Cody Rhodes has won an ESPY Award.
Previously, Rhodes' return at WWE WrestleMania 38 was named as a finalist for the Best WWE Moment of the year. The other nominees included The Undertaker's WWE Hall of Fame induction, Big E cashing in his Money in the Bank contract on Bobby Lashley to win the WWE Championship, and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin hitting Vince McMahon, Austin Theory and Pat McAfee with Stunners at WrestleMania 38.
At the 30th annual ESPY Awards ceremony on July 30, "The American Nightmare" was named as the winner of the Best WWE Moment award. Rhodes' arrival at WWE WrestleMania 38 shocked the wrestling world. He returned less than two months after he left All Elite Wrestling, a company where he had been an Executive Vice President and a three-time TNT Champion. At WrestleMania 38, Rhodes defeated Seth Rollins in a hard-fought match.
Congratulations to @CodyRhodes for winning the @ESPYS WWE Moment of the Year for his @WrestleMania return!https://t.co/tK4pw5pbfG pic.twitter.com/aINJzw90wJ
— WWE (@WWE) July 21, 2022
Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks won the award in 2021 for their historic match at WWE WrestleMania 37. Roman Reigns took home the honor in 2019 for his triumphant return to the ring after his battle with Leukemia.
Following his return, Rhodes went on to beat Rollins at both WWE WrestleMania Backlash and Hell in a Cell. The third match in their trilogy went down as an instant classic because Rhodes competed with a torn pectoral tendon, and his chest was purple due to the injury. Rhodes subsequently had surgery, and he has been sidelined ever since.
In a WWE Digital Exclusive, Rhodes was asked about receiving the award, to which he said, "It’s very stirring. I was excited to be nominated, and it was a significant moment for me. It was the best decision that I’ve ever made in my wrestling career, coming back, but I’m nominated with guys like ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, The Undertaker, and John Cena, so to be the one who’s taking home the WWE moment of the year feels good. It’s a little bit if that new blood. I’m still angry Cody from 2015, so to be able to show up and be like, ‘They voted for me,’ it’s definitely not something I take for granted. If anything, it’s kind of positioned me where I’m looking at 2023. I’ve just enjoyed this red carpet enough that I need to be back, so you gotta find another moment. And I think I know what that moment could be, in terms of getting back here again for another ESPY WWE Moment of the Year."
EXCLUSIVE: @CodyRhodes reflects on winning the #ESPYS award for WWE Moment of the Year. pic.twitter.com/uwlPVXvSZz
— WWE (@WWE) July 21, 2022
Rhodes recently offered an update about his recovery. His comments are available here.
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