Original subtitles

- So what do we want to talk about?

- Cody Rhodes, the face of WWE's modern era.

- Once undesirable, become undeniable,

and now WWE champion.

- The American Nightmare is truly the definition of the word

"Superstar."

- I gave my soul to this ring and these people

a long time ago.

- The son of a Hall of Famer is well on his way

to becoming one himself.

- He is one.

He is the American Nightmare.

- Today we celebrate the career defining moments of Cody Rhodes.

Cody Rhodes has gone back to back.

This is WWE's Greatest Moments.

?

- Acknowledge me.

- My God.

Stone Cole with a beer bath.

- This is surreal.

- Look at this.

- He slammed him.

- Welcome, everyone to WWE's Greatest Moments.

I'm Michael Cole, and on this edition, we take a look back at

one of the premiere superstars of Sports Entertainment today,

The American Nightmare Cody Rhodes.

Cody began his WWE journey in 2007,

and audiences were immediately impressed by the son

of WWE Hall of Famer the American Dream, Dusty Rhodes.

It wouldn't take long for Cody Rhodes to carve out

his own path to greatness.

But there was one point in his young career where his ego may

have gotten the better of him.

The narcissistic, Dashing Cody Rhodes never met

a mirror he didn't like.

- Dashing.

- But tragedy struck on an episode of SmackDown

when Rey Mysterio broke the nose of the dashing one,

leaving Cody less than perfect.

Rey Mysterio shattering Cody Rhodes face,

causing Rhodes to have reconstructive surgery,

forcing him to wear a hideous mask.

He's no longer dashing.

- It's a singles match on a pay per view at WrestleMania.

It's also my first singles match on a pay per view.

It was a banger.

It was a doozy.

- All that anger just pouring out of Rhodes tonight,

directed at Mysterio.

- We connected right away, and WrestleMania 27

was a really fun match.

- Precarious situation here for both of these superstars.

- Wow.

And now Cody Rhodes gets the best of it.

- Really all came together for me, and uh-

as a performer know right away we're onto something.

- Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh.

- No no no no no no no no no.

- Oh, oh, wait a second.

Cody's mask is-is off.

Cody Rhodes face has been exposed.

- Yeah he's vulnerable.

Cody is very vulnerable.

- And here comes Rey Mysterio.

Oh, the referee's attention was averted.

- Yes, Cross Rhodes.

Cross Rhodes.

Retribution for Cody.

- Cody wanted to create his own path,

and that was a great beginning for him.

- The contributions to the Rhodes family

cannot be denied with the American Dream

Dusty Rhodes as the patriarch and his brother Goldust,

the strength of Cody's family were never tighter than in

2013, when their very livelihoods were threatened

by the Authority-

The Hounds of Justice-

The Shield.

- Cody-

You're fired.

- We'd like to give you the opportunity

to gain your employment,

if you can beat Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns at Battleground.

- If you lose, you will never work in the WWE again.

- The legacy of the Rhodes family's at stake.

Rhodes family walked into Battleground

against The Shield, which nobody had beaten.

It was very emotional and real.

- There was something about the energy of potentially never

being able to step foot in the WWE again if we did not succeed,

and then getting our jobs back if we did.

- It is a must win situation for Cody and Goldust tonight.

- We just had a great chemistry with them for whatever reason.

- Oh look at this.

- Alabama slam.

- To be out there not only judged by the entire arena,

be judged luminary individuals like my brother and my father.

- The American Dream.

- The bionic elbow.

And we're left with a legal man.

Rollins and Cody.

Rollins looking to steal one.

Cody, not this way.

Cody stays in it.

- It's up to you, Cody.

- Cody stays in it.

He's got it.

- It's up to you Cody.

- Cody's got him.

Cross Rhodes.

Cross Rhodes.

- It's for your family.

- The Rhodes have done it.

Cody and Dustin are going back to work.

- Battleground with my two kids-

Emotionally, that night, I was drained.

That was the most real emotion,

raw emotion that I ever had in my life.

- That night in Buffalo was a really special, special night.

It was just a beautiful experience.

And to be carrying the torch for the family,

it's one of the most blessed things I was ever part of.

- The Judgment Day has certainly left their mark in the last few

years as one of the most lethal,

dominant factions of the modern era.

The best course of action is to stay on their good side.

- I want Main Event Jey Uso in the Judgment Day.

- And when Main Event Jey Uso refused to join them,

the group let him know he had made a huge mistake.

Cody Rhodes-

going after the Judgment Day.

Coming to the rescue

was none other than Cody Rhodes,

leading to Fastlane 2023, when the unlikely pair took

on Finn B�lor and Damian Priest

for the undisputed tag team titles.

And here we go now for the undisputed tag team titles.

- Jey and Cody-

Two individual guys.

- Cody and Jey, have been adversaries most

of their career together.

- And it was lightning in a bottle.

- Uso and Cody, obviously a game plan

coming into this match.

- Anything that could get the fans excited to scream and yell,

that's what we live for.

