Backstage Secrets Behind Cody Rhodes' First Week Back In WWE
How'd Cody get to WrestleMania, who knew he was coming, and what's next for Brandi?
Now that we're a full week removed from Cody Rhodes' epic return to WWE, more details have emerged about the days leading up to and following his WrestleMania 38 match.
Fightful Select reports that there were discussions about having Cody and Brandi Rhodes fly privately to Texas for Mania, but they instead travelled via private bus to Dallas. Despite the rampant rumors, many in WWE didn't 100% know that Cody was actually returning to the company until he actually showed up, with some friends approaching Rhodes afterwards and asking why he didn't tell them beforehand.
Cody originally was scheduled to deliver his promo on Raw last, with internal documents listing him in the main event slot an hour before the show began. Fightful indicated that no reason for the switch with Roman Reigns was given. Ringside News has reported that Rhodes' excellent promo on Raw was indeed scripted, down to the pauses in his remarks.
Going forward, it will be interesting if Cody continues to be scripted, and if so, whether and how much input he will have in those promos and angles. If he's able to craft his message and just has to run it through the WWE filter, that could still produce some good stuff. Or it could become a watered-down product that disappoints. Fightful reports that Rhodes is expected to retain the presentation we've seen in AEW, which is how he returned at Mania and Raw.
Lastly, Brandi Rhodes was also backstage at WrestleMania and reportedly has had "productive conversations" with "influential WWE names." Brandi is apparently working on unscripted content and continuing her in-ring training.