What WWE Champion Cody Rhodes’ Neck Tattoo Was Really About
Cody Rhodes has explained what his intent was when he got the “American Nightmare” tattoo on his neck.
After departing WWE in 2016, Cody Rhodes reinvented himself and became known as the “American Nightmare.” A few years after his WWE departure, AEW was formed and shortly after that, Cody showed up on television with an American Nightmare tattoo on the right side of his neck.
There are many people in pro wrestling with a lot of tattoos and fans certainly get used to them, but in Cody’s case, the neck tattoo stood out since he’s not a heavily tattooed person like The Undertaker, Randy Orton, or The Rock, for example.
During an appearance on the 2 Bears 1 Cave podcast, Cody Rhodes stated that he hated wearing other people’s logos.
“The American Nightmare logo I already had, so was never about the art, was never about the look. I went through this phase, I was away from WWE at the time and I was trying to build my own brand and be my own thing. I was tired of wearing other people’s logos. I hated going into Dick’s and Rock’s logo was everywhere. I want to make my own thing. I want to be bold, I’m going all in on my own thing.
I had this idea to have it on my chest, then I saw Conor McGregor who is absolutely box office, marquee guy. He has the big lion on his chest, can’t do the chest. Then of course I think about The Rock who is the biggest marquee guy and my current boss. He’s got the Brahma Bull. I can’t do the arm, Goldberg too with the barbed wire. Hmm, I’ll do the neck.”
Cody Rhodes Could Have Had A Smaller Neck Tattoo
As the story continued, Cody Rhodes said that his tattoo artist presented a smaller design to him, but Cody ignored it and went with the bigger design.
“He showed it to me and it was smaller. I thought that’s perfect. It’ll peek right over the collar, I’m always in suits, that’s perfect. I love this guy, he still helps, he’ll fix it now and then when it needs to be, But I did the dumbest, most alpha-toxic thing ever. I was sitting there in the chair and he kept giving me an out. He goes ‘You wanna take a look?’ He kept giving me an out. No I’m good. I kept gritting my teeth. I don’t know who the f*ck I was trying to impress. There’s no one there. My wife’s not there. I’m good.
Then I got up and they are filming this, they’re documenting this whole thing. I got up and I saw it. I didn’t say anything in the moment, but it was like the kid on Christmas [who’s unhappy], it’s not the right Power Ranger basically.
I think the first thing I said was thank you. I shook hands and headed for the door, and I had to wrestle the next night. I had a signing that morning where I wrapped it in a scarf because they wanted me to do it fresh right away or take months and let it heal. So I’m at this signing, it’s in a scarf, it’s coming up over the scarf. People clearly know something is up.
I remember Jim Ross, legendary Hall of Fame announcer, he thought it wasn’t real. I walked into the production meeting and at the time I am leading the production meeting, I’m the boss. I remember him [saying] ‘Hold up. Is that f*cking [real]?!’ He couldn’t believe it. He couldn’t fathom this giant thing now existed. But I tell people in the long run I guess it’s was really worth it.”
Next up for Cody Rhodes is a Ladder Match at the Royal Rumble when he defends the Undisputed WWE Title against Kevin Owens in a rematch of their controversial Saturday Night’s Main Event title match.