10 Best WWE Matches Of Cody Rhodes

It is and it isn't surprising that Cody Rhodes asked for, and was granted, his WWE release this past weekend. On the one hand, one imagines the 30-year-old Rhodes would have been a lifer on the roster, a more boyish Arn Anderson or William Regal capable of having good matches with just about everybody when needed. On the other, someone with his in-ring talent, reliability, charisma, and relative youth could do more for another promotion than just dance around in grease-paint cackling like a loon.

Rhodes grew up before the WWE audience, starting out as a rail-thin, barely-grown-up novice before blossoming into a confident superstar through the passage of time. As far as modern-age wrestlers without extensive indy resumes go, Rhodes is probably one of the most respected performers with much of their formative work coming under the WWE/OVW header.

Whatever the next step for Rhodes is, whether it's TNA or Ring of Honor or New Japan or Lucha Underground, here's to him not only finding success, but also joy.

The body of work he's left in WWE rings is a testament to his marked improvement with each ensuing year, and as a fan, here's hoping to see more of the same from Cody Rhodes in the coming years.

The Stardust gimmick received a mixed reaction upon arrival, but if nothing else, it kept his successful and enjoyable tandem with Goldust going for another spell. The Usos were in the midst of a pretty good 2014 quality-wise (even if crowds found them irritating and flavorless), and the brothers Dust were keen to work at their frenetic pace, with even Goldust propelling himself to the floor at his advanced age.

Even if Rhodes hated the Stardust gimmick, and his feeling constricted by it ultimately led to his WWE exit, there's no doubt he played the part with gusto, even in these earlier stages of the role. This match took place twenty months ago, and it was the last time Rhodes ever won a championship in WWE.