Cody Rhodes' wrestling journey is filled with twists, turns, and some big gambles. After leaving WWE in 2016, Cody set out on a mission to prove himself in the wrestling world. He didn't just want to be known as the son of the legendary Dusty Rhodes; he wanted to make his own mark. And that's exactly what he did

Extraction Point 5 by Luke Richards, https://t.lickd.co/j4ld6YmMbAJ License ID: xLro4xkLnKD
Absolute Fortitude by Mark Denis, https://t.lickd.co/RvqXyQKQ2kx License ID: lgXdxze1XWM
Criminal Instinct Part 2 by Terry Devine-King, https://t.lickd.co/Kyo0jve9P8G License ID: D2xrG6ZOMal
Get Last Man on Earth by Luke Richards and over 1M + mainstream tracks here https://go.lickd.co/Music
License ID: 536xwAoKy8r
Standing United by Darren Leigh Purkiss, Christopher Phillip Haigh, https://t.lickd.co/64Gp2vn04wb License ID: VAeOPyA0p58 "
Get Power And Force by Igor Dvorkin, Duncan Pittock, Ellie Kidd and over 1M + mainstream tracks here https://go.lickd.co/Music
License ID: kGOYdg9o7vR
Get Here Come The Baddies by Adam Brown, Paul Clarvis and over 1M + mainstream tracks here https://go.lickd.co/Music
License ID: N28MpqKw69V
Get Spirit Dance by Tom Quick and over 1M + mainstream tracks here https://go.lickd.co/Music
License ID: GO97vMbO1lr

Starting Fresh: The Dream List

Shortly after leaving WWE, Cody posted a now-famous list on Twitter. This list included his dream matches and people he wanted to wrestle. It was bold, but Cody was ready to bet on himself. Five months later, Cody was set to make his Ring of Honor (ROH) debut at Final Battle 2016 in New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom, a big step in his independent wrestling career.

Training Ground: Wrestling Around the World

To prepare for this new chapter, Cody wrestled everywhere he could. Just days after posting his list, he had his first post-WWE match against Zack Sabre Jr. for Evolve Wrestling on August 19, 2016. From there, Cody performed for several promotions, including What Culture Pro Wrestling, IMPACT Wrestling, and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. He even participated in the Battle of Los Angeles tournament for PWG. By the time he reached his ROH debut, Cody’s name was buzzing, and fans were excited to see what he could do.

Final Battle: Cody’s Heel Turn

At Final Battle 2016, Cody faced off against former ROH World Champion Jay Lethal. It was a tough match, and fans were on the edge of their seats. But when Jay went for his finishing move, Cody pulled a sneaky move of his own—he kicked Jay in the chest and then delivered a low blow when the referee wasn’t looking. After hitting his Cross Rhodes finisher, Cody won his debut match. But he didn’t stop there. After the bell, Cody attacked Lethal, the referee, and even the commentators, cementing himself as a villain, or “heel,” in wrestling terms. This was the beginning of Cody's dark turn, and fans couldn’t get enough.

Joining Bullet Club

In December 2016, Cody joined Bullet Club, one of the most popular and rebellious wrestling factions in the world. Bullet Club was the group to be in, and joining it gave Cody instant credibility. Working alongside stars like Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, and “Hangman” Adam Page, Cody’s popularity skyrocketed. He embraced his new persona as “The American Nightmare,” a cocky villain who played by his own rules.

Cody also began appearing on Being The Elite, a web series created by the Young Bucks that showcased their offbeat humor and backstage antics. The series became a hit, adding another layer to Cody’s character. Fans got to see not just the wrestler, but also the man behind the character.

Betting on Himself: ROH Championship and the Birth of All In

In May 2017, Cody accepted a challenge from wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer, who doubted that an independent wrestling show could draw 10,000 fans. Cody, always willing to take risks, accepted the challenge. A month later, on June 23, Cody won the ROH World Championship from Christopher Daniels at ROH’s Best in the World event. With that victory, Cody was on top of the wrestling world.

But Cody wasn’t done yet. He and The Elite, including Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks, started planning All In, an independent wrestling show that would become historic. On September 1, 2018, All In took place in front of 11,263 fans, proving that independent wrestling could be just as popular as anything WWE had to offer. Cody even faced Nick Aldis for the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship, a title his father had once held. In an emotional match, Cody won the championship, fulfilling a lifelong dream.