What If... Cody Rhodes Never Left WWE In 2016

The Cody Rhodes found wandering the WWE halls back in 2016 was a very different bloke to the one seen carrying the company into its bright future today.

Following on from his arrival as Dusty Rhodes' baby boy, partnerships with Hardcore Holly and Ted DiBiase Jr., stint as part of Randy Orton's Legacy squad, time as a "dashing" chap, and period being a moustache-sporting scholar, Rhodes was forced into a leather suit just like his brother Dustin's Goldust one.

Stardust soon became a ridiculous thing in 2014, and that stint as a "Minidust" would lead to a completely frustrated Cody feeling enough was enough.

He dreamed of one day being a WWE Champion, you see. He even noted that fact during his statement post-release. And no matter how much effort and time he put into trying to make Stardust one of the most entertaining and captivating elements of the sports entertainment machine, that guy was never winning the big one, was he?

Both Vince McMahon and Triple H didn't see this committed midcarder as a person who could be their "star player" back in 2016, and would that have honestly changed without Cody proving just how big of a star he could be elsewhere?

Had he stayed put and just carried on earning good money as a reliable WWE Superstar, it's tough to imagine a scenario where Rhodes became anything other than a safe pair of hands used to get other main event projects over on their way up the card.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with that, of course. Hell, the likes of The Miz and Dolph Ziggler made a career out of it. But just like Vince never really saw either of those veteran talents as bona fide attractions, Cody was destined to become yet another dependable WWE stalwart in a universe where he went full Jordan Belfort.

He'd have probably even found a way out of the Stardust silliness at some point, too, possibly reverting back to being a Rhodes as he added numerous other Money in the Bank appearances, a few more midcard title reigns, and some WrestleMania battle royal eliminations to his CV.

His glass ceiling would have been devastatingly clear, and it certainly wouldn't have been enough for a performer who evidently wanted more. But it would have been a living, at least, and one many within the industry would give their right arm for.

Some things are more important than money and job security, however. And it was Cody's bold move away from his WWE comfort zone in 2016 that showed many that McMahon's organisation didn't actually have to be the be all and end all...