Cody Rhodes is a World Wrestling Entertainment superstar who is best
known, for now, as the son of the "son of a plumber," the "American
Dream" Dusty Rhodes.
The 24-year-old rising star in the WWE, however, wants to carve out
his own niche and what better chance than at the grandest stage of them
all, Wrestlemania XXVI?
Rhodes will compete in a triple threat match at 6 p.m. Sunday, during
the annual pay-per-view event against his Legacy teammates Ted DiBiase
Jr. and Randy Orton.
Cue had a chance to talk with Rhodes prior to the event, which also
includes a career vs. the streak match between Shawn Michaels and The
Undertaker, WWE Champions Batista vs. John Cena, World Heavyweight
Champion Chris Jericho vs. Edge, and Vince McMahon vs. Bret Hart.
- John Sharp
What was it like growing up the son of the "son of a plumber," the
"American Dream" Dusty Rhodes?
Obviously I get asked this question a lot and the best way I can
answer it is, growing up and having dad in the spotlight, he was always a
professional wrestler and famous and that was always the dad I knew.
Growing up, though, you can go either two ways with it. You can wallow
in the shadow of it or you can take it as a responsibility and carve out
your own niche. I've tried to be very much different, (but) all the
while to carry on the Rhodes name. I don't do any service being Dusty
Rhodes Jr.
You were born in 1985, the same year Dusty Rhodes pinned Ric Flair
at Starcade to win the NWA title. Was that arguably the best year of
your father's life?
I think, you know, he certainly had a lot going on. He defeated Ric
Flair for the NWA World Heavyweight championship. He had me. The '80s
were really good for my old man. They were a decade of unbelievable
financial success.
You are wrestling Randy Orton and Ted DiBiase Jr. in a match
at Wrestlemania. The split you and DiBiase have had with Orton is well
known, but how do you go about competing in a triple threat match with
someone who essentially is your tag team partner?
Yeah, Ted is also a very good friend and like family. Like families
will have, we have had many differences. Most of them have never made it
in front of the television cameras, and I think it's a good thing we're
heading in the direction we're heading.
If this is the final nail in the coffin for Legacy, do you
think the group will be compared with other wrestling factions such as
Evolution?
When we began, when the Legacy came to fruition, we were hoping it
would have an impact the same as Evolution would have and do the things
The Four Horsemen did and D-X did. The truth behind it is that the
future will tell more about the past than anything. It has more to do
with the future than the past. As we were, the Legacy was certainly
successful and brought Randy Orton a WWE Championship and (it brought
us) a WWE tag team championship, but it can be much bigger.
If you had to describe your ideal Wrestlemania moment, what would
it be?
Ideally, I can't think of a bigger Wrestlemania moment than winning
the WWE Championship or the World Championship. That's the high point of
our business. It's the high point as far as moments go.
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