- Here comes Jey.

- Double team

Cody Cutter.

[bell rings]

We got new tag team champions.

- That's a-that's a special moment, man,

and what a team to be a part of, man.

And I got to sit back and- and appreciate everything.

- And the celebration now underway.

- At the return of Saturday Night's Main Event

in December of 2024,

Kevin Owens failed to capture the WWE Championship

against Cody Rhodes,

who in retro form was defending the famed Winged Eagle title.

Enraged by the loss, Owens delivered a devastating package

piledriver to the champ, putting him out of action for weeks.

This lunatic, Kevin Owens.

What the hell is wrong with you?

So the rematch was set to take place at the 2025 Royal Rumble

in a ladder match.

Both titles will be hung high above the ring.

The superstar that retrieved them would be declared champion.

There are over 70,000 people

at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Cody Rhodes is the champion.

Kevin Owens is the challenger.

- Cody and Kevin's ladder match

brought like 4 or 5 different moments throughout

the match, where I was visibly and audibly asking people

around me, "Are they okay?"

- They are determined on punishing each other.

- I had seen ladder matches before,

but never to the extent was the ladder used

like those two used it.

- He's taking a beating tonight.

- Cody-

he's the face of a company to be at this point in his life

and take the physical risks that he takes-

It's crazy.

- There's going to be those matches that require you to do

something that scares you to death.

- Fisherman buster through the ladder.

- Nothing more real than that.

- Looking for that package piledriver.

Kevin Owens turned inside out.

- I think the very end is probably going to

be a big reason why people are

going to talk about it for a long time,

because he tried to decapitate me.

- Cody Rhodes wins.

- One of the most sickening matches

we have ever witnessed.

- There are certain scenes in WWE that you will never forget.

Cody Rhodes is celebrating in the near distance

and Kevin Owens is there suffering.

What an image.

- As WWE continues to grow and expand into our international

markets, there was much anticipation for Backlash 2024

taking place in Lyon, France.

As newly crowned undisputed WWE champion, it was time for Cody

Rhodes to defend his title against the best of the best.

Enter the number one contender, The Phenomenal AJ Styles.

- Backlash in Lyon, France.

Here we go.

- Can I describe Backlash?

Oh, man.

Wow.

That's-

That is about the best way I can describe it as wow.

[fireworks]

- That song echoing through Lyon, France.

- What a main event for the WWE Championship.

- AJ Styles felt like a random opponent to be the first person

for Cody to get after such a huge moment at WrestleMania.

AJ and Cody just had an amazing chemistry.

They just work really well together.

So as a result, what you got to see was just

an awesomely executed match,

but it was also violent.

- How much does Cody have left?

- Cody's fired up.

Cross Rhodes.

Cody retains.

- A lot of times when guys get their first title run,

you're like, "Oh, we'll see how he does."

That night he created something memorable.

That's what this business is about.

He can handle it.

He can deliver.

- Now on to our fifth selection.

Cody Rhodes would enter himself into the 2023 Royal Rumble with

a clear focus being victory and headlining WrestleMania.

Main event spot at WrestleMania on the line.

Here comes number 30.

[buzzer]

[Cody Rhodes' music]

- The American Nightmare is here.

The pomp and circumstance.

The emotion is all great, but now it's time to get

down to business.

Enter at number 30 and try to win the Royal Rumble.

There it is.

- Cody Cutter.

- One of my biggest dreams as a kid ever was-

I want to win the Royal Rumble.

The WWE Championship, to me is without a doubt

the richest prize in the game.

- Logan Paul sent over the top rope and it's down to two.

Cody Rhodes

Cross Rhodes to Gunther.

Gunther eliminated.

The American Nightmare one step closer to the American dream.

- It's about getting the one title-

no one in my family did.

If you're the WWE champion, you are the top of every mountain.

- Finish the story at WrestleMania.

2023 The American Nightmare The Beast Incarnate Brock Lesnar

was on a collision course.

- You wanted a fight.

- The two waged war inside the squared circle

and each held one win apiece.

- You have a victory over me.

I have a victory over you.

- Cody's got it.

Cody's got it.

At SummerSlam Brock-

I end this.

[crowd cheers]

- Be all smiles now, but in a matter of moments

he is going to be in a fight for his life.

- I tell people all the time, I like to feel it.

I like the violence.

- Total disregard for Cody's well-being.

- That's as violent and physical and aggressive as it gets.

- This is only gonna get worse."

- Oh, God.

Oh, God.

- F-5 right through the table.

Damn it, Cody, just stay down.

- The words I would use are earning it.

Brock Lesnar makes you earn it.

- Looking for the F-5.

Cody Rhodes able to counter into a Cross Rhodes.

Cover.

Cody Rhodes does it.

[bell rings]

- Cody Rhodes conquered the Conqueror.

- He wins at SummerSlam, and that was one of the legacy

building moments for Cody Rhodes.

- Cody Rhodes took one massive

step toward the top of the proverbial mountain.

