WWE Champion Cody Rhodes spoke to The Flagrant about wrestlers being “body shamed” by fans.
Rhodes said, “This is a vanity business…if you’re trying to be on the come up, you’ve got to get in the best shape of your career.
The guy I’m getting ready to wrestle at Crown Jewel is named GUNTHER. He used to be on the independent scene named WALTER, and WALTER was very, very, I don’t want to say overweight, but he was not a muscle you could see on him. A big, hefty, chop-a-tree down, killer dude. That manifestation of his goals is right there [in his physique]. You can see, he’s gotten in the best shape of his career. He looks incredible. He looks the part.”
And there’s this weird online contingent that doesn’t realize how important that is. We are wrestling with our shirts off, folks. You are standing next to some of the best athletes in the world. It’s okay to go to the gym. We have what we call effort-shamers, and then you’ll hear fans [say] you can’t body shame wrestlers. What are you talking about? We’re standing there half-naked and you’ve paid hundreds of dollars to [see us]. You can body shame me all you want!
But kicking back, that was the thing. I wasn’t in great shape. I had filled the spot as being Dustin’s tag partner. We had done really well. At that point, I should have been focused on getting in the best shape of my career, having the best promo, and more importantly, I should have fought the little battles. Hey, I don’t want to team with my brother today. Hey, I don’t want to come out to his music…
Wrestlers, you can tell when they’re in the best shape of their career, they want it. They want it. Currently, I know it might seem toxic and stuff, but amongst the boys and girls, everyone [is saying] who does your diet? Who’s training? Like, there’s a whole ‘nother health-conscious now to WWE, that I love that. We’re trying to look our best.”
Since the topic of Cody and body shaming is around, here is the video of what he said and his reasonings. The question was what is the difference between plateauing as Stardust to coming back as the American Nightmare. pic.twitter.com/7RG8kLESkg
— Alexa (@ahhhhhrexa) October 31, 2024
(quotes courtesy of CagesideSeats.com)
