In a recent episode of his podcast What Do You Wanna Talk About?, Cody Rhodes announced that his nephews, Wyatt and Wayne Rhodes, are officially pursuing professional wrestling careers, continuing the Cody Rhodes wrestling legacy continues through the family. These two young athletes are the sons of Cody’s sister, Kristin, and grandsons of the legendary Dusty Rhodes, marking them as the third generation in this storied wrestling dynasty.
Training Under Dustin Rhodes at the Rhodes Wrestling Academy
Wyatt and Wayne have been preparing for their wrestling futures under the guidance of their uncle Dustin Rhodes at the Rhodes Wrestling Academy located in Texas. Cody noted that the brothers are entering a pivotal moment in their development as professional wrestlers.
“My nephews are getting in the business…” —Cody Rhodes
Cody reflected on their progress, saying,
“My nephews are getting in the business. They’ve been training for a few years with Dustin,”
“They’re right at the point where I’m like, ‘Oh, it’s getting serious.’ Both handsome, too. And they have a lot of Dusty… Dusty skipped me, but he got them.”
The New Texas Outlaws Begin Their Professional Journeys
Wrestling as The New Texas Outlaws—a tribute to Dusty Rhodes’ iconic tag team with Dick Murdoch—the brothers made their official debut in March 2024 during an RWA Showcase event. Since then, Wyatt and Wayne have participated in several matches, showcasing their growing skills. They also had the opportunity to appear in AEW, competing in a dark match before an episode of Collision in August 2024.
Expanding Their Horizons Beyond Family Training
Although Cody praised Dustin’s role in their training, he highlighted the importance of gaining broader experience outside the family circle. He plans to connect Wyatt and Wayne with TJ Wilson (known as Tyson Kidd) and Natalya’s Dungeon 2.0 school to further enhance their skills.
“I told him, ‘You know, you should go to Nattie and TJ’s.’ That’s the best thing, like a Nepo baby can do—get outside your zone… you’re just gonna be so much better for it.” —Cody Rhodes
Remembering Dusty Rhodes’ Influence and High Regard for TJ Wilson
In a heartfelt account, Cody spoke about his father Dusty’s time in WWE’s developmental system and his admiration for TJ Wilson. While many fans refer to Dusty’s NXT roster as “Dusty’s kids,” Cody revealed that TJ Wilson was Dusty’s favorite among them.
“A thing people don’t realize is in the ‘Dusty’s Kids’ conversation of all his NXT kids, no one has ever figured out his number one was TJ,”
“He loved TJ… We handed out all these pocket knives when he passed away, because that was my dad’s way of saying, ‘You’re a friend.’ He’d give you a knife. I feel like we gave TJ, like, 30 knives, like, just every other week, because he was his number one Dusty kid.”
Qualities Dusty Valued in a Wrestler
Cody described the qualities that Dusty Rhodes admired most in TJ Wilson: trustworthiness, consistency, and the ability to perform at a main event level regardless of the audience size.
“He just thought TJ had everything. He’s like, ‘Oh, it’s great. He can do this, he can do that,’ and he could trust him. He was consistent… whether there’s 13 people or 13,000 people, TJ puts on a main event performance.” —Cody Rhodes
The Future of the Rhodes Legacy and Cody’s Personal Reflection
Looking ahead, Cody expressed confidence that Wyatt and Wayne are poised to carry forward the family’s wrestling heritage successfully. He also revealed moments of doubt in his own career, sharing that he had once considered leaving wrestling to become a high school coach. However, with the next generation stepping into the spotlight, the Rhodes legacy appears vibrant and secure for years to come.