- How many times have you seen Brock Lesnar show respect

to an opponent?

I don't think he ever did.

But he did to Cody.

- And that just surprised that I got at the end of the match

with his respect was special.

- And with that handshake, the American Nightmare has arrived.

In 2016, personal differences between Cody Rhodes and WWE

led to Cody leaving the company seemingly forever.

In his absence, new superstars rose to the top of the ranks,

namely Seth Rollins.

But as the road to WrestleMania 38 grew shorter,

there appeared to be no opponent in sight for Rollins.

- Seth Rollins is not going to partake in WrestleMania.

- That is until a mystery opponent was promised

at the 11th hour.

- Seth Rollins has no clue

who his opponent will be here tonight.

[Cody Rhodes' music]

- Cody.

- Oh my God.

[yelling]

- My eyes met a lot of people's eyes and it was

just a beautiful experience.

- The prodigal son has returned.

- I'm so excited for this match because I know it's going

to be something awesome.

- This has all of the makings of one hell

of a WrestleMania match.

- I think he was the perfect opponent for me in that match.

And I think you just saw

two of the best all timers out there trying to push each

other to the limit.

- I sort of like looking around and everyone's faces

are just like-

- Cross Rhodes.

And Seth 'Freakin' Rollins WrestleMania dreams

became a nightmare.

- I had anticipated I would never come back to WWE.

It's still surreal to me.

- What a moment for Cody Rhodes.

- The sheer desire to be the very best was the driving factor

between Cody Rhodes and the revolutionary

Seth 'Freakin' Rollins.

After two absolute classic encounters,

the third match was set, this time inside

the dangerous Hell in a Cell.

- Anyone who's ever stepped foot in that cell with me

is changed for ever.

- The stakes at an all time high-

Cody Rhodes is training harder than ever and suffered

a torn pectoral muscle.

Would he compete?

Could he compete?

- Cody Rhodes truly has the weight of the world

on his shoulders tonight.

- Oh my God.

I can't even fathom

the pain being experienced by Cody Rhodes.

- Cody knew that this was an opportunity.

This is a main event match at Hell in a Cell.

He couldn't disappoint his fans.

- This is just ruthless.

This is gruesome.

- For Cody Rhodes to go through that match and for it to be a

highly entertaining match is just a testament to what he's

willing to go through in order to entertain the fans.

- The heart of Cody Rhodes

that continues to power him through this match.

- Seemed painful and looked painful,

and you feel invincible in that moment.

It was-

It's very surreal.

Like takes you outside of your body.

- Sledge hammer to Rollins.

Has him out on his back.

Unbelievable.

- Sometimes you got to go out there ready

to take it on the chin.

We had drawn all this interest over Seth and I finishing it.

No human being could have kept me from getting in the ring.

- That was a downright Herculean effort that we will likely never

see again in a WWE ring.

- And now we've reached our number one moment.

The famed story of Cody Rhodes was something embedded into the

WWE universe when The American Nightmare returned

to WWE in 2022.

He wanted to capture the WWE Championship

that his father never did.

- I cannot bestow it upon the American Dream Dusty Rhodes,

but I certainly can put it around

the waist of the American Nightmare.

- He had his chance at WrestleMania 39,

but was unsuccessful.

No.

Now, a year later, he would once again face the Tribal Chief,

who was now on an historic run as WWE champion for

over a thousand days, and a match being contested

under bloodline rules where anything goes.

It is our main event.

Cody Rhodes hopes to finish the story.

- Biggest night of your life Cody Rhodes.

- Being in that moment, going on last,

carrying the torch for the family,

that one's very special.

- I worked my entire life for this.

- Ring the bell.

[bell rings]

- And here we go.

Big fight feel in Philadelphia.

This will be contested under bloodline rules,

which means anything goes.

Jimmy Uso.

- Cody can't do it alone, right?

So who do we got?

- Oh, yeah.

Cody Rhodes has got some friends too.

- Jimmy and Jey on a collision course.

- Off the stage.

Cody's got chance.

- Solo Sikoa.

[John Cena's music]

- Oh, yeah.

Cena's coming to get some.

Cena's evened the playing field.

[The Rock's music]

- Holy-

- The Final Boss.

- The Final Boss

infuriated at John Cena.

- Get the [bleep] out of The Rock's ring.

Now.

[The Undertaker's music]

[crowd cheers]

- Undertaker's back at WrestleMania.

- And now Reigns setting up Cody Rhodes.

Cody caught him.

Cross Rhodes.

- Finished the story.

For the first time,

a Rhodes can call himself WWE champion.

- What a beautiful story.

I mean this is the story that you make movies about.

- I'm very happy.

I am, I'm very just blessed.

And I got to have this moment.

- Damn it.

I love professional wrestling.

There's no question that the American Nightmare is at the top

of this industry, and his journey to get there

is truly inspirational.

Well, that'll do it for this edition

of WWE's Greatest Moments.

Hope you've enjoyed this

look back at the very best of the American Nightmare

Cody Rhodes.

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