Cody Rhodes

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    WHOOOO-OOOAAA...
    "I'm "Dashing" Cody Rhodes, bringing you one step closer...to dashing."
    —Cody Rhodes

    Cody Runnels (born June 30, 1985) is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name "Dashing" Cody Rhodes. He is the brother of fellow WWE veteran Dustin "Goldust" Rhodes and the son of WWE Hall of Famer "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes.

    That Other Wiki has a rundown on his life and career.

    Cody Rhodes provides examples of the following tropes:
    • Affably Evil: He wanted everyone to look as good as he did, the only thing stopping him from being a good guy, was being a heel, and his narcissism.
    • Arch Enemy: Rey Mysterio, Jr., Daniel Bryan, Randy Orton, Booker T, The Big Show.
    • Ascended Meme: According to The John Cena Experience DVD, even John Cena loves singing "Smoke and Mirrors".
      • "Woooooooah-oh! You're only Steve Lombardi! Woooooooah-oh! There goes Cody Rhodes!"
    • Ax Crazy: It doesn't always show, but Cody does have a tendency of going completely off the deep end when provoked.
    • Badass Longcoat: Started wearing one since Wrestlemania 28.
    • Berserk Button: Don't slap him across the face... or better yet, do, because the results tend to be hilarious.
    • Break the Cutie: Invoked accidentally.
    • Bullying a Dragon: Does this to The Big Show over his less than stellar Wrestlemania record. Big Show is 7ft tall, weighs over 400 pounds, while Cody's 6ft and weighs closer to 200 pounds. Dude, what the hell!?
      • As his father, Dusty said, he poked a Grizzly Bear.
    • Butt Monkey: While a member of Legacy, Cody would always be the one to end up taking the fall first, taken out of a thing, or seen as the lesser member.
    • Breakup Breakout: When he was in Legacy, most fans were sure that he would be the less successful teammate when the group inevitably split. Instead, he broke out of Legacy with his "Dashing" Cody Rhodes narcissist character, and has been a huge part of Smackdown since. As of this edit his former Legacy mate, Ted DiBiase Jr., hasn't done quite as well.
      • To illustrate this: One year later, Rhodes defeated Rey Mysterio, who is one of the biggest stars in the company, at Wrestlemania 27. Ted DiBiase didn't appear on the show.
      • Though Ted is starting to get back into the spotlight... by being Cody's personal stooge.
        • It wasn't long before Cody ditched Ted again, and he returned to obscurity.
    • Brown Bag Mask: He's taken to handing these out at ringside to the front-row fans, as well as placing them over the heads of his defeated opponents. The idea is that he "doing them a favor" by hiding what he perceives as their hideousness from the world.
    • Camp Straight: Shaves his legs, wears lip gloss (to keep his lips from drying out, he claims), and paints nails, but other wise still shown interest in women.....when not focused on himself.
    • Character Development: Cody's entire Smack Down run to date has been nothing but character development:
      • His mentoring of the Acrofatic Husky Harris on NXT made Cody realize how good looking he actually was, leading to the birth of "Dashing".
      • Cue a few months later and Rey Mysterio's knee brace breaking Cody's nose, making him go psychotic about how "disfigured" he became.
      • Cue a few more months later, when Orton destroyed Rhodes' protective mask. The disfigured gimmick disappeared, but he still retained his Darker and Edgier attitude.
    • Cheap Heat: At 2010's Tables, Ladders & Chairs event, he got some for remarking that the city of Houston (which was recently designated America's fattest city) suffers from "irritable jowl syndrome."
    • Co-Dragons: With Ted DiBiase to Randy Orton in Legacy.
    • Combat Pragmatist: Cody's a slimy bastard, but he's a cunning slimy bastard. Like the time he proceeded to knock The Big Show silly after stunning him, then handcuffing him to the ropes.
    • Continuity Nod: Cody's moveset includes several moves picked up from his former partners, such as Hardcore Holly's Alabama Slam.
      • His dropdown uppercut is a move picked up from his brother, Goldust.
      • His stomps and knee drops on downed opponents look decidedly Ortonesque.
    • Creepy Monotone: After he went insane, he got this kind of voice going.
    • Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass: Cody has largely been played as a joke since becoming "Dashing" ... until recently when he attacked Rey Mysterio, knocked him into his mirror (the stage screen) and tore his mask off. Yes, Cody Rhodes, the same one who played Butt Monkey for Legacy, who threw a tantrum when you hurt his face and who gave you tips on how to be "dashing" just beat the hell out of one of the top faces in the WWE.
    • The Dandy
    • Dark Reprise: With his psychotic character turn, his entrance music has become slower and creepier. It's really just a lower instrumental of his theme song, except it keeps the "WHOOOOOAH", and makes it lower. And creepy.
      • After his mask removal, he got yet another Dark Reprise. The remix is less creepy but more aggressive, with the original lyrics close to being restored ("No one knows and no one cares" however was changed to "I don't know and I don't give a damn").
    • The Dark Side Will Make You Forget: Since he's been masked and then unmasked again, almost no traces of his "Dashing" persona show up, even though (in storyline) his face has been repaired. The argument could very easily be made that he's a lot better for it.
    • Defector From Decadence: With Ted DiBiase in Legacy. But then it was the decadence that came out smelling like roses!
    • Distracted by My Own Sexy: Always stopped to take a look at himself in the mirror, so much so that his entrance involved him stopping at the top of the ramp and looking into a digital mirror.
      • Which happened to have a camera behind so his real image was shown in the minitron.
    • Divergent Character Evolution: Randy Orton, Ted DiBiase Jr. and Cody Rhodes started very similar: Mr. Fanservice that have well-rounded wrestling styles, were third-generation Superstars and part of a Wrestling Family, and all wear Underwear of Power. However, Randy's gimmick isn't anything like his father's, is a massive Draco in Leather Pants and has become a seven-time world champion. Ted is an exact Legacy Character copy of his father, floundering in the lower mid-card and getting into feuds with Cody's brother (Goldust). Cody is the smallest and quickest, goofiest, has gone as far away from his father (but not his brother) as possible, and is doing quite well for himself on Smack Down, and now that he's adopted his new psychotic heel character, he's become the Intercontinental Champion and is likely poised for a run at the World Championship following the end of his IC title run and Mark Henry's run with the World belt.
    • Easily Forgiven: So, Randy Orton can concuss you, your father, and your best friend, but it's all good in the end and you're willing to join with his new group. Worse still was Orton's treatment of DiBiase and Rhodes in Legacy, which consisted of being outright abusive at times and STILL attacking their family members and such. They did eventually get tired of it...which somehow was a Heel Face Turn for Randy Orton.
      • It was supposed to be the other way around, but fans decided that they hated Ted and Cody more and made Randy the de facto good guy for kicking their asses. The writers ran with it.
      • Except now that Cody's had time to stew over it, he's come back for Orton's blood.
    • Face Heel Turn: Turned on Bob Holly to team with Ted DiBiase, who had said he had a mystery partner at Night of Champions 08, and won the tag team belts with DiBiase.
      • Mind Screw: Because he was revealed as DiBiase's secret partner in the same match where he teamed with Holly only to turn on him, he technically defeated himself.
    • Mr. Fanservice
    • Everything's Better with Spinning: Cross Rhodes, as mentioned below, along with Beautiful Disaster(springboard kick to the opponent's head. The latter involves spinning, because he usually runs into the corner/towards the ropes, away from the opponent, before spinning 180 to hit the opponent.
    • Evil Laugh: Gives off one after he he's done with his promos.
    • Fan Nickname: Cody's recent gimmick as the mentally-unstable heel has people referring to him as "Cody Von Doom."
      • Marvel has caught on to the comparison and interviewed him. Interview can be found here
      • Narciss Prince, after the Super Punch-Out character who would go into similar freakouts if you dared to hit him in the face.
    • Fashion Victim Villain: A couple of people have pointed out that his long jacket (which is white and a bright red) opens right at his trunks, drawing far too much attention to his groin area.
    • The Fighting Narcissist
    • Finishing Move: Cross Rhodes, a rolling cutter. During his debut and subsequent heel turn he used a snap DDT, later christened the "Silver Spoon DDT".
