Cody Rhodes Reveals Female WWE Star Slapped Him The Hardest: “She Leveled Me”
Cody Rhodes has been slapped by a lot of people and says one woman in WWE hit him the hardest.
The 3-time Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes has been through a lot in his 20+ years as a pro wrestler in WWE and outside of the promotion.
One of the more famous incidents involving Cody Rhodes was at WWE Elimination Chamber 2025 when John Cena turned heel for the first time in more than over 20 years. Cena joined The Rock and rapper Travis Scott in a brutal beatdown to end Elimination Chamber.
During that attack on the babyface Rhodes, the rapper Scott was seen hitting Cody hard right on the ear and actually busted Cody’s eardrum, likely because Scott is not a trained wrestler like Cena or The Rock.
In an interview with Insight’s Chris Van Vliet, Cody Rhodes made it clear that Scott didn’t hurt him. As he spoke about the situation, he also mentioned taking harder slaps from former Intercontinental Champion Bob Holly and former Women’s Champion Natalya, both of whom Cody has known throughout his career.
“Travis Scott did not hurt me. It looks like he hurt me. I took a photo with Travis Scott at the OBB studio event, and I never saw that photo. I like Travis Scott. I think it’s safe to say at this point, I like Travis Scott. I like that he lended us his time and that we had moments with him. I mean, he took a Cross Rhodes.
Most people just remember the slap, and I’m going to be on this side of history with it. I know it wasn’t everyone’s favorite thing. That is not the hardest I’ve ever been slapped. That’s number three. That’s number three.
I’ll give you the list of slaps. Number two, Bob Holly in London. He says, ‘Fire up out there, kid.’ I don’t want to say something nefarious that gets anyone in trouble. I think someone told him to try and knock me out, because the way he slapped me was trying to knock a man out, it didn’t. I have a decent little jaw. So I took said slap.
The number one might shock you, but I felt it in both of my heels. I felt it in my feet. I had to plant my feet. It was so hard. Nattie Neidhart hit me. It felt like an MLB batter swinging the bat, and I walked into it. She leveled me. So Nattie is one, Hardcore Holly two, Travis Scott, I’d say maybe three.”
Cody Rhodes Has Theories About His Black Eye
While speaking about the black eye that he suffered during that attack at Elimination Chamber, Cody Rhodes decided to credit The Rock and John Cena, rather than just Travis Scott.
“I’m gonna say that John Cena and The Rock gave me the black eye, and Travis Scott was there as well. So the three of them gave me the black eye and the perforated eardrum. Also, it runs.
If you get anything up here, right? So if I like, dot you up here, it’s gonna run. Some people are quick healers too. I’m like, a real yellowy, gross healer, where it just takes forever. So, yeah, it was not the worst slap I ever got, and he took a great Cross Rhodes.”
As for WrestleMania 42 on April 18 & 19 in Las Vegas, Cody Rhodes will defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against Randy Orton. Rhodes and Orton will take part in a contract signing on the March 13th edition of SmackDown.
The advertised lineup for SmackDown in Phoenix is below:
- Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton to sign contract for WrestleMania Title Match
- The Irresistible Forces vs. Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair | WWE Women’s Tag Team Title Match
- “Miz TV” returns with special guest Jelly Roll
- Michin battles Jade Cargill
- Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga take on Uncle Howdy & Erick Rowan
It has also been reported that WWE Hall of Famers, The Bella Twins – Nikki & Brie Bella, could be on SmackDown as well, as they go after the Women’s Tag Team Titles.