Cody Rhodes has voiced his unease about the wave of retirements currently affecting WWE, including high-profile names like John Cena and AJ Styles. In an interview on ESPN’s First Take, Rhodes emphasized his hope that fewer wrestlers will end their careers soon, stressing the importance of new talent entering the ring. His comments come amid a shifting landscape in WWE that has seen several legends step away from active competition.
The Impact of AJ Styles and Gunther’s Rising Reputation
Rhodes highlighted AJ Styles as a transformative figure in the wrestling world, noting that Styles competed against him, his brother, and his father, which underscores his influence across generations. He praised WWE’s farewell to Styles, particularly the surprise involvement of The Undertaker and the announcement of Styles’ Hall of Fame induction, calling it a “beautiful way to go out.” However, Rhodes also touched on the unsettling trend of wrestlers being forced into career-ending moments, singling out Gunther as a “career killer” whose reputation for sidelining opponents is proving more than just a nickname.
“I don’t want any more retirements. We’re saying goodbye way too much to too many people. AJ is incredible, he’s one of the few people who wrestled not just me but me, my brother, and my dad. He’s really a game changing type performer. I love how WWE did it and the inclusion of The Undertaker, which was a complete surprise to everyone to then say, ‘You’re going to the Hall Of Fame.’ It was a really beautiful way to go out. I mean, it’s never easy. To see John tap out, to see AJ go down like that, Gunther is really turning into the career killer. It’s more than just a moniker. Hopefully someone can put an end to that. I don’t want any retirements for a while, let’s do debuts. New blood, new beginnings.”
?Cody Rhodes, Professional Wrestler
Upcoming Opportunities for Rhodes Following Elimination Chamber
Despite coming up short against Randy Orton in the final moments of the 2026 Elimination Chamber, Cody Rhodes remains poised to reclaim his standing in WWE. He is scheduled to challenge Drew McIntyre for the WWE Undisputed Championship on the March 6 edition of WWE SmackDown. This match represents a significant chance for Rhodes to reverse recent setbacks and maintain his presence among WWE’s top competitors.
What This Means for WWE’s Future
Rhodes’ remarks underscore a critical moment for WWE as it balances honoring legendary careers with introducing fresh talent. The “career killer” label now associated with Gunther adds an intense layer to the ongoing narrative within WWE, where emerging wrestlers can abruptly change the direction of others’ careers. Fans and insiders alike will be watching how WWE handles this dynamic going forward, especially with Rhodes advocating for more debuts rather than farewells.
