:43,388 --> 01:36:46,891 The biggest thing is how it weighs on your mind. 2139 01:36:46,933 --> 01:36:51,604 Will I come back? How will I be received? 2140 01:36:51,646 --> 01:36:54,357 And just the unknown. 2141 01:36:54,399 --> 01:36:56,651 - You don't know what's going to happen during those months 2142 01:36:56,692 --> 01:36:57,777 that you're out. 2143 01:36:57,819 --> 01:36:59,070 Who's gonna come up? 2144 01:36:59,112 --> 01:37:00,571 What's gonna happen storyline-wise? 2145 01:37:00,613 --> 01:37:03,449 So you're sitting back, and you're completely helpless. 2146 01:37:03,491 --> 01:37:07,495 If you don't have that inner confidence in yourself... 2147 01:37:07,537 --> 01:37:11,707 [scoffs] It's complete misery. 2148 01:37:11,749 --> 01:37:13,209 - In wrestling, things can change... 2149 01:37:13,251 --> 01:37:14,752 [snaps fingers] Like that, and now I'm out. 2150 01:37:14,794 --> 01:37:16,754 So what's gonna happen when I come back? 2151 01:37:16,796 --> 01:37:18,339 - Are you going to feel the same? 2152 01:37:18,381 --> 01:37:20,466 Are you going to be able to perform the same? 2153 01:37:20,508 --> 01:37:22,677 Is the audience going to care? 2154 01:37:22,719 --> 01:37:24,595 Are they going to remember you? 2155 01:37:24,637 --> 01:37:27,974 Mentally, it's just a very challenging place to be in. 2156 01:37:28,015 --> 01:37:32,395 It can lead to depression at times, a lot of anxiety. 2157 01:37:32,437 --> 01:37:34,313 The days seem to stretch, 2158 01:37:34,355 --> 01:37:37,567 and it feels like it's never gonna happen. 2159 01:37:37,608 --> 01:37:39,736 - I'm so glad that today, 2160 01:37:39,777 --> 01:37:42,113 from a standpoint us as wrestlers 2161 01:37:42,155 --> 01:37:46,409 or WWE superstars can talk about the mental health, 2162 01:37:46,451 --> 01:37:49,746 the sports psychology involved with such a high 2163 01:37:49,787 --> 01:37:51,873 and then being met with such a low. 2164 01:37:53,374 --> 01:37:56,544 The only saving grace for that period was, 2165 01:37:56,586 --> 01:37:59,422 obviously, my wife was there with me every step of the way, 2166 01:37:59,464 --> 01:38:02,133 but I got to be around Liberty 2167 01:38:02,175 --> 01:38:04,594 more than I would have been around her, 2168 01:38:04,635 --> 01:38:06,179 you know, being on the road. 2169 01:38:06,220 --> 01:38:09,140 Can you say "I love you"? - I love you. 2170 01:38:09,182 --> 01:38:13,102 - Cody is a total family man, just like his dad. 2171 01:38:13,144 --> 01:38:14,979 He realizes... 2172 01:38:15,021 --> 01:38:18,900 to be a family man, you got to be there. 2173 01:38:18,941 --> 01:38:22,445 Your home is the heart of three people. 2174 01:38:22,487 --> 01:38:26,783 * * 2175 01:38:26,824 --> 01:38:29,118 - In December of 2022, 2176 01:38:29,160 --> 01:38:31,996 after six months of rehabilitation, 2177 01:38:32,038 --> 01:38:34,874 Cody stepped in the ring once again. 2178 01:38:34,916 --> 01:38:36,834 - I thought I was a really hard worker, 2179 01:38:36,876 --> 01:38:38,628 and then I get the green light. 2180 01:38:38,669 --> 01:38:40,254 Doc Dugas says, you can train, 2181 01:38:40,296 --> 01:38:42,298 and you can get in the ring, too. 2182 01:38:42,340 --> 01:38:43,508 And then I found out 2183 01:38:43,549 --> 01:38:46,052 there was a whole nother layer of hard work. 2184 01:38:46,094 --> 01:38:47,261 [grunts] 2185 01:38:47,303 --> 01:38:54,143 * * 2186 01:38:54,185 --> 01:38:57,313 I mean, you can see the manifestation. 2187 01:38:57,355 --> 01:38:59,482 As hard as I tried to keep muscle on 2188 01:38:59,524 --> 01:39:02,902 and develop my muscle... 2189 01:39:02,944 --> 01:39:05,780 I got as lean as I have ever been. 2190 01:39:05,822 --> 01:39:07,824 * * 2191 01:39:07,865 --> 01:39:10,326 I got as healthy as a wrestler 2192 01:39:10,368 --> 01:39:12,495 as I've ever been, as an athlete. 