Cody Rhodes Knows When He’ll Retire From WWE

Cody Rhodes won’t wrestle forever.

Thanks to massive changes across the industry and in health and nutrition, wrestlers are extending their careers longer than ever. But more importantly, they’re now able to do so at a higher level than those before them.

However, some still prefer to end their full-time careers before Father Time truly catches up with them. Bryan Danielson stepped away at age 43, while John Cena will be retiring altogether in 2025 at 48 but he hasn’t wrestled full-time since 2018.

One man who looks set to follow the John Cena blueprint is Cody Rhodes. In a new interview, the Undisputed WWE Champion broke down his retirement plan.

Cody Rhodes Knows When He’ll Walk Away

During an appearance on the 2 Bears, 1 Cave podcast with Tom Segura, Rhodes admitted that the end of his full-time career is already somewhat in sight. Looking ahead, Rhodes said he won’t be wrestling full-time beyond 45.

“Well, third, 39 now, I’d say my contract is running till I don’t want to wrestle full time, definitely, past 45 okay. drop-in? For sure. Keep myself in shape–“

Expanding further, the star discussed his love of acting while calling his current run the most rewarding of his career.

“I would love to tell stories like we do in the ring, in a different fashion,” he said. “I would absolutely love, love to do [movies], but I’ve always been so linked into wrestling and coming back to WWE, where winning the championship for WWE is essentially like being the quarterback of the team.

So, it’s been the most fun and rewarding time I’ve ever had in my career, but I can definitely see, I don’t think I’d be able to do it on this level — because I feel the best I’ve ever felt. I feel the best I’ve ever felt at what to do in front of a live crowd, plus we have all these new kids.

I was working with one the other day, Carmelo Hayes, really young guy coming up from our developmental system. To be able to see him, hear things, and hear an audience and, ‘Okay, this is why that didn’t work. This is why it did work.’

I’d love to do it at this level, up until probably 45.”

Cody Rhodes will put the Undisputed WWE Title on the line at the Royal Rumble against Kevin Owens in a Ladder Match.

The pair’s most recent clash came at Saturday Night’s Main Event and ended in explosive controversy. Rhodes earned the victory, but only after Owens had the champion pinned while the referee was down.

After the match, Owens laid out Rhodes with a Package Piledriver and stole the legendary Winged Eagle Championship belt.

H/t to Fightful