    • Fridge Brilliance: Both in and out of kayfabe for Rhodes' retool into a psychotic heel. He spent the first part of his WWE career in a stable led by arguably one of the best psychotic heels on the roster. He has already shown himself to have charisma (arguably more than Orton), and probably picked up a few tips on how to play that sort of part well - to say nothing of him being a second-generation Superstar. In kayfabe, Orton's character should have been more of a loner, and his relationship with Rhodes likely wouldn't have worked if Rhodes didn't have this side to him to begin with. Makes even more sense in the wrestling style of DiBiase and Rhodes during Legacy
    • George Lucas Throwback: His gimmick, outfit, music, and wrestling style is a throwback to the eighties.
      • Even his "Dashing" grooming tip vignettes are a throwback to the 80s era, when they used to be a component of establishing a character outside the ring (i.e. Mr. Perfect being "perfect" at every sport). Nowadays, vignettes are primarily used for debuting wrestlers before they make their first appearance.
      • In Hell in the Cell 2011, Cody dumped the current Intercontinental championship belt in favor of the classic white Intercontinental championship.
    • Groin Attack: The Big Show hit a spear on a leaping Cody at Wrestlemania 28 that was a slight botch in timing. Show was aiming for Cody's abdomen but his shoulder hit a little bit lower. That's Gotta Hurt.
    • Hannibal Lecture: Most of his recent promos consist of, or at least include, one.
    • Hoist by His Own Petard: Attacking Randy Orton with his mask for a second time didn't end to well.
      • Then the following Monday, he insults Triple H, which ends up with him defending his Intercontinental Title in a 10-Man Battle Royal.
      • He started making fun of The Big Show's less then perfect Wrestlemania record, i.e that he lost more than he won. Big Show was not happy, had a talk with Teddy Long about a match with Cody at Wrestlemania for the Intercontinental Title. He got it. Whoops. This off course didn't stop him from bullying Big Show on a weekly basis up till Wrestlemania, where Big Show was the victorious one and won the Intercontinental Championship. Double whoops.
      • Oh, geez, if he had just kept his mouth shut at Over The Limit, he'd still have his title. Christian won a Battle Royal where the winner had the right to challenge for either the IC or US Title that night. Christian won and immediately appeared to choose Santino Marella, the US Champion. But Cody just 'had' to go mouthing off to Eve Torres about how the match wouldn't have been close if Christian had chosen him. Unfortunately, Christian overheard the conversation, changed his mind, and then beat Cody for the IC Championship.
    • Hypocritical Humor: Made fun of Tony Chimel for being a comic book fan, while in Real Life, Cody is a huge fanboy of comic books.
    • I Am Not Dashing: Well, he's not, anymore, he feels. Which leads to our next two points...
      • Informed Attractiveness: While he's said to be the best looking wrestler on WWE's roster, there's stiff competition from Randy Orton, John Cena and John Morrison for that title. He beat all three of them in a poll by the Divas to see who the best looking Superstar was.
      • Informed Deformity: Cody hates Rey Mysterio, Jr. because Rey's knee brace maimed Cody's face so that Cody is no longer dashing. Of course, he looks exactly the same. This is all highly intentional, as Cody is playing a psychotic heel.
      • Of course Cody's extreme ego could justify why he seems to make such a big deal when there is no noticeable change in his looks. Because knowing how he likes to be a picture of perfection, it's very likely that something in his looks has changed, but it's so minor only he would notice.
      • Alternately, maybe the fact that he had to get reconstructive surgery meant to him that his face was no longer pure, which to him made it ugly and garbage as a result, and that's what drove him insane. Think of a mix of Death the Kid, Patrick Bateman, and Mankind. Hinted at this in an interview about the neo-classic Intercontinental title belt where he was called out on his obsession with appearances and said he was "untarnished" until he was "mauled" and lost "the one thing [he] had over everyone else."
    • Iconic Item: For his Intercontinental Championship run, Cody brought back the "New Generation" era IC belt (early 90s, before the Attitude Era), complete with its white belt and rectangular plates.
    • In the Blood: Dusty Rhodes seems to have charisma in his genes, judging by his sons.
    • In the Hood: Fairly often since his 'masked' gimmick and almost always since unmasking.
    • Jack of All Stats: As mentioned in Divergent Character Evolution.
    • Large Ham: Not at first, but after he became "Absolutely DASHING!"
