Cody Rhodes fully committed to his role in the upcoming ‘Street Fighter’ live-action film, insisting on performing all his own stunts during filming. Alongside Roman Reigns, who was temporarily written out of WWE programming to shoot the movie, Rhodes’s dedication to the physical demands of portraying the character Guile has drawn attention ahead of the film’s 2026 release.
Roman Reigns’s departure during Clash in Paris was scripted to accommodate his work on the ‘Street Fighter’ project, where he plays the role of Akuma. Reigns returned to WWE’s Raw on September 29, teaming with The Usos to defeat Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker. Similarly, Cody Rhodes took a break from WWE between August 8 and September 12 to film the movie, marking a key career move as he steps into an iconic video game character.
Cody Rhodes Details Commitment to Performing His Own Stunts
In a recent episode of The Pat McAfee Show, Rhodes revealed his insistence on personally handling every stunt needed to depict Guile authentically. He highlighted the physicality required for the role, touching on iconic moves from the video games such as the Sonic Boom and Flash Kick.
Rhodes firmly stated his determination to execute all stunts himself, including wirework and fight sequences. He acknowledged a stunt coordinator named JV and praised the specialized stunt squad responsible for choreographing the film’s intense combat scenes. This approach allowed Rhodes to perform meaningful action sequences in front of the camera, aiming to bring video game moves to life with realism.
“The physicality part of Guile was a pretty easy pick up. A bit of a spoiler for what I hope is going to be a monster movie, Guile does a few things — in terms of the video games, you know Guile is going to do a Sonic Boom, you know he’s going to do the Flash Kick.I was adamant that anything that’s a stunt, I want to do it. If that requires me being on these wires, I wanna do it. If you put another guy over here in the corner who I know is going to do the shot after, I still want a shot at it.His name is JV, his stunt squad is putting together these fights because it’s Street Fighter, you need fights, it’s a fighting tournament. Unbelievable, very easy for me to jump right into it and he had a great team around me to let me get one go at a couple of things that I hope I get to see in the movie.”
— Cody Rhodes, Actor and WWE Star
Rhodes Shares Optimism for WWE’s Future Amid ESPN Partnership
During the same interview, Cody Rhodes expressed confidence in WWE’s ongoing growth following the company’s new partnership with ESPN. He emphasized the organization’s talented roster and credited Nick Khan’s strategic leadership as key factors sustaining WWE’s upward momentum.
Rhodes reflected on professional wrestling’s history of fluctuations but firmly suggested that the company is moving past previous cyclical struggles. His outlook signals a period of stability and expansion for WWE, bolstered by fresh media collaborations and a strong talent pool.
Rhodes is scheduled to return to the ring soon, teaming with Randy Orton against Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed on the October 3 episode of SmackDown, further underlining his active role in WWE’s current storylines.
Additional Wrestling Industry Developments
Beyond Rhodes’s involvement with ‘Street Fighter,’ several notable events have emerged within the professional wrestling world. Andrade El Idolo made history with a significant comeback to AEW on October 1, marking a milestone in his career.
Rumors swirl around WWE star interest in joining Bad Bunny for Super Bowl LX, suggesting increased crossover appeal between wrestling and mainstream entertainment events. Meanwhile, AEW’s Hangman Adam Page recently discovered his challenger for WrestleDream, raising anticipation for the forthcoming championship bout.
In retrospection, Cody Rhodes has openly discussed his past matches against John Cena at WrestleMania and SummerSlam, revealing his perspective on those high-profile encounters. WWE is also preparing for Cena’s final match scheduled on December 13 at Saturday Night’s Main Event, with speculation about potential opponents stirring fan interest.
Separately, reports indicate that a departing WWE star had declined a substantial contract extension before exiting the company, reflecting ongoing shifts in WWE’s talent roster. Commentary regarding CM Punk’s backstage potential has surfaced, with doubts expressed about his ability to succeed in a non-performing role.
Additionally, reports explaining WWE’s decision to part ways with Andrade have circulated, providing insider insights into the organization’s management choices.
Keeping Momentum Through Fighting Spirit and Talent
Cody Rhodes’s commitment to performing his own fight scenes embodies the spirit of dedication fueling both the film and wrestling worlds. His portrayal of Guile, combined with Roman Reigns’s role as Akuma, positions the ‘Street Fighter’ movie as a noteworthy upcoming project within pop culture and sports entertainment.
As Rhodes resumes his wrestling career alongside continued media ventures, his efforts reflect broader trends in WWE’s evolving strategy to enlarge its presence across entertainment platforms and maintain fan engagement through compelling performances and dynamic storylines.
