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What's the story?
Cody Rhodes had an interview with FOX Sports Australia recently. During the interview they discussed his success in Japan as well as his time within the WWE. One particular part from the WWE they discussed was Stardust and how it led to his departure from the company.
In case you didn't know...
Cody started his WWE career in 2006 where he reported to the developmental territory Ohio Valley Wrestling. Early in his OVW career, he formed a tag team with Shawn Spears; who is better known as the current SmackDown Live star Tye Dillinger.
The heart of the matter
In 2014, Stardust was born when The Brotherhood (Cody Rhodes and his real-life brother Goldust) were in the middle of a losing streak as a tag team. Stardust was a name that Cody's father, Dusty Rhodes, used in the American Wrestling Association (AWA).
Regarding how the Stardust character played a part in Cody wanting to leave the WWE, he would say the following:
"Maybe I just wasn't meant to do Stardust as long as I had done it, so it didn't feel right. I remember putting some concept art together for what I would look like as just Cody Rhodes, as just Cody, the wrestler," said Cody. "And it really just appealed to me in such a way that if I couldn't do it in WWE, I thought well, I've saved my money, I know a little bit about the game, I'm going to go and do it on my own and see how I do. And it ended up being the best decision I've ever made."
Proof that it was his the best decision would come a little over a year after he left the WWE. Cody Rhodes became a world champion for the first time in his career when he defeated Christopher Daniels for the ROH World Championship at Best In The World in June 2017.
Cody would hold the championship till December when Dalton Castle, another first-time world champion, would defeat him at Final Battle.
What's next?
Cody will appear in Honor Reigns Supreme tonight (9 February) in a free special that you can view on ROHWrestling.com, Facebook Live, or the Fite App.
Author's take
As much as Cody didn't want to be Stardust, he still did a hell of a job pulling off the character. I honestly missed the days of regular Cody Rhodes, and seeing everything he has done in Ring Of Honor and New Japan Pro-Wrestling since makes my point even more valid.
Cody has done an amazing job in becoming a main event player, much like Drew McIntyre did before his return to NXT. I hope Cody returns to the WWE someday and gets a world title reign with them because he definitely deserves one.
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