Cody Rhodes shared the reasons why he doesn’t typically take others under his wing.
Recently, American Nightmare invited his close friend Ricky Saints onto his podcast. During their conversation, Saints, who left AEW for NXT earlier this year, mentioned that if someone had mentored him in the same way Cody did for MJF, his career might have progressed faster.
In reply, Cody clarified that his involvement with MJF was purely part of a storyline. He then reflected on how many people guided him when he first entered the main roster.
“I had an exceptional mentor, surprisingly Randy Orton, and John Cena as well. When I joined in 2007 and 2008, they really took me under their wings,” Cody stated.
Cody also shared why he’s hesitant to take on a mentor role himself, citing past experiences with former teammates who reached out to him during his successful WWE return.
“When I ventured out on my own, the team I had were great teammates who supported me in building something. When I arrived at WrestleMania 38, I warmly greeted about 80 people. It felt amazing, but I can’t tell you that even one of those people messaged me afterward—they probably fit on one hand. That was a hard lesson for me. It’s not about expecting anything in return, but it explains why I’m cautious about inviting someone to join me,” he explained.
Fan Take: This insight from Cody Rhodes offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at mentorship dynamics in professional wrestling, shedding light on the challenges even top stars face when trying to support others. For WWE fans, it highlights the importance of genuine connections in the sport and could influence how future wrestling mentorships develop.
