Cody Rhodes Surprisingly Mentions AEW Legend At WWE Show
Cody Rhodes namedropped AEW legend Sting during a recent WWE show.
On December 26, WWE brought its Live Holiday Tour to the CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, Maryland, delivering high-energy action to enthusiastic fans.
The evening’s main event featured Cody Rhodes defending his Undisputed WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre in a No Disqualification match, where Rhodes emerged victorious to cap off the show.
Cody Rhodes Is A “Big Fan Of Sting”
After the bout, The American Nightmare grabbed the microphone to connect with the audience.
He shared his deep appreciation for the venue, calling it one of his top spots to compete in, thanks to its rich wrestling legacy tied to the legendary Stinger.
Rhodes also highlighted a legendary moment from the past. The very same arena, then known as the Baltimore Arena, hosted the 1990 Great American Bash – New Revolution.
There, Sting claimed a monumental win over Ric Flair to capture the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, etching his name further into history.
Rhodes said:
I don’t know if you know this, this is one of my favorite buildings to wrestle in. It’s no secret I’m a big fan of Sting, and this is where Sting defeated Ric Flair.
That’s just a little peek into my heart. I mean it when I say I love this place. Everyone who performed for you means it when they say they love this place.
Cody makes a speech after his match against Drew by giving his flowers to the icon Sting and also giving a lucky fan one of his weightbelts. This is the people's champ. 🙌🏻#WWEBaltimore#CodyRhodes#QB1pic.twitter.com/cJKvDkswyp
— Art 🎨 (#CodyIsQB1) (@AmericanArtsii) December 27, 2025
Cody Rhodes played a pivotal role in launching AEW in 2019 as one of its founding Executive Vice Presidents (EVPs), alongside The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega, building on the success of their All In event.
Rhodes left AEW in February 2022 amid reported creative frustrations and a sense of disrespect despite his foundational contributions. He cited a “personal issue” rather than money or talent disputes.
This paved the way for his surprise WWE return at WrestleMania 38 against Seth Rollins, where he chased his childhood dream of becoming WWE World Champion.