    • Laughably Evil: Yes, he's a goof with a enormous ego, but his narcissism is so massive that any slight, perceived or otherwise, will send him into a psychotic rage.
      • Very much averted with his new psycho heel persona; he's way more of a legitimate threat, and he's actually kind of creepy at times.
    • Laughing Mad: At his most recent.
    • Leitmotif/Recurring Riff: All of his songs since the breakup of Legacy have started with almost identical vocalizations of "WHOOOOA-OOOH..." to the point where it's now associated almost exclusively with him.
    • Light Is Not Good: Ever since unmasking, Cody's taken to dressing in mostly white ring gear.
    • Mask of Power: His new mask thing.
    • Minor Injury Overreaction: What drove him to his recent psychotic heel persona. Rey Mysterio, Jr.'s knee brace broke his nose, which isn't exactly the worst thing that can happen to a WWE Superstar.
    • Mooks: As of late, Cody is usually accompanied ringside by a group of nameless "attendants"/"baggers", who distribute his paper bag masks for him.
    • Not in the Face: Almost a catchphrase for him. In fact, after taking a hit in the face during his match at Survivor Series 2010 he freaked out and jumped out of the ring, to look in a mirror and make sure that his face was still dashing.
    • Old Shame: How he seems to see his 'Dashing' gimmick, if his reaction to The Big Show showing one of the vignettes is any indication.
    • One of Us: The Tri-Force is featured on his boots, and he said he plays through The Legend of Zelda a Link To T He Past every year.
      • He also apparently collects action figures. According to Ted DiBiase, Jr., Cody plays with his action figures, and if you want to play with him, YOU BETTER BE TAKING IT SERIOUSLY.
      • And he was featured as one of Marvel's 'Fightin Fanboys' He's a huge comic book fan and a Fan of Archangel.
    • Pyrrhic Victory: He lucked into a victory at Extreme Rules, winning back his Intercontinental Title. Only problem was...TheBigShow was all sorts of pissed after the match and chokeslammed him through TWO tables.
    • Red Baron: "Dashing" Cody Rhodes.
    • Sanity Slippage: Oh yeah.
    • Stepford Smiler: Don't let the grin he flashes fool you - this guy's not all there in the head.
    • Took a Level in Badass: In frightening fashion. See Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass.
    • Ugly Guy's Dashing Son: Have you seen Dusty Rhodes? How on God's green earth was Cody born?
      • Lampshaded by Daniel Bryan, who noted that Looks Aren't Everything while (unfavorably) comparing Cody to Dusty.
    • Unnecessary Roughness: Most heels will end a beatdown with their finisher. Cody ended the one he gave to Rey by raking his face across metal grating, throwing him headfirst into a wall, and then yanking his mask off.
    • Villainous Breakdown: Underwent one after Rey Mysterio, Jr. broke his nose. Being an egomaniac who considered himself the picture of perfection, this resulted in him losing his mind and turning into a psychotic heel.
      • And again after Edge basically ignored him.
    • Villain Team-Up: With Drew McIntyre to create "The Dashing Ones."
      • Ironically, right after they established their tag team moniker, they split up.
    • Weapon of Choice: His mask as of recent.
    • "Well Done, Son" Guy: Creeps in at times when Dusty gets involved with a storyline.
    • Wrestling Family: The son of "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes & half-brother to Dustin "Goldust" Runnels.
      • And Dustin/Goldust was married to former diva/manager and one-time Hardcore Champion Terri Runnels, which made her Cody's half-sister-in-law.
    • You Have Failed Me...: Cody pulls this on Ted DiBiase after losing to Randy Orton. Cody looks at him in disappointment and nails him with the Cross Rhodes.
    • You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Husky Harris (Rhodes' former NXT rookie) more or less did this to Cody during a battle Royal that took place on the 2010 Tribute To The Troops. At one point during the match Rhodes raised Husky's arm to praise him and point him out to the crowd, Husky thanks him by throwing out of the ring.
      • Too Dumb to Live: All the commentators had to say about Rhodes actions was something along the lines of "I guess Cody Rhodes supports Nexus."

    WHOOOAH-OH! YOU'RE ONLY SMOKE AND MIRRORS TO ME!

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