Cody Rhodes Wants To Lead By Example Like John Cena

WrestleMania 39 is looking to be destined for The American Nightmare Cody Rhodes to claim his place at the top of WWE mountain. After being off television programming for nearly seven months due to injury, Rhodes made a triumphant return by winning the Royal Rumble match and punching his ticket for a championship match at The Show of Shows. Moreover, Cody Rhodes cites former locker room leader John Cena as an inspiration and wants to follow in his footsteps.

John Cena emerged to become the face of WWE for well over fifteen years. The Face that Runs Place carried the company on his back, carving out a Hall of Fame-worthy career and becoming the biggest star of his generation.

Moreover, Cody Rhodes worked with John Cena on multiple occasions during his first stint. This came during Cena’s feud with Randy Orton while Rhodes was a part of his faction ‘The Legacy.’

Cody Rhodes came back to WWE last year at WrestleMania 38 and will headline this year’s show. He was asked about the pressure of being a locker room leader while speaking with Robbie Fox on My Mom’s Basement, prompting Fox to cite John Cena as an example.

“You mention John. John’s the ultimate role model as far as how he conducted himself, whether it was with the media, with the fans, the good fans, the more unruly fans, everything. He is the ultimate role model. Before he became a bus guy, I got to drive him around a little bit, and he was just talking. I was, in my mind, just writing everything down that he was saying. He was really invaluable as a person to be around. I’m so blown away by how he’s doing and what he’s doing. I think if you try to copy what he did… everyone’s gotta do it their own way. I think my style, I ever was to be somebody that was a locker room leader, would just be to lead by example.”

Cody Rhodes further stated that he learned that it’s sometimes preferable to lead by example when serving as an Executive Vice President for AEW. The Prodigal son also acknowledged that he has found himself in the leadership position in the locker room, and he is going about it his way.

“I know because, as my time in management and being an executive, as beneficial as that was to me and as educational as it was to me, sometimes it’s easier to lead by example, really, versus telling them this is gonna work, or being so adamant that they need to do this and need to do this. Everybody is different. There is no true formula for success in sports entertainment and pro wrestling. It’s really you just know it when you hear it, when they’re reacting, boos and cheers included in that. I think for me, I’ll probably do it my way if I ever end in that spot and I kind of am. But yeah, I’d like to do it my way. I loved how he did it. Dude was his in his jean shorts and his shirt all show.” 

WrestleMania 39 will be Cody Rhodes’ first time in the main event of the Grandest Stage of Them All. The American Nightmare is looking to fulfill his father’s dream of winning the championship and finishing the story with him as the Undisputed WWE Universal champion.

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