Cody Rhodes faces fan backlash over Bullet Club comments, igniting heated reactions across the wrestling world after his recent remarks about the faction’s success and his role in it. The comments have triggered an outpouring of criticism from passionate fans and community members who question Rhodes’s claims about his contributions to the influential group.
Rhodes’s Rise Outside WWE and Bullet Club Involvement
In 2016, after departing from WWE, Cody Rhodes set out to prove himself in the broader pro wrestling world. He found significant success in promotions like Ring of Honor and TNA, ultimately winning the World Title during his time there. However, it was Rhodes’s move into New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) and his association with the globally recognized Bullet Club that truly elevated his reputation.
Upon joining NJPW and becoming a member of the Bullet Club, Rhodes took part in notable matches and captured the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship. Though he was not introduced as the group’s leader, he eventually became a major figure within the faction, whose legacy included previous leaders such as Finn Balor, AJ Styles, and Kenny Omega.
Controversy Over Rhodes’s Recent Comments
Founded in 2013, Bullet Club quickly grew into one of wrestling’s most prominent stables, initially led by Finn Balor before leadership transitioned to AJ Styles and later Kenny Omega, who took charge around the same period Rhodes entered the picture. While Rhodes’s exact impact on the group remains a topic of fan debate, recent remarks from him have sparked intense pushback.
During his
“What Do You Wanna Talk About”
podcast, Rhodes stated,
I talk with AJ and Finn about this all the time. Bullet Club was so cool when Finn Balor was doing it. So cool when AJ Styles was doing it, but they weren’t like printing money. It wasn’t the money making enterprise. I joined, and it did start making money. However, it was the least cool thing ever.
— Cody Rhodes,
“What Do You Wanna Talk About”
podcast
This statement led many within the online wrestling community to condemn him, with numerous social media users expressing that his comments downplayed the foundational contributions of other prominent members—including Finn Balor, AJ Styles, and Kenny Omega—who were regarded as pivotal to the group’s rise and popularity.
One disgruntled fan responded on X,
Cody Rhodes is full of c*ap Finn Balor, AJ Styles and Kenny Omega made Bullet Club relevant and profitable.
The intense fan dissatisfaction continued, as another individual declared,
Cody dead to me after today.
Highlighting the significance of earlier leaders and contributors, the group’s roots were established by Balor and King Fale, later joined by figures like Karl Anderson, Tama Tonga, The Young Bucks, and Kenny Omega. These names resonated as constant reminders cited by those contesting Rhodes’s self-assessed impact on Bullet Club’s legacy.
Another fan objected to Rhodes’s commentary, stating,
The fact that he’s always trying to dismiss TYB and Kenny, shows what a narcissist piece of sh*t he is.
Others argued that Bullet Club’s popularity played a crucial role in rejuvenating Rhodes’s wrestling persona, with one fan writing,
And bullet club saved Cody’s failing career.
Additional criticism targeted his claims about the group’s financial status, as another user commented,
Cody is just too corporate now. To say Bullet Club wasn’t profitable is a lie. The best heel faction in NJPW for over a decade.
— Zach Grill (@Zgrobbot) June 11, 2025
Reflecting on the Bullet Club’s Overall Impact
Despite Rhodes’s perspective, much of the wrestling community maintains that his career resurgence owes a great deal to the popularity and strength of the Bullet Club. The “American Nightmare” identity, which became synonymous with Rhodes, emerged during his stint with the faction in NJPW. Bullet Club’s success was so significant that WWE once sought to capitalize on its momentum.
WWE’s Attempt to Mirror Bullet Club Success
Reports from 2016 reveal that WWE aimed to acquire the rights and logo of Bullet Club. However, NJPW declined to sell, prompting WWE to form its own version. AJ Styles, having joined WWE, was paired with Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows to create “The OC.” While this group gave Styles a prominent role, it never managed to match the iconic status or influence of the original Bullet Club from NJPW.
Over time, inconsistent storylines and a lack of compelling rival factions led to WWE’s version fading, underscoring the enduring cultural legacy of the original unit led by trailblazers such as Finn Balor, AJ Styles, Kenny Omega, and others before Rhodes’s participation.
What Comes Next for Rhodes and the Bullet Club Legacy?
This controversy demonstrates the emotional attachment wrestling fans have to historic factions and the importance of recognizing collective contributions. As debate swirls around Cody Rhodes and his Bullet Club involvement, the group’s enduring place in professional wrestling remains untouched, ensuring that its legacy—and the heated discussions surrounding it—will persist in years to come.
