Cody Rhodes returned from his torn pectoral muscle in a big way at the Royal Rumble, entering number 30 and winning the match.
It was Rhodes' first match since WWE Hell in a Cell when he competed inside Hell in a Cell against Seth Rollins with a torn pectoral muscle.
Speaking to Ryan Satin of Fox Sports after the match, Cody commented on his return and how he was feeling.
"It was really funny, Sami Zayn was one of the first people I talked to today, and I said, 'I hope I remember how to do it.' He said, 'It's like riding a bike.' That's real. Honestly, it's like this muscle memory. It's fun to do stuff that you haven't done in seven months. Pushing off with the Cody Cutter, not sure your foot is there. The thing I missed the most is the thing that took me the longest to get. I love this audience. Some people think it's try hard or fake emotions. This is a real story. I don't know how I stumbled onto this. I have the privilege and also the burden that I don't play a character. I'm me. Me was enough tonight. I popped my eardrum, but I don't care. Just a wonderful Royal Rumble. The Rhodes don't have any frame of reference on going to WrestleMania in terms of going on last in a big spot. I'm proud to say I can be the one to do it. That's the secret. The secret when you're someone's kid is you love them and all that, no kidding, but you want to be better than them. 'Better than Dusty Rhodes, how could you ever be?' I don't know if that's the case. If I see him again, I can say, 'I did this.' You feel complete," he said.
When asked what he thought his dad Dusty Rhodes would say to him, Cody replied, "The thing about my dad was that, when it's a big moment, shockingly, a guy who could spit fire and a master orator, he didn't say a lot. That's the way our relationship was. He liked to watch when I got into the zone. Everyone will tell you, 'he's watching,' and all this. To honor him the best way, I try not to think about it. Triple H saying he's proud of me, that means a lot because I caused a lot of trouble. I don't regret the trouble, but maybe I regret some of the ways I handled it. To be under his tutelage for that moment, and not blow it, it felt good. I was in the Rumble with Randy Orton and Triple H, I told Randy this last night, I got to sit there and watch him have his moment, and I thought, 'I hope that's me one day.' In my mind, I'm thinking, 'it's going to be next year, the year after that.' Here we are, ten years later. I'm a slow learner, but I figured it out."
Rhodes was part of the final three in 2009 with Triple H and Randy Orton.
Rhodes won the Royal Rumble by last eliminating Gunther after a lengthy battle with the WWE Intercontinental Champion.
Asked about winning the Rumble and earning an Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match at WrestleMania, Rhodes said, "It doesn't just feel good, it feels surreal. I wasn't even working here a year ago. I don't know how we got here. There are things in my career that lined up perfectly, so perfectly. I don't know how we got here. It doesn't line up perfectly. I don't believe in destiny, I don't believe in fate, but my gosh, if there was a case study for it, it's me. Maybe I just need to give in and say what this is, it's a journey of destiny, who knows. No frame of reference for what that spot is. I cannot wait to feel it."
Rhodes closed by saying, "I'm very sorry I got hurt. That was stupid. Warm up before you lift. I'll never....it won't happen. Thank you for everything. Biggest night of my career."
In the interview, he noted that he will address the champion on WWE Raw.
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