Cody Rhodes isn’t simply calling out sensitivity in wrestling — he’s calling out the behavior that feeds it.
Whereas chatting with Brandon Walker on February 27, 2026, Rhodes peeled again the curtain on one thing he says occurs after each single phase: wrestlers instantly seize their telephones. Based on Rhodes, it’s common.
“Right here’s what each wrestler does: their phase airs, they usually examine their cellphone. Each wrestler does it. They see the one or two unfavourable feedback and ignore the six that say, ‘That was nice.’ It’s like Yelp — no one goes on there to put in writing a great assessment.”
Rhodes made it clear that not everybody goes to be a fan — and chasing common approval is a mistake: “They’re not all going to love you, proper? You’ve received to recover from it.”
The American Nightmare added that wrestlers typically consider they’ll flip critics if they simply interact sufficient.
“Whenever you’re doing that doom vainness search or no matter, it doesn’t matter what you do — and that is the error wrestlers make — they suppose, ‘Oh, I’ll comply with him. I can flip him.’ No. They don’t need you. They don’t such as you. And that’s okay.”
As a substitute of obsessing over social media after each match or promo, Rhodes argues that performers want perspective. He doesn’t consider in blocking critics both — one thing he feels solely amplifies the difficulty.
“Don’t block individuals on Twitter. Don’t be so delicate. By no means block — you simply signed a digital autograph for them. By no means block. By no means acknowledge. You don’t need to.”
On the similar time, Rhodes pushed again on the concept that social media needs to be dismissed completely. For him, it’s about stability — not letting on-line reactions management you, however not pretending they don’t exist both.
“There’s no such factor as social media being faux. That’s a lie. Social media could be very actual, and persons are actual. Positive, some are bots — however not all of them. The reality is someplace within the center. Is it this large metric that controls all the pieces? Not as massive as we predict. However is it fully nonexistent? No. You do have to listen to it once in a while. It may be useful.”
Rhodes even admitted he makes use of on-line chatter to gauge how sure cities may reply earlier than he walks by way of the curtain.
“I do know once I’m strolling right into a constructing that’s going to chant ‘Let’s go Cody, Cody sucks.’ I do know once I’m strolling right into a constructing that’s simply joyful to have me. And often, I do know that due to what I’ve seen on-line beforehand.”
Rhodes’ feedback received’t please everybody — particularly in an period the place performers and promotions are extra protecting than ever. However his stance is obvious: criticism comes with the territory, and wrestlers want thicker pores and skin.
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