2193 01:39:12,537 --> 01:39:15,998 * * 2194 01:39:16,040 --> 01:39:19,252 - WWE Medical requires that performers 2195 01:39:19,293 --> 01:39:24,132 go through an evaluation to be cleared for competition. 2196 01:39:24,173 --> 01:39:27,051 - Today we were going through his warmup strategies 2197 01:39:27,093 --> 01:39:31,347 to basically prepare himself before any match going forward 2198 01:39:31,389 --> 01:39:34,183 and then getting in the ring today to get cleared. 2199 01:39:34,225 --> 01:39:36,894 - I'm Carmelo Hayes, NXT superstar, 2200 01:39:36,936 --> 01:39:38,813 and we're here to get Cody ready. 2201 01:39:38,855 --> 01:39:41,524 * * 2202 01:39:41,566 --> 01:39:46,362 - That was really exciting, for me to feel ready. 2203 01:39:46,404 --> 01:39:49,115 * * 2204 01:39:49,157 --> 01:39:50,616 - The thing about Cody is, 2205 01:39:50,658 --> 01:39:52,618 he thinks that, you know, I'm here to help him, 2206 01:39:52,660 --> 01:39:53,911 but in reality, he's helping me. 2207 01:39:53,953 --> 01:39:55,455 It's cool to get in there with somebody, 2208 01:39:55,496 --> 01:39:57,540 such a pro like Cody. 2209 01:39:57,582 --> 01:39:59,709 I think he's ready to go, man. He was fine. 2210 01:39:59,751 --> 01:40:02,670 If anything, I had to take it up a notch to meet him. 2211 01:40:02,712 --> 01:40:06,257 - Everyone was there to help me check those boxes. 2212 01:40:06,299 --> 01:40:08,009 Good? - Yeah, that's good. 2213 01:40:08,051 --> 01:40:09,886 - Yay. - Yay. 2214 01:40:09,927 --> 01:40:11,637 - Head up. - Yeah. 2215 01:40:11,679 --> 01:40:14,015 - Did it. 2216 01:40:14,057 --> 01:40:15,433 - He did awesome. 2217 01:40:15,475 --> 01:40:18,853 So I have no reservations or hesitations 2218 01:40:18,895 --> 01:40:21,481 about him going forward. 2219 01:40:21,522 --> 01:40:24,692 - The Royal Rumble is the obvious destination 2220 01:40:24,734 --> 01:40:25,985 at this point. 2221 01:40:26,027 --> 01:40:27,403 You're looking right at it. 2222 01:40:27,445 --> 01:40:29,572 And if we're cleared with no restrictions, 2223 01:40:29,614 --> 01:40:31,491 what are we waiting for? 2224 01:40:31,532 --> 01:40:33,493 And the next step will be pulling the bus 2225 01:40:33,534 --> 01:40:36,412 into San Antonio and the Alamodome. 2226 01:40:36,454 --> 01:40:41,709 * * 2227 01:40:41,751 --> 01:40:43,169 - One month later, 2228 01:40:43,211 --> 01:40:47,173 Cody stepped off his bus in San Antonio, Texas, 2229 01:40:47,215 --> 01:40:51,594 to compete in WWE's annual Royal Rumble match. 2230 01:40:51,636 --> 01:40:53,346 In this contest, 2231 01:40:53,388 --> 01:40:56,599 the winner receives a championship opportunity 2232 01:40:56,641 --> 01:40:59,060 at WrestleMania 39. 2233 01:40:59,102 --> 01:41:00,895 - There's fear, in terms of, 2234 01:41:00,937 --> 01:41:03,189 can you even do it at the level you were doing it at? 2235 01:41:03,231 --> 01:41:05,441 But I've been visualizing it for seven months. 2236 01:41:05,483 --> 01:41:08,736 So, walking in here, so far, it's exactly what I wanted. 2237 01:41:08,778 --> 01:41:10,279 [bell dings] 2238 01:41:10,321 --> 01:41:14,158 - The following is the 30-man 2239 01:41:14,200 --> 01:41:19,080 Royal Rumble match! 2240 01:41:19,122 --> 01:41:20,957 [cheers and applause] 2241 01:41:20,998 --> 01:41:24,502 - 30 men, every man for himself! 2242 01:41:24,544 --> 01:41:27,130 Over 50,000 strong 2243 01:41:27,171 --> 01:41:29,424 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. 2244 01:41:29,465 --> 01:41:31,300 And here we go! 2245 01:41:31,342 --> 01:41:33,302 * * 2246 01:41:33,344 --> 01:41:37,056 - Nothing can prepare you for wrestling like wrestling. 