Cody Rhodes stands as one of the most significant and transformative figures in modern professional wrestling, a third-generation superstar who has navigated the industry's highest peaks while reshaping its landscape. Born Cody Garrett Runnels on June 30, 1985, in Marietta, Georgia, he is the son of the legendary Dusty Rhodes and the half-brother of Dustin Rhodes. Before ever stepping into a professional ring, he established himself as an elite amateur wrestler, capturing two Georgia state high-school championships in 2003 and 2004. This athletic pedigree paved his way to a contract with WWE in 2006, where he first honed his craft in the developmental territory Ohio Valley Wrestling, remarkably capturing every title the promotion had to offer.

Rhodes’s initial WWE run, spanning from 2007 to 2016, saw him evolve from a promising rookie into a versatile and often underrated performer. He captured the Intercontinental Championship twice and achieved significant tag team success, winning seven world tag team championships alongside four different partners. During this period, he demonstrated a remarkable chameleon-like ability, adopting various gimmicks that ranged from the corporate "Dashing" Cody Rhodes to the melodramatic and heavily painted Stardust, a spin-off of his brother’s iconic Goldust persona. Despite his in-ring accomplishments, creative frustration led to his departure from WWE in 2016, a decision that would prove to be a pivotal moment for the entire industry.

Following his exit, Rhodes reinvented himself on the independent circuit, wrestling under the mononym "Cody" for promotions like New Japan Pro-Wrestling, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, and Ring of Honor. He achieved championship glory in each, capturing the ROH World Championship, the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship with Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson, and the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship. In a historic move, Rhodes and The Young Bucks independently promoted the All In event in 2018, which sold 10,000 tickets—a feat no non-WWE or WCW promoter had accomplished in the United States since 1993. At that event, he won the NWA World's Heavyweight Championship, and the show’s overwhelming success directly led to the formation of All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in early 2019.

As a co-founder and executive vice president of AEW, Rhodes was instrumental in establishing the promotion as a true competitor to WWE. He became the inaugural AEW TNT Champion, a title he would hold three times, and his matches were often the emotional and critical heart of the company’s early programming. However, in a shocking turn of events, Rhodes departed AEW in early 2022 and made a triumphant return to WWE at WrestleMania 38. His comeback was met with unprecedented fan fervor, and he quickly ascended to the top of the card. He won the Royal Rumble match in both 2023 and 2024, and finally captured his first WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40 by defeating Roman Reigns, a victory that was widely hailed as a cathartic and career-defining moment.

Since that historic triumph, Rhodes has solidified his status as the face of WWE, winning the WWE Championship three times and becoming the promotion’s 34th Triple Crown Champion. He also won the inaugural WWE Crown Jewel Championship in 2024 and the King of the Ring tournament in 2025, adding further accolades to an already legendary career. Between WWE, AEW, ROH, NJPW, and NWA, he has held 19 total championships, including five world titles. Beyond the squared circle, Rhodes has expanded his brand into mainstream entertainment, serving as a judge on the competition series Go-Big Show and starring alongside his wife, Brandi Rhodes, in the reality television series Rhodes to the Top. Through his relentless drive, business acumen, and undeniable in-ring talent, Cody Rhodes has not only honored his family’s legacy but has also forged one of the most remarkable career arcs in wrestling history.