Several fans anticipated Cody Rhodes to be one of the unexpected participants in the 2023 men’s event because the Royal Rumble bouts are known for having them. WWE chose to broadcast weekly vignettes about his experience instead of going the traditional way for his injury comeback, and he said on the “MMA Hour” that “it felt good informing them that, ‘Hey, I’m coming back’.”
Though the “American Nightmare” admitted that it “would have been incredibly amazing” to enter the Rumble by surprise, the decision was made to highlight Rhodes’ recovery from injuring his pectoral muscle. About the video taken by Jeremy Borash, he remarked, “It was incredibly nerve-wracking and tense watching those vignettes because it’s not vignettes, it’s like actual surgical footage and real PT material and they’re at my gym.
“What I liked about the Rumble was that I didn’t want to let anyone down, and I felt like I didn’t,” he said. In the end, there were still some unexpected guests in the men’s contest, including Booker T, Edge, and Logan Paul, while Rhodes would come in at number 30 and go on to win after a mini-fight with GUNTHER to decide who was the final man standing.
Idea of a special weight belt
When Cody Rhodes competes in the main event for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39, he has an idea for a special weight belt that might be introduced. After being let go by WWE in May 2016, Rhodes had a notable run on the independent circuit that led to him joining forces with The Elite.
Rhodes traveled to other important promotions like New Japan Pro-Wrestling and Ring of Honor before joining AEW as an EVP. Rhodes wants to demonstrate that he hasn’t forgotten what led him to the dance by preparing for the greatest match of his in-ring career now that he’s back in WWE. He discussed his concept for a personalized weight belt on “My Mom’s Basement with Robbie Fox” during his appearance.
