Cody Rhodes Calls Out ‘Terrible’ Wrestlers Who Sound Smart But Can’t Deliver

Cody Rhodes isn’t holding back when it comes to what separates good wrestlers from bad ones—and it has nothing to do with how they sound backstage.

Speaking on Your Mom’s House, Cody Rhodes was asked a straightforward question: what actually makes a terrible wrestler? Instead of giving a generic answer, Rhodes broke it down in detail—and made it clear the problem shows up when it matters most.

He explained that some wrestlers can talk the talk perfectly behind the scenes, using all the right terminology and laying out matches like they fully understand the business. He described how those conversations can sound convincing at first, with wrestlers confidently mapping out how a match should play out from start to finish.

“What makes for a terrible wrestler is the difference between us talking right now and when we go out there. There have been many wrestlers I’ve met who are like, ‘Yeah, you know, that’s what we want—we’ll get the gimmick, there’s going to be great heat off this, the crowd’s going to swell, you make your comeback, then we’ll do a shotgun finish and head home.’”

But according to Rhodes, everything changes the moment they step in front of a live crowd. If the audience isn’t reacting the way they expected, that’s where the real test begins—and not everyone passes it. He stated that communication inside the ring is key, pointing out that experienced wrestlers know how to adjust without breaking the flow of the match.

“They’re using all the vernacular, they sound like they get it—but then you go out there, and if the crowd isn’t buying it, we have to make a change. Every wrestler who’s good can communicate in there well. And one of the things people forget all the time—I don’t have to tell you, ‘Hey, please stop kicking me,’ or whatever it is. I can tell the ref. The third man in there is a huge part of that.”

Rhodes also talked about the role of producers backstage, noting that there’s support available—but ultimately, it comes down to the performer in the moment. Still, he made it clear that when everything is clicking, those adjustments don’t even need to be verbal.

“We’ve also got great producers backstage who can help—‘Hey, take him out of that, switch it, do whatever it may be.’ They can give direction. But when it’s really good, you don’t even have to say it.”

The real issue, according to Rhodes, is when wrestlers freeze under pressure—despite knowing exactly what they’re supposed to do. He closed it out by pointing to the modern wrestling environment, where unpredictability from the crowd makes adaptability more important than ever.

“Some guys will say all the right things—you’re like, ‘Yes, yes, you’re in’—and then you go out there and it’s full deer-in-headlights. They knew what they were talking about, but they can’t execute it. They can’t perform in front of a live crowd, and they can’t pivot. And today, you have to pivot—the crowd never does what we anticipate anymore. They’re all over the place.”

Rhodes isn’t just talking theory—he’s laying out a clear divide between understanding wrestling and actually being able to perform it when it counts, and in his view, that gap is exactly what exposes a bad wrestler.

Do you agree with Cody Rhodes’ take on what makes a terrible wrestler, or do you think something else defines it? Drop your thoughts below and leave your feedback.

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