Cody doesn't need WWE's permission to use "Rhodes," at least so he says.
Ever since leaving WWE in 2016, Cody has trekked through PWG, ROH, NJPW and now AEW under the "Cody" name, abandoning the Rhodes moniker made famous by his father, Dusty. This led to much speculation that WWE prevented him from using the name, as he'd not competed professionally under it outside of their umbrella. However, in a media call this week to promote AEW on TNT, Cody says that's not the case at all.
"I can use it, I won't use it, though. This is not the romantic Game of Thrones answer everyone wants. The reason I don't use it is because I got so used to being '"The American Nightmare" Cody' in Japan. I love that. I love the idea of trying my damndest to get a single name over. I got the rub off Dusty and my family long enough. I don't mind not using it. You'll see it every now and then. Some people, they already know. By no means is WWE holding that name hostage. That is not a real thing. If I was to walk out tomorrow lower thirded as 'Cody Rhodes,' announced as 'Cody Rhodes,' nobody's going to sue us. Nobody's coming after us. There's a lot of respect between the families that are involved here. I just like using my first name," said Cody.
In the past, Cody has gone by the single name, as opposed to the "Cody Rhodes" that he used in WWE. Meanwhile, his wife used the "Brandi Rhodes" name, as she was Eden in WWE. We're not sure if Pharaoh will be using the Rhodes name at any point.
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