Cody Rhodes Reveals Lesson John Cena Taught Him About Connecting With WWE Fans

Cody Rhodes opened up about one of the most important things he ever learned in his career, and it didn’t come from a backstage meeting or a championship match. It came from watching John Cena quietly study the crowd long before the show even started.

During his appearance on Bertcast, Cody explained that Cena had a way of reading the room that went far beyond shirt counts or ticket sales. It was about finding the people who needed something from the show that night.

Before telling the story, Cody laid out the moment he realized what Cena was doing behind the curtain, and why it stuck with him for good.

“Cena is really big on that exact thing. He’d be sitting by the monitor at doors and I think a lot of people always thought he was counting shirts, you know, his shirts. And he was doing more than that. He was seeing who was going to react to him that night. Who was there because they needed it. They put their money in—please give me something back.”

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Cody admitted he now does the same thing—but in his own way. Before the bell rings, he climbs the turnbuckles and scans the arena, not for cheers, but for people who came specifically to see him. He explained that those small moments of recognition keep him grounded and keep the connection real.

“I always go up on the post… I get 30 seconds tops to look around and see the sign that says ‘American Nightmare Cody’ or ‘I came here for…’ and just to be—just so I can clock them. Gotcha. Gotcha. Gotcha. Just because I need them to know.”

For Cody, this isn’t some performance ritual—it’s a reminder of why the job matters. Fans aren’t just buying tickets; they’re investing in him, in the story, and in the escape the show gives them. And Cody wants them to feel seen the same way Cena made people feel seen for years.

Cody’s reflections show how much the emotional side of wrestling impacts the way the top stars carry themselves today. And whether fans realize it or not, those silent interactions before the bell rings may be the most meaningful part of the night.

Do you think more WWE stars should take Cody’s approach and focus on individually connecting with fans in the crowd? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know how you feel about this side of the business.

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