10 Fascinating WWE Backstage Facts About Cody Rhodes
6. WWE Owned The Cody Rhodes Names
Remember when Bubba Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley became Brother Ray and Brother Devon of Team 3D? It was confusing, funny, and stupid that The Dudley Boyz would have to change their names after so long.
Much like the table-loving anarchists, Cody Rhodes found himself on the outside of WWE and without the rights to his own name. Despite his father being Dusty Rhodes for decades, the Vince McMahon trademarking machine will take your name before it kicks you out in the dirt. Go figure. That didn’t put off the Son of the Son of a Plumber, who left the ‘E is his (star)dust and went to the indies to forge a brand-new career.
Fortunately for the Genetic Jackhammer, our boy did whatever he could to avoid conflict with his old employers (thrones be damned). He dropped the last name and became just Cody. WWE relented in 2020 and let the trademark expire. Cody Rhodes was back again! The American Nightmare started using his full name, then went back to his old boss in WWE a couple of years later; it’s like they knew all along…