Cody Rhodes Calls Out Wrestlers Who Pretend Online Criticism Doesn’t Matter

Cody Rhodes isn’t buying the idea that wrestlers should just ignore criticism online — and he’s calling out fellow performers who claim they don’t pay attention to it.

While speaking on The Brandon Davis Show, Rhodes went deep into how he views feedback from fans and critics. The American Nightmare explained that wrestling audiences aren’t all the same, and the way different fans react to performances can vary wildly. He pointed out that hardcore fans tend to break down every detail of a match or segment, while casual viewers are just watching the show week to week without dissecting it online.

“So, I think twofold as far as you have people who watch as hardcore wrestling fans. So, they’re talking about the work. They’re talking about the leveling up from the week before or the leveling down if you didn’t deliver. Then you have people who just watch the show weekly, and they’re often not the big voices out on social.”

Rhodes said the key for wrestlers is learning how to process that criticism through the lens of their character and storytelling rather than taking everything personally. He explained that wrestlers should constantly evaluate whether their character work actually matches the motivations of the story they’re trying to tell.

“When I’m on screen, did I match the motivations I needed to have? Was I fully committed? Was I fully absorbing what was said to me? Did I react? Did I anticipate it, though? Or did I know it was coming and didn’t react properly? That’s the place that, as craftsmen and storytellers, you want to be.”

Then Rhodes took a direct shot at wrestlers who go on podcasts and claim they don’t care about social media. According to him, pretending those voices don’t exist is simply unrealistic.

“Everyone — if I see one more of my peers go on a podcast and say social’s stupid, ‘I don’t have a phone,’ or ‘X is wrong but Instagram’s right’ — in a way, and I am a polarizing wrestler who has seen my share of criticism, I hate to break this to you: they’re all right.”

Rhodes made it clear that criticism doesn’t mean performers should constantly change direction based on what people say online. Instead, he believes wrestlers have to stay committed to the story they’re telling.

“You have to decide which way you’re going. You have to lead your story. You can’t get gun-shy and go, ‘Well, I’m going to change it for them.’ Because the finish of your story will determine if you told a good story.”

He also compared wrestling storytelling to writing a novel — something that can’t change every week based on reactions. Rhodes wrapped up by explaining what he believes is the biggest trick in wrestling storytelling and said ignoring criticism completely is the worst move a wrestler can make.

“As a creator or storyteller for wrestling, we can’t change week to week. It’s not a choose-your-own-adventure book. It’s a novel. We hope you sit down and read the whole thing and identify with the characters. The biggest secret to wrestling is you lead the audience, but you want them to feel like they led you. I just don’t like when we brush any opinions off like they don’t matter.”

Rhodes has long been one of the more outspoken voices when it comes to wrestling psychology and storytelling — and his latest comments make it clear he thinks performers should listen to criticism, even if they don’t always agree with it.

Do you agree with Cody Rhodes that wrestlers shouldn’t ignore criticism online? Or do you think performers should stay off social media completely? Let us know what you think in the comments.

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