Cody Rhodes recently shared his thoughts about a moment involving Solo Sikoa, a member of the WWE Bloodline faction, during a tag team match. The incident occurred when Solo appeared to express intense frustration toward Cody while he was rallying the crowd, sparking questions about whether Solo genuinely respected him. This discussion took place on Cody’s podcast What Do You Wanna Talk About?, where Jey Uso, Solo’s older brother and fellow Bloodline member, was a guest.
The Bloodline faction, led by Roman Reigns and backed by the Hall of Famer Paul Heyman, dominated the WWE landscape from late 2020 until WrestleMania 30 in 2024. Alongside Reigns and brothers Jimmy and Jey Uso, the group later incorporated Solo Sikoa and Sami Zayn, the latter acting as an honorary member. This powerful alliance has been widely praised as one of WWE’s most compelling storylines in recent years.
During the episode, Cody recounted how, in a tag match where Solo was attacking his partner, he stepped out to pump up the crowd. However, Solo’s fierce glare made him wonder about the depth of respect between them.
“There’s a tag match where he’s in there beating up my partner, and I jumped out on the floor and I start banging the mat, like, getting the people into it, you know? And he looked at me, and it was like he wanted to rip my head off! He never looks at me that way. I thought, I’m curious what that was.”
Cody described Solo’s expression as unusually hostile, something he had never seen from him before.
Backstage Conversation Reveals Solo Sikoa’s Perspective on Wrestling Dynamics
After the match, Cody shared that Solo approached him privately to discuss his feelings about the in-ring scenario and fan interactions. Solo expressed discomfort with “begging for cheers” during matches, confident that the applause would come naturally. Cody acknowledged Solo’s viewpoint, recognizing that Solo had always been part of the Bloodline alongside highly popular wrestlers, and therefore had limited experience performing without immediate crowd support.
“We come to the back and [Solo] goes, ‘Hey, can I chat you up on something?’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah.’ I mean, everything is formal about this, but, ‘absolutely.’ He goes, ‘I don’t really like begging for the cheers. They’ll come.’ And I thought, ‘Yeah, you’re right, because you’ve only ever been with Jimmy, Jey, and Roman. Yeah, you’re right. But buddy, there’s going to be a night when you’re in there with–you’re generic guy A, and I’m generic guy 4, and now, let’s shake ’em up, guys. Let’s give it a 100. There’s going to be a night.’”
This exchange highlighted the challenges wrestlers face when they are not part of established or highly favored teams, an environment where generating fan energy becomes more demanding.
Cody Grapples with Doubts About Solo’s Respect, Finds Clarity Through Trusted Advisors
As Cody shared this story with Jey Uso, the older brother laughed, understanding Solo’s mindset from the inside. Since joining the main roster in September 2022, Solo had been immersed in one of WWE’s hottest storylines, shielding him from experiencing less supportive wrestling situations. This prompted Cody to question his own leadership role and Solo’s respect for him.
He revealed that he reached out to close confidants and even spoke with WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque, who helped Cody see the situation more clearly.
“I went home, texting my inner circle, ‘Man, does Solo not respect me?’ I thought about it. I’m supposed to lead him, and he’s telling me? And then I thought, ‘No, he’s right.’ It was Hunter who finally said, ‘He’s not wrong. Every tag match he’s been in, it was with somebody who was over.’”
With this perspective, Cody came to appreciate the conditions shaping Solo’s attitude and recognized the legitimacy of his point. It emphasized the distinct pressures on wrestlers who must carry a match without the advantage of established star power.
Cody Rhodes Navigates New Challenges in WWE’s Competitive Environment
Currently, Cody Rhodes is engaged in matches against other top-tier wrestlers, including Drew McIntyre and Jacob Fatu. Meanwhile, his wife Brandi has publicly endorsed his evolving wrestling persona, affirming his new nickname, Raheem Rhodes, as fitting.
This phase marks a transition in Cody’s career as he continues to build his legacy outside of interactions with the Bloodline faction, encountering shifting alliances and new rivalries within WWE.
