Cody Rhodes has re-signed with WWE and plans to finish his in-ring career with the company. The former Undisputed WWE Champion revealed the deal on Flagrant, the podcast hosted by Andrew Schulz. The length of the contract was not disclosed.
“Forgive me if this is breaking news, and please edit it if I’m not allowed to share, which is fine. I just re-signed with WWE,” Rhodes said. Moments later, Rhodes added, “I’ll end my wrestling career with WWE.” The new deal also leaves room for outside work. “I’m able to take a step away, and I’m able to collaborate with WWE, and I’m able to come back home,” the 41-year-old said. Rhodes plays Guile in Street Fighter, which opens in theaters on Oct. 16.
Rhodes signed his previous WWE contract in 2024. In a separate interview with WrestleTalk, the American Nightmare said he will stop “falling down for a living” by the time his daughter turns 11. Rhodes has not set a specific retirement date.
Rhodes left WWE in 2016 and helped found All Elite Wrestling in 2019 before coming back. At WrestleMania 38 on April 2, 2022, he returned as a surprise opponent and beat Seth Rollins. At Hell in a Cell that June, Rhodes beat the Visionary again despite a torn pectoral tendon, then missed eight months after surgery.
Rhodes won the Royal Rumble in 2023 and again in 2024. The back-to-back wins were the first since Stone Cold Steve Austin won in 1997 and 1998. At WrestleMania 39, the American Nightmare lost to Roman Reigns in the Night 2 main event after interference from Solo Sikoa.
A year later, Rhodes worked both nights of WrestleMania XL. After losing a tag match with Rollins against The Rock and Reigns on Night 1, he beat the Tribal Chief in a Bloodline Rules match on Night 2. The win ended a 1,316-day reign as Universal Champion and gave Rhodes the Undisputed WWE Championship. The first reign lasted 378 days, ending with a loss to John Cena at WrestleMania 41 on April 20, 2025, after interference from Travis Scott.
Rhodes became the inaugural WWE Crown Jewel Champion in 2024 and won the 2025 King of the Ring by beating Randy Orton in the final at Night of Champions. On Night 2 of SummerSlam on Aug. 3, 2025, he took the title back from Cena in a Street Fight. Drew McIntyre ended that 159-day reign on Jan. 9, 2026.
Rhodes regained the championship from McIntyre on March 6, 2026, and beat Orton in the Night 1 main event of WrestleMania 42. The match was the American Nightmare’s fourth straight WrestleMania main event. Sami Zayn took the title at Night of Champions on June 27 in a triple threat that also included Gunther.
Rhodes has been the real top star in WWE since 2022. Since walking back in at WrestleMania 38, the American Nightmare has never left the top of the card. Two Royal Rumbles, three Undisputed WWE Championship reigns, and four straight WrestleMania main events tell the story. Every WrestleMania since 2023 has featured him in a main event. Ending Reigns’ 1,316-day reign was the moment the company changed hands.
Plenty of stars have held the top spot for a year or two. Rhodes has done it for four years while working a full schedule, losing the title, and climbing back every time. Cena, McIntyre, and Zayn all took the belt from him, and each time he was right back in the main event picture. No title loss knocked him out of the spotlight for long.
The new contract makes it official. WWE has built its biggest shows around Rhodes since 2022, and now he is staying until he stops falling down for a living. The face of the company is locked in for the rest of his career. WWE got that decision right, and it should keep building WrestleMania around him until he walks away.
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