Cody Rhodes’ Ex‑Rival Says Full‑Time Wrestling Off The Table

Cody Rhodes has had many high-profile rivalries over the past decades. But one of his most talked-about rivalries in wrestling history featured him as Stardust, facing off against actor and part-time wrestler Stephen Amell.

Their clash drew widespread attention not only because of their contrasting backgrounds, but also because the chemistry between them delivered high-energy, memorable moments in the ring.

The rivalry kicked off during Amell’s guest appearances, blending Amell’s acting fame with Cody Rhodes’ wrestling expertise. The two clashed in an intense tag team bout, which saw Stephen Amell & Neville defeat Stardust & King Barrett at SummerSlam 2015.

‘Full-Time Wrestling Is Not for Me,’ Says Cody Rhodes Ex-Rival, Stephen Amell

Stephen Amell reflected on his wrestling journey, sharing that returning to a full-time wrestling career is not in his plans during a Q&A interview at Comic Con Midlands.

He highlighted the reality behind the glitz, pointing to wrestling’s physical demands and the long-term wear on the body. While he remains open to occasional matches, the idea of full-time wrestling remains unlikely for the actor.

“I think my wife will k*ll me. I’m serious. You know, if the right thing came along. Um, yeah, for sure, but hasn’t happened quite yet.”

“Yeah, very much so. I mean, most of those guys — you walk away from the business at some point, but you know, most of the time, by the time these guys do walk away, like, they’ll have to have a neck surgery or a back surgery or shoulders replaced or hips replaced or knees replaced. It’s a grueling, grueling lifestyle. Yeah. It for sure is. Yeah. Not for me. Yeah. Once every 10 years. I don’t want to mess with this money maker.” (H/T – SEScoops)

Besides WWE, Amell has wrestled once in ROH and once in AEW. He teamed up with the Bullet Club faction, Cody Rhodes, Kenny Omega, and The Young Bucks in a five-on-four tag team match to beat The Addiction (Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian), Flip Gordon, and Scorpio Sky in ROH. He had his first-ever singles match at AEW All In in 2020 where he was beaten by Christopher Daniels.