Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes recently revealed he proposed an unexpected idea to WWE executive Bruce Prichard involving the Winged Eagle WWE Championship. During an episode of his podcast, Rhodes shared that he wanted Prichard to revive his classic Brother Love character to present him with the historic title belt.
Background on the Brother Love Persona
The Brother Love character was a televangelist gimmick known for his red face and theatrical preaching style, popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s. This persona notably managed The Undertaker’s debut at Survivor Series 1990 and hosted The Brother Love Show. Rhodes saw this as a nostalgic link to wrestling’s past.
Rhodes Reflects on His Creative Pitch
While acknowledging the request was partly made in jest, Rhodes admitted he genuinely wished for it to come to life. He said,
I knew Brother Love wasn’t coming back when I asked you to be Brother Love to present me with the Winged Eagle Title.
Rhodes added,
I think I said it as if it was a joke, and you’re like, ‘Haha, no,’
and,
I wanted Brother Love in the ring going into Saturday Night’s Main Event with the Winged Eagle Title.
The Significance of the Winged Eagle Championship
The Winged Eagle belt stands as one of WWE’s most legendary championship designs, previously held by iconic wrestlers such as Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Bret Hart, and Shawn Michaels. Earlier this year, Cody Rhodes revived the classic belt design during his rivalry with Kevin Owens, tapping into wrestling nostalgia for longtime fans.
What This Means for WWE Storytelling
Rhodes’ creative pitch highlights his appreciation for WWE’s history and his desire to deepen storytelling by incorporating revered characters and symbolism. Though the Brother Love character has not returned, the discussion emphasizes Rhodes’ role in bridging past and present wrestling eras and shows potential for further callbacks in future WWE programming.
