10 Wrestling Facts We Didn't Know Last Week (Oct 22)
6. Cody Rhodes Felt Like A 'Sad Clown' When His Father Passed Away
On June 11, 2015, the iconic 'American Dream' Dusty Rhodes sadly passed away at the age of 69. Meanwhile, his son Cody continued to play the Stardust character on WWE television amidst calls from fans for the company to scrap the gimmick. Eventually, Cody was granted his release from WWE in May, 2016.
Since then, Cody has been able to work his own schedule on the independent scene and with TNA. Speaking to False Comeback for a special YouTube interview, the man revealed how he really felt about forging ahead as Stardust. In prior interviews, Cody had said that he wasn't exactly thrilled, although this chat offered a new revelation.
Trying to sum up his thoughts, Cody remarked that he could only compare himself to a "sad clown" from the Summer of 2015 onwards. Feeling the energy of fans who were watching his performances, Rhodes believed nobody felt comfortable booing him due to what had happened in his personal life.
Almost trapped behind the Stardust gimmick, Cody couldn't grieve properly alongside the wrestling community. Instead, he had to keep playing the character WWE wanted.