Cody Rhodes vs Drew Mcintyre might've ended with the American Nightmare losing his Undisputed Championship, but that won't be changing how the WWE views him long-term. Cody Rhodes, age 40 and standing tall at a height of 6 ft 2 in, is seen by the company as their next megastar babyface. In short, they expect him to be their next John Cena. He is happily married to wife Brandi Rhodes, the couple have 2 children named Liberty Iris Runnels and Leilani Ella Runnels. Cody Rhodes also boasts of a net worth around $8 Million, and he's also acting in movies now, including the upcoming Street Fighter movie.
Let us now look back at the Dashing and Undashing era of Cody Rhodes, 2 gimmicks which you'll never ever probably see him do again in the WWE
The era of Dashing Cody Rhodes
The “Dashing” era of Cody Rhodes marked a defining creative shift in his WWE career during 2010. After being drafted to SmackDown in the supplemental draft, Rhodes made an immediate impact by defeating John Morrison in his brand debut. He quickly positioned himself as a rising singles star, entering the Intercontinental Championship tournament, though he fell short in the semi-finals against Christian. Around the same time, he also took on a mentoring role on NXT Season 2, guiding Husky Harris and gaining further on-screen credibility.
The character truly took shape on the June 25 episode of SmackDown, when Rhodes unveiled his narcissistic “Dashing” persona. Portraying himself as WWE’s most handsome superstar, he demanded admiration, offered tongue-in-cheek grooming tips in weekly vignettes, and obsessively protected his face during matches. Any strike to his face would trigger dramatic reactions, complete with mirror checks, making the gimmick both memorable and entertaining.
Despite failing to win the Money in the Bank ladder match, Rhodes found success in the tag team division. Aligning with Drew McIntyre, he captured the WWE Tag Team Championships at Night of Champions. However, their reign was short-lived, ending at Bragging Rights, and tensions soon led to the breakup of their alliance.
A contrasting change to Undashing Cody Rhodes
The transition from “Dashing" to “Undashing” Cody Rhodes marked one of the darkest and most compelling character shifts of his career. On the January 21, 2011 episode of SmackDown, a match against Rey Mysterio took a dramatic turn when Mysterio’s exposed knee brace legitimately broke Rhodes’ nose. Using the real injury as storyline fuel, Rhodes declared he was no longer “dashing” and disappeared from television, claiming he needed facial reconstructive surgery.
When he returned weeks later, Rhodes wore a clear protective mask, symbolizing both physical damage and emotional collapse. The mask soon became a weapon, as he viciously headbutted opponents and even used it to strike them. His bitterness toward Mysterio intensified, leading to violent confrontations that culminated in Rhodes defeating Mysterio at WrestleMania XXVII. Their rivalry continued with a brutal Falls Count Anywhere match at Extreme Rules, which Mysterio won.
Following WrestleMania, Rhodes’ character grew even more disturbing. During promos, he forced audience members to wear paper bags over their heads, claiming their “ugliness” offended him, and humiliated defeated opponents by covering their faces as well. Reuniting with Ted DiBiase, Rhodes feuded with Sin Cara and Daniel Bryan and later competed in the SmackDown Money in the Bank ladder match, though he failed to win. It was around this time that the Undashing era of Cody Rhodes ended
The Dashing and Undashing phase of Cody Rhodes's career will always be looked back as a memorable and unique one that eventually shaped him into the megastar that he has become today.
Also Read | Best Moves of Cody Rhodes