2247 01:41:37,098 --> 01:41:39,308 - The ring filling up with superstars. 2248 01:41:39,350 --> 01:41:42,937 - I hadn't been having big, big, big matches yet. 2249 01:41:42,979 --> 01:41:45,857 * * 2250 01:41:45,898 --> 01:41:48,151 - This is entry number 15. 2251 01:41:48,192 --> 01:41:51,237 - Seth "Freakin" Rollins is here! 2252 01:41:51,279 --> 01:41:52,864 [cheers and applause] 2253 01:41:52,905 --> 01:41:55,742 - And now eliminated by Gunther. 2254 01:41:55,783 --> 01:41:57,326 - Coming into the Rumble, 2255 01:41:57,368 --> 01:41:59,078 you could spend some time in there. 2256 01:41:59,120 --> 01:42:01,497 - Here comes number 30. 2257 01:42:01,539 --> 01:42:05,960 - In my case, I came in at the lofty number-30 spot. 2258 01:42:06,002 --> 01:42:07,837 [buzzer blares] 2259 01:42:07,879 --> 01:42:10,339 [energetic rock music] 2260 01:42:10,381 --> 01:42:15,261 - The American Nightmare is here! 2261 01:42:15,303 --> 01:42:18,681 His recovery from the torn pectoral muscle 2262 01:42:18,723 --> 01:42:20,558 has been well documented. 2263 01:42:20,600 --> 01:42:23,853 - Let's roll, right? Let's roll! Let's roll! 2264 01:42:23,895 --> 01:42:27,148 [dramatic music] 2265 01:42:27,190 --> 01:42:29,567 - Cody Rhodes! 2266 01:42:29,609 --> 01:42:32,320 Oh, Rhodes! 2267 01:42:32,361 --> 01:42:35,615 Logan Paul sent over the top rope, 2268 01:42:35,656 --> 01:42:37,116 and it's down to two! 2269 01:42:37,158 --> 01:42:40,203 It's down to Cody! It's down to Gunther! 2270 01:42:40,244 --> 01:42:43,664 - The first chop that he put across my chest 2271 01:42:43,706 --> 01:42:46,626 and on the area that had been surgically repaired... 2272 01:42:46,667 --> 01:42:51,297 * * 2273 01:42:51,339 --> 01:42:53,758 It was like coming alive again. 2274 01:42:53,800 --> 01:42:56,052 * * 2275 01:42:56,094 --> 01:42:58,012 And he made me feel it. 2276 01:42:58,054 --> 01:42:59,222 - You saw everything Cody Rhodes 2277 01:42:59,263 --> 01:43:00,723 put himself through to get ready, 2278 01:43:00,765 --> 01:43:03,017 to battle back, to be ready for this moment 2279 01:43:03,059 --> 01:43:05,103 here tonight at the Royal Rumble. 2280 01:43:05,144 --> 01:43:07,730 And now Gunther looking to eliminate Cody Rhodes 2281 01:43:07,772 --> 01:43:08,898 and win the-- 2282 01:43:08,940 --> 01:43:11,275 Oh! Cody Rhodes! 2283 01:43:11,317 --> 01:43:13,986 Cross Rhodes to Gunther! 2284 01:43:14,028 --> 01:43:16,989 Cody Rhodes! Gunther! 2285 01:43:18,950 --> 01:43:20,368 Eliminated! 2286 01:43:20,410 --> 01:43:23,287 [cheers and applause] 2287 01:43:23,329 --> 01:43:25,665 [triumphant music] 2288 01:43:25,706 --> 01:43:28,000 The American Nightmare, 2289 01:43:28,042 --> 01:43:31,170 one step closer to the American Dream! 2290 01:43:31,212 --> 01:43:35,049 * * 2291 01:43:35,091 --> 01:43:38,094 - For me in that moment... 2292 01:43:38,136 --> 01:43:39,595 I felt damn good. 2293 01:43:39,637 --> 01:43:45,059 * * 2294 01:43:45,101 --> 01:43:49,814 - Can you imagine the feeling after the torn pectoral muscle 2295 01:43:49,856 --> 01:43:52,859 and the match of the year at Hell in a Cell 2296 01:43:52,900 --> 01:43:55,778 to this moment tonight? 2297 01:43:55,820 --> 01:43:59,449 * * 2298 01:43:59,490 --> 01:44:02,201 - It hasn't hit me at all... 2299 01:44:02,243 --> 01:44:05,455 the whole story and what we do next. 2300 01:44:05,496 --> 01:44:09,667 That's once-in-a-lifetime stuff, you know? 2301 01:44:09,709 --> 01:44:11,544 - You guys did all out. Great job. 2302 01:44:11,586 --> 01:44:13,087 - Congratulations. 2303 01:44:13,129 --> 01:44:14,505 - I don't think I've ever been beat up that bad in my life. 2304 01:44:17,091 --> 01:44:18,885 You know, I joke a lot about, you know, 2305 01:44:18,926 --> 01:44:22,138 how she felt about me leaving and the roll of the dice, 2306 01:44:22,180 --> 01:44:24,974 and to see me in a successful moment, 2307 01:44:25,016 --> 01:44:26,976 that's irreplaceable. 