Cody Rhodes Made Bizarre Pitch To Bring Back Long-Forgotten WWE Character
Cody Rhodes was thinking outside the box.
Even before he won the Undisputed WWE Championship, fans were calling for Cody Rhodes to bring back the legendary “Winged Eagle” title belt. The iconic belt was held by many of the biggest names the wrestling industry has ever seen, from its introduction in 1988 through to 1998.
Of course, Rhodes already had history on that front, bringing back the famous white stap design for the Intercontinental Champion in 2011.
Fast forward to Saturday Night’s Main Event in December 2024, and Cody Rhodes and Triple H finally brought the Winged Eagle back. The American Nightmare wore the title for his match against Kevin Owens, and they later fought over it at the Royal Rumble in a Ladder Match.
Cody Rhodes Had A Strange Plan
On the latest episode of the What Do You Wanna Talk About? podcast, Rhodes sat down with Executive Bruce Prichard to discuss all things WWE. During the conversation, Rhodes revealed that he wanted Prichard, as his old Brother Love character, to present him with the Winged Eagle.
“I knew Brother Love wasn’t coming back when I asked you to be Brother Love to present me with the Winged Eagle Title. I wanted it. I think I said as if it was a joke, and you’re like, ‘Haha, no.’ I wanted Brother Love in the ring going into Saturday Night’s Main Event with the Winged Eagle Title.
I ended up doing the Pulp Fiction with Triple H in the case, but I’m looking, and there is a Winged Eagle off in the distance. I’m not going to ask you when Brother Love is coming back, because I’d be hot if Brother Love comes back,”
Prichard appeared as Brother Love — a red-faced evangelical-style preacher character — between 1987 and 1991. During this period, he briefly worked with The Undertaker before Paul Bearer became The Deadman’s manager. Prichard occasionally brought back the character through the 1990s and into the early 2000s.
During the conversation, Cody Rhodes also confirmed that he only spoke with WWE in 2022 after his AEW contract had expired.
H/t to Fightful