10 Wrestling Facts We Didn't Know Last Week (Oct 28)
2. Cody Rhodes Thought Of Ric Flair During A Moment Of Clarity Regarding Stardust
It's hardly a secret by now that Cody Rhodes wasn't enjoying playing the Stardust character in WWE for quite some time before leaving the promotion. Several times since striking out on his own, Cody has said that he was at loggerheads with company officials over the gimmick and was tired of portraying it.
Speaking with Sports Illustrated's Extra Mustard though, Rhodes revealed one specific incident that helped make his mind up fully. Penning an article for the website, Cody told how he stood backstage in Greensboro, North Carolina, readying himself for that evening's episode of Monday Night Raw and putting on his Stardust makeup.
Standing in the same building that had housed Starrcade 1983, Rhodes couldn't help but think of legends like 'Nature Boy' Ric Flair. They had been in this venue, and here he was in the same locker room putting on a makeup for a character he didn't even want to play anymore.
Right there and then, Cody decided that enough was enough. This moment of clarity helped him see that Stardust wasn't a future he wanted. When he looked in the mirror he saw Cody Rhodes, not a caricature of his brother's Goldust gimmick.