Cody Runnels
File:Codyrhodeslive.jpg
Born	(1985-06-30) June 30, 1985 (age 38)[1] Marietta, Georgia[2]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Cody Rhodes Cody Runnels
Billed height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[3]
Billed weight	[undue weight? – discuss][3]
Billed from	Charlotte, North Carolina[3]
Trained by	Dusty Rhodes Al Snow OVW
Debut	May 13, 2006

Cody Garrett Runnels^[1] (born June 30, 1985), better known by his ring name Cody Rhodes, is an American professional wrestler currently signed by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) to its RAW brand, where he is one half of the reigning World Tag Team Champions with Hardcore Holly.

Rhodes also periodically appears in WWE's developmental territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling.

Runnels is the son of Dusty Rhodes as well as the half-brother of Dustin Rhodes. He is also nephew to Fred Ottman (better known as "Typhoon" or "Tugboat"), and godson of Magnum T.A..^[1]

Early life

Cody had a successful high school wrestling career, attending Lassiter High School. He won the Georgia state tournament his Junior year at 189 lb (going undefeated) and successfully defended the 189 lb title his Senior year.^[4]

Career

Ohio Valley Wrestling

Runnels formed a Tag Team with Shawn Spears in mid-August 2006 and began feuding with Deuce 'N Domino for the OVW Southern Tag Team Championship, capturing the gold from Deuce 'N Domino twice -- on October 18 and December 13 2006.^[5]

While still OVW Southern Tag Champions, a rift developed between Cody and partner Spears. The two began to feud after Spears became jealous of Cody's success as a singles wrestler. This started when Cody won the OVW Heavyweight Championship from Paul Burchill at a house show on February 17 2007, only to lose it back the next day. