On the latest episode of his podcast, What Do You Wanna Talk About?, Cody Rhodes opened up about one of the most difficult periods of his career: his time performing as the Stardust character. In a candid conversation with Nikki Bella, Rhodes revealed that he had “completely given up on entertainment” during that period and was seriously considering quitting the wrestling business to become a high school amateur wrestling coach.
The topic came up as the two were discussing the journeys and transformations they have had in their careers. Rhodes pointed to the Stardust era, and the infamous WrestleMania match that was cut, as a major turning point where he felt he had completely lost his way and was in a state of “pity party.”
A Plan to Leave It All Behind
“Around the time we got cut at WrestleMania, and around the time Stardust popped up, I was going to get my degree so that in the public school system in Georgia, I could be an amateur wrestling coach,” Rhodes revealed. “I had completely given up on entertainment, on ever making it… I thought I had done everything right. I was very pity party, feel sorry for myself, all those things. Couldn’t get a look left or right.”
He described the period as a time when he no longer felt like himself, a stark contrast to the confident “American Nightmare” that fans know today. He views that time as a lost chapter in his life, where he was not being true to who he was as a performer. “A series of things happened in my life where now I look back and I’m like, ‘Man, what the… who were you?'” he said. “‘You weren’t you.’ It’s like a gap few years of not being me.”
Rising From The Ashes
Nikki Bella responded to his story by offering her own perspective on the importance of hitting rock bottom, relating it to her own career struggles. She believes these difficult periods are essential for growth and ultimate success.
“I feel like we have to have those times in our life, because then they make us who we are,” she said. “It’s like we can’t always be on the rise. Can’t always be at the top of the ladder. We have to fall at times. We rise up from the ashes like the Phoenix. I believe we need those spots in our journey, those losses… and then it makes us the champ we are today.”
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit What Do You Wanna Talk About? with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