2308 01:44:27,018 --> 01:44:29,312 You know, for a guy who doesn't believe in destiny, 2309 01:44:29,353 --> 01:44:31,481 we're on a hell of a course here, right? 2310 01:44:31,522 --> 01:44:34,233 Mm. 2311 01:44:34,275 --> 01:44:36,861 [soft dramatic music] 2312 01:44:36,903 --> 01:44:38,863 * * 2313 01:44:38,905 --> 01:44:42,366 - Cody had the opportunity to fulfill his dream 2314 01:44:42,408 --> 01:44:47,163 and achieve the goal his father never did... 2315 01:44:47,205 --> 01:44:51,084 win the WWE Championship. 2316 01:44:51,125 --> 01:44:54,253 * * 2317 01:44:59,092 --> 01:45:01,594 - At WrestleMania 39, 2318 01:45:01,636 --> 01:45:04,847 Cody had the opportunity of a lifetime-- 2319 01:45:04,889 --> 01:45:06,682 a Main Event match 2320 01:45:06,724 --> 01:45:11,896 against the WWE Undisputed Universal Champion, 2321 01:45:11,938 --> 01:45:15,066 Roman Reigns. 2322 01:45:15,108 --> 01:45:17,568 - Nearly 2 1/2 years, 2323 01:45:17,610 --> 01:45:22,490 Roman Reigns has ruled WWE. 2324 01:45:22,532 --> 01:45:25,159 - He's in there with the biggest Main Eventer 2325 01:45:25,201 --> 01:45:26,494 in WrestleMania history. 2326 01:45:26,536 --> 01:45:28,329 So he's more than dipping his toes. 2327 01:45:28,371 --> 01:45:30,248 He's jumping in the deep end. 2328 01:45:30,289 --> 01:45:33,084 - Quite simply, Roman Reigns 2329 01:45:33,126 --> 01:45:36,838 exists in God mode. 2330 01:45:36,879 --> 01:45:39,674 - We have a mountain that so many people 2331 01:45:39,716 --> 01:45:43,511 have failed to climb and failed to conquer. 2332 01:45:43,553 --> 01:45:46,180 - Daniel Bryan and Edge couldn't do it. 2333 01:45:46,222 --> 01:45:48,683 John Cena couldn't do it. 2334 01:45:48,725 --> 01:45:52,854 Sami Zayn couldn't do it in Montreal. 2335 01:45:52,895 --> 01:45:54,439 Why should I be the one? 2336 01:45:54,480 --> 01:45:55,857 - For some, you have become 2337 01:45:55,898 --> 01:45:58,901 this impossible mountain to climb. 2338 01:45:58,943 --> 01:46:03,030 But that's kind of my thing. 2339 01:46:03,072 --> 01:46:07,368 There's no way that Cody will survive Stardust. 2340 01:46:07,410 --> 01:46:09,370 There's no way that 10,000 people 2341 01:46:09,412 --> 01:46:10,705 would pay to see me 2342 01:46:10,747 --> 01:46:13,040 and my buddy's little indie show. 2343 01:46:13,082 --> 01:46:15,877 The goal posts have continuously moved, 2344 01:46:15,918 --> 01:46:20,465 and I continuously punch it through the uprights. 2345 01:46:20,506 --> 01:46:22,216 So, for everybody else, 2346 01:46:22,258 --> 01:46:26,220 Roman Reigns might be impossible... 2347 01:46:26,262 --> 01:46:29,098 [crowd shouting, cheering, whistling] 2348 01:46:29,140 --> 01:46:31,893 Just not for me. 2349 01:46:31,934 --> 01:46:34,687 [cheers and applause] 2350 01:46:34,729 --> 01:46:37,732 If there was one person who could do it, 2351 01:46:37,774 --> 01:46:40,568 it's the guy who has been trained his whole life, 2352 01:46:40,610 --> 01:46:43,821 whether he knew he was training for it or not, 2353 01:46:43,863 --> 01:46:46,032 to do it. 2354 01:46:46,074 --> 01:46:48,034 - He exudes confidence. 2355 01:46:48,076 --> 01:46:50,411 And you can tell he believes in what he's doing. 2356 01:46:50,453 --> 01:46:52,288 It comes across on TV 2357 01:46:52,330 --> 01:46:54,749 as like, yeah, this guy's locked in. 2358 01:46:54,791 --> 01:46:58,795 - I have waited my whole life! I will wait no more! 2359 01:46:58,836 --> 01:47:02,548 On April 2nd, Roman Reigns, I pin you! 2360 01:47:02,590 --> 01:47:04,717 I stick you in this ring and become 2361 01:47:04,759 --> 01:47:07,512 the first Rhodes to ever say 2362 01:47:07,553 --> 01:47:13,309 he is the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion! 2363 01:47:13,351 --> 01:47:15,311 [cheers and applause] 2364 01:47:15,353 --> 01:47:18,439 [soft dramatic music] 2365 01:47:18,481 --> 01:47:21,192 - All roads lead to WrestleMania. 2366 01:47:21,234 --> 01:47:22,610 And joining us now, 2367 01:47:22,652 --> 01:47:24,445 WWE superstar, the American Nightmare, 2368 01:47:24,487 --> 01:47:26,989 Mr. Cody Rhodes! - Cody Rhodes! 2369 01:47:27,031 --> 01:47:29,784 - Oh, my gosh, what a buildup. What an intro. 2370 01:47:29,826 --> 01:47:32,745 This is the most improbable Main Event, 2371 01:47:32,787 --> 01:47:34,539 if you really look at it. 2372 01:47:34,580 --> 01:47:37,417 - Cody Rhodes one was when you were here 2373 01:47:37,458 --> 01:47:39,627 to promote AEW. - Yeah. 2374 01:47:39,669 --> 01:47:41,546 A year ago, I was an outsider. 2375 01:47:41,587 --> 01:47:43,798 Roman has been to the Main Event. 2376 01:47:43,840 --> 01:47:46,634 This is number seven. This is number one for me. 2377 01:47:46,676 --> 01:47:49,846 So heading into a match with Roman Reigns, 2378 01:47:49,887 --> 01:47:53,057 it's the biggest thing anyone in my family has ever done. 2379 01:47:53,099 --> 01:47:54,517 - Your daughter-- 2380 01:47:54,559 --> 01:47:56,811 I mean, is she starting to feel the wrestling? 2381 01:47:56,853 --> 01:47:58,730 - We'll see how she takes to it. 2382 01:47:58,771 --> 01:48:00,523 She may end up being like, "Nope, this isn't for me." 2383 01:48:00,565 --> 01:48:02,275 Or she may fall right in love with it. 2384 01:48:02,316 --> 01:48:03,651 So we'll see. 2385 01:48:03,693 --> 01:48:04,902 - We can't wait to see what happens. 2386 01:48:04,944 --> 01:48:07,447 Well, good luck. 2387 01:48:09,490 --> 01:48:12,452 [soft music] 2388 01:48:12,493 --> 01:48:15,079 * * 2389 01:48:19,709 --> 01:48:21,461 - I really want to win, guys. 2390 01:48:21,502 --> 01:48:23,046 God, I want to win. I do. 2391 01:48:27,258 --> 01:48:31,179 But it's not just about that anymore. 2392 01:48:31,220 --> 01:48:32,722 I still can't hand it to him. 2393 01:48:32,764 --> 01:48:34,182 I still can't tell him, 2394 01:48:34,223 --> 01:48:36,726 "Nobody can take it away from you now." 2395 01:48:36,768 --> 01:48:39,353 I have my own family. 2396 01:48:39,395 --> 01:48:41,773 - Libby, ooh. - Baby. 2397 01:48:41,814 --> 01:48:43,983 - Cheese! 2398 01:48:44,025 --> 01:48:47,111 - [voice breaking] You know, one day... 2399 01:48:47,153 --> 01:48:50,698 she's gonna tell somebody that her dad was Cody Rhodes. 2400 01:48:50,740 --> 01:48:55,036 [imitates whoosh, chuckles] - [giggles] 2401 01:48:55,078 --> 01:48:59,457 And what comes back is very important. 2402 01:48:59,499 --> 01:49:03,628 * * 2403 01:49:03,669 --> 01:49:05,880 - It's a matter of, 2404 01:49:05,922 --> 01:49:08,216 is it destiny or not for Cody Rhodes? 2405 01:49:08,257 --> 01:49:11,135 - Cody Rhodes is taking that title home tonight. 2406 01:49:11,177 --> 01:49:12,387 - Let's go. 2407 01:49:12,428 --> 01:49:14,055 I don't have anything else to say. 2408 01:49:14,097 --> 01:49:15,598 Let's go! 2409 01:49:15,640 --> 01:49:19,936 - Cody feels like a champion when he walks in the room. 2410 01:49:19,977 --> 01:49:22,939 Great chance for Cody Rhodes, but it ain't gonna be easy. 2411 01:49:27,777 --> 01:49:30,405 - When I was underneath, I could feel his hand. 2412 01:49:30,446 --> 01:49:33,116 So I felt like he was with me. 2413 01:49:33,157 --> 01:49:38,037 - Get a dream, hold on to it, and shoot for the sky! 2414 01:49:38,079 --> 01:49:41,040 [dramatic music] 2415 01:49:41,082 --> 01:49:44,001 * * 2416 01:49:44,043 --> 01:49:48,005 [crowd shouting, fireworks booming] 2417 01:49:48,047 --> 01:49:51,092 * * 2418 01:49:51,134 --> 01:49:54,095 - Being in that moment, going on last, 2419 01:49:54,137 --> 01:49:56,931 it's just something that my family can share 2420 01:49:56,973 --> 01:49:59,934 and be there for and rally together. 2421 01:49:59,976 --> 01:50:03,479 - This is a moment generations in the making 2422 01:50:03,521 --> 01:50:05,648 for the Rhodes family. 2423 01:50:05,690 --> 01:50:09,444 - I am so lucky to be here. 2424 01:50:09,485 --> 01:50:12,488 Absolutely I worked my ass off. 2425 01:50:12,530 --> 01:50:15,241 I worked my entire life for this. 2426 01:50:15,283 --> 01:50:17,785 Bet on myself. Yes, that's great. 2427 01:50:17,827 --> 01:50:22,540 But I'm still lucky to be in this spot. 2428 01:50:22,582 --> 01:50:25,209 * * 2429 01:50:25,251 --> 01:50:28,755 I'm living the first dream I ever had, 2430 01:50:28,796 --> 01:50:32,300 and part of that is terrifying. 2431 01:50:32,341 --> 01:50:34,218 - Roman in the midst of one 2432 01:50:34,260 --> 01:50:37,305 of the most incredible championship runs 2433 01:50:37,346 --> 01:50:40,683 in the history of sports entertainment. 2434 01:50:40,725 --> 01:50:42,518 Cody Rhodes 2435 01:50:42,560 --> 01:50:45,980 looking to end that tonight. 2436 01:50:46,022 --> 01:50:49,150 - But part of that's really fun. 2437 01:50:49,192 --> 01:50:52,737 Final inning here, bottom of the ninth. 2438 01:50:52,779 --> 01:50:54,238 This is it. 2439 01:50:54,280 --> 01:50:57,533 You either do the thing, or you strike out. 2440 01:50:57,575 --> 01:50:59,118 [bell dings] 2441 01:50:59,160 --> 01:51:03,331 - The following contest scheduled for one fall is for 2442 01:51:03,372 --> 01:51:07,335 the Undisputed WWE 2443 01:51:07,377 --> 01:51:12,215 Universal Championship! 2444 01:51:12,256 --> 01:51:15,176 [cheers and applause] 2445 01:51:15,218 --> 01:51:17,178 - The last time that Roman Reigns 2446 01:51:17,220 --> 01:51:22,100 was pinned in a match was in December of 2019. 2447 01:51:22,141 --> 01:51:23,601 - Cody letting Roman know, 2448 01:51:23,643 --> 01:51:25,978 I'm here to take what you have. 2449 01:51:26,020 --> 01:51:29,649 And Roman is eager to remind the entire WWE Universe 2450 01:51:29,690 --> 01:51:32,193 that this is his world. 2451 01:51:32,235 --> 01:51:34,612 Cody trying to hang on. 2452 01:51:34,654 --> 01:51:36,948 Back body drop through the table! 2453 01:51:36,989 --> 01:51:39,075 Cody's got a chance! 2454 01:51:41,202 --> 01:51:43,246 Oh, Cody Cutter! 2455 01:51:44,831 --> 01:51:47,250 - SoFi is rumbling! 2456 01:51:47,291 --> 01:51:51,212 It feels like we are on the precipice of history! 2457 01:51:52,714 --> 01:51:55,508 - Cross Rhodes! 2458 01:51:55,550 --> 01:51:58,469 And a kick-out by Reigns! 2459 01:51:58,511 --> 01:52:02,265 - Does Rhodes have what it takes to finish the story? 2460 01:52:02,306 --> 01:52:06,185 - Oh, my God, Roman did it again! 2461 01:52:06,227 --> 01:52:09,355 - Rhodes trying to psych himself back up. 2462 01:52:09,397 --> 01:52:11,941 - Oh, Superman punch! 2463 01:52:11,983 --> 01:52:14,694 Rhodes is out cold! 2464 01:52:14,736 --> 01:52:16,112 Cody's alive, though! 2465 01:52:17,989 --> 01:52:20,783 Roman can't believe it! 2466 01:52:22,785 --> 01:52:26,414 He's gonna do it! Cross Rhodes! 2467 01:52:26,456 --> 01:52:28,958 Do it again, Cody! 2468 01:52:30,752 --> 01:52:33,921 - No! Solo! 2469 01:52:33,963 --> 01:52:36,883 - Oh, my God, not like this! 2470 01:52:36,924 --> 01:52:39,844 [soft dramatic music] 2471 01:52:39,886 --> 01:52:47,018 * * 2472 01:52:53,483 --> 01:52:56,611 - And still 2473 01:52:56,652 --> 01:52:59,614 the Undisputed 2474 01:52:59,655 --> 01:53:05,828 WWE Universal Champion! 