Cody Rhodes‘ most famous non-wrestling moment is still resonating today.
At Double or Nothing 2019, when AEW was in its infancy, Rhodes famously bashed a makeshift version of Triple H‘s throne with a sledgehammer before his match against Dustin Rhodes. It was, at the time, the clearest, most obvious sign of AEW trying to make a statement in the packed pro wrestling landscape. The moment went viral and continues to live on.
At the red carpet premiere of his documentary, “American Nightmare: Becoming Cody Rhodes,” Fightful asked the 2022 Men’s Royal Rumble winner if he and Triple H discussed his throne-smashing moment since returning to WWE, as well as the “Being the Elite” episode where Rhodes parodied the Game.
“So we have never spoke about the throne smash, and I’m even further concerned that one day, Hunter is gonna watch the Exorcism of Cody Rhodes and be like, ‘Wait, I was the bad guy?’ Even though Frankie Kazarian did a really great job, and we kind of made him look really cool. He was kind of Terminator-like in how he did it, but yeah, he’s never asked me. He’s one of those….I feel like he’s unsuspecting. You’ll think he doesn’t read your interviews or whatnot, and then one day he’ll be like, ‘I read this thing you said.’ Oh no. He’s very organized about that.”
For over a year, WWE has had Rhodes back, so it’s interesting that he and Triple H haven’t discussed any of this, although they might have more important things to do between Triple H’s creative role with WWE and Rhodes’ busy in-ring schedule and other outside obligations.
Both men will forever be connected by the famous moment in recent pro wrestling lore, for better or worse. Maybe one day at Rhodes’ WWE Hall of Fame speech, we will finally hear it brought up between the two, making for good, awkward comedy.