2475 01:53:05,870 --> 01:53:13,002 * * 2476 01:53:15,671 --> 01:53:17,465 - Cody Rhodes 2477 01:53:17,507 --> 01:53:21,260 with the fight of his life. 2478 01:53:21,302 --> 01:53:23,513 His father, the American Dream, 2479 01:53:23,554 --> 01:53:26,933 looking down, has to be proud. 2480 01:53:26,974 --> 01:53:28,476 - Main Eventing WrestleMania, 2481 01:53:28,518 --> 01:53:30,603 it really doesn't get bigger than that. 2482 01:53:30,645 --> 01:53:31,813 That's a moment. 2483 01:53:31,854 --> 01:53:33,773 That's a moment his dad never had. 2484 01:53:33,815 --> 01:53:36,025 Like, I can feel his dad's presence there, 2485 01:53:36,067 --> 01:53:38,861 you know, watching that, and without sounding cliché, 2486 01:53:38,903 --> 01:53:42,031 like, I know--I know what that would have meant to him. 2487 01:53:48,663 --> 01:53:50,581 I felt like in that moment, it was important 2488 01:53:50,623 --> 01:53:52,834 for me to reinforce to him what he had just done, 2489 01:53:52,875 --> 01:53:54,460 because I think sometimes it's easy 2490 01:53:54,502 --> 01:53:56,879 to just pass that off and not actually sit back 2491 01:53:56,921 --> 01:53:59,048 and take a moment to go, "Wow, I just 2492 01:53:59,090 --> 01:54:01,884 Main Evented WrestleMania," you know? 2493 01:54:01,926 --> 01:54:04,637 That's an accomplishment. 2494 01:54:04,679 --> 01:54:07,390 - I know people are proud, and I appreciate that, 2495 01:54:07,432 --> 01:54:09,308 but this sucks. 2496 01:54:09,350 --> 01:54:10,810 It really [bleep] sucks. 2497 01:54:10,852 --> 01:54:13,396 * * 2498 01:54:13,438 --> 01:54:14,856 I'm not done. 2499 01:54:14,897 --> 01:54:17,233 The story is unfinished. 2500 01:54:17,275 --> 01:54:20,194 But a lot of good stories have a lot of pages. 2501 01:54:20,236 --> 01:54:25,533 * * 2502 01:54:25,575 --> 01:54:28,828 - There is still work to be done. 2503 01:54:28,870 --> 01:54:32,373 But through it all, Cody Rhodes 2504 01:54:32,415 --> 01:54:36,085 has proven nothing is impossible. 2505 01:54:38,629 --> 01:54:41,299 - It's really easy to say, hey, when the book's closed, 2506 01:54:41,340 --> 01:54:45,094 the whole story is finished, "He was Dusty Rhodes' son." 2507 01:54:45,136 --> 01:54:47,180 But then there's another way you say it, 2508 01:54:47,221 --> 01:54:49,557 where he's Dusty Rhodes' son, 2509 01:54:49,599 --> 01:54:52,518 and that means a whole lot... 2510 01:54:52,560 --> 01:54:54,687 because of what he was able to do. 2511 01:54:54,729 --> 01:54:57,857 * * 2512 01:54:57,899 --> 01:55:01,903 [fireworks booming] 2513 01:55:01,944 --> 01:55:03,905 - There is one key to this business-- 2514 01:55:03,946 --> 01:55:06,949 is believing in your worth. 2515 01:55:06,991 --> 01:55:10,411 If anyone is a testament to that, it's Cody. 2516 01:55:12,121 --> 01:55:15,416 - Somebody said to somebody, "Not you." 2517 01:55:15,458 --> 01:55:17,543 And to be able to be the person 2518 01:55:17,585 --> 01:55:18,795 to turn around and say, 2519 01:55:18,836 --> 01:55:21,422 "I'm gonna make you change your mind"... 2520 01:55:21,464 --> 01:55:23,383 However many years it takes, finally, they say, 2521 01:55:23,424 --> 01:55:26,761 "You know what? You were right." 2522 01:55:26,803 --> 01:55:28,930 God, that's great. 2523 01:55:28,971 --> 01:55:33,726 - From undesirable to undeniable! 2524 01:55:33,768 --> 01:55:35,686 - What a beautiful story. 2525 01:55:35,728 --> 01:55:38,439 I mean, this is the story that you make movies about. 2526 01:55:38,481 --> 01:55:40,983 - It's just the sheer force of will 2527 01:55:41,025 --> 01:55:45,196 that he had to be a star in the business. 2528 01:55:45,238 --> 01:55:49,117 - He's gone from being a wrestler to being a star, 2529 01:55:49,158 --> 01:55:51,953 but now he's becoming an attraction. 2530 01:55:51,994 --> 01:55:53,704 When you become an attraction, 2531 01:55:53,746 --> 01:55:56,416 you get so far ahead of the pack, 2532 01:55:56,457 --> 01:55:58,292 they can't even see your tail lights. 2533 01:55:58,334 --> 01:56:00,086 That's where he's headed right now. 2534 01:56:00,128 --> 01:56:02,672 - He has built Cody Rhodes. 2535 01:56:02,714 --> 01:56:04,132 Maybe it got him looked at at first 2536 01:56:04,173 --> 01:56:05,508 because he was Dusty's son, but that's it. 2537 01:56:05,550 --> 01:56:07,468 He's built an incredible career 2538 01:56:07,510 --> 01:56:10,638 and is delivering at all times. 2539 01:56:10,680 --> 01:56:12,932 - It's no longer, "Oh, that's Cody Rhodes. 2540 01:56:12,974 --> 01:56:14,809 That's Dusty's boy." 2541 01:56:14,851 --> 01:56:17,478 It's, "That's Cody Rhodes right there." 2542 01:56:17,520 --> 01:56:19,814 - I got to meet Cody. 2543 01:56:19,856 --> 01:56:22,442 I gave him a picture. 2544 01:56:22,483 --> 01:56:26,154 - I'm just as proud of him as a parent can be, period. 2545 01:56:26,195 --> 01:56:28,865 - I look up to Cody Rhodes, 2546 01:56:28,906 --> 01:56:31,492 not only in ring but out of ring. 2547 01:56:31,534 --> 01:56:33,911 He's a great father and husband. 2548 01:56:33,953 --> 01:56:37,123 - [imitates whoosh] - Jump, baby! 2549 01:56:37,165 --> 01:56:40,376 - I'm proud of myself as a husband and father. 2550 01:56:45,548 --> 01:56:47,133 [both grunting sweetly] 2551 01:56:47,175 --> 01:56:48,342 But as a performer, 2552 01:56:48,384 --> 01:56:50,678 I don't think I can say I'm proud 2553 01:56:50,720 --> 01:56:52,847 because I haven't finished it. 2554 01:56:52,889 --> 01:56:55,516 - The chip his dad never got. 2555 01:56:55,558 --> 01:56:58,102 And believe me, he won't give up until he gets it. 2556 01:56:58,144 --> 01:57:00,188 - Believing in himself, 2557 01:57:00,229 --> 01:57:03,691 that's his superpower. 2558 01:57:03,733 --> 01:57:06,861 - When people talk about me or think about me, 2559 01:57:06,903 --> 01:57:10,198 I'd want them to say... 2560 01:57:10,239 --> 01:57:12,867 "I wouldn't bet against that guy." 2561 01:57:12,909 --> 01:57:18,372 * * 2562 01:57:18,414 --> 01:57:21,334 I will carry this dream on my shoulders 2563 01:57:21,375 --> 01:57:24,087 until it becomes a reality. 2564 01:57:24,128 --> 01:57:30,718 * * 2565 01:57:30,760 --> 01:57:33,262 - When is this documentary ever going to stop shooting... 2566 01:57:33,304 --> 01:57:35,056 - Yeah, Matt, you're in charge. - For this man? 2567 01:57:35,098 --> 01:57:36,307 - When is it over? 2568 01:57:36,349 --> 01:57:39,435 [Downstait's "Kingdom" playing] 2569 01:57:39,477 --> 01:57:45,066 * * 2570 01:57:45,108 --> 01:57:47,735 - * Adrenaline in my soul * 2571 01:57:47,777 --> 01:57:49,529 - The game plan for today is, 2572 01:57:49,570 --> 01:57:52,407 I'm gonna walk through our desert and encounter 2573 01:57:52,448 --> 01:57:56,077 various pieces of not just my professional life, 2574 01:57:56,119 --> 01:57:57,245 but my personal life. 2575 01:57:57,286 --> 01:57:58,913 - * Whoa * 2576 01:57:58,955 --> 01:58:01,958 - You got an Usos shirt on. 2577 01:58:05,044 --> 01:58:07,505 [object thuds] 2578 01:58:07,547 --> 01:58:09,132 Unprofessional. 2579 01:58:09,173 --> 01:58:11,175 - * You took it all away * 2580 01:58:11,217 --> 01:58:13,261 * I give it all away * 2581 01:58:13,302 --> 01:58:16,055 * Can't take my freedom * 2582 01:58:16,097 --> 01:58:17,974 - I'm gonna say Tunisia for this shoot 2583 01:58:18,015 --> 01:58:20,435 just because I think that's where they did "A New Hope" 2584 01:58:20,476 --> 01:58:22,353 and all the "Star Wars" Tatooine stuff. 2585 01:58:22,395 --> 01:58:24,188 So I'm gonna tell people Tunisia. 2586 01:58:24,230 --> 01:58:25,773 See how far it can go. 2587 01:58:25,815 --> 01:58:27,442 - * I am my kingdom * 2588 01:58:27,483 --> 01:58:30,653 * Now you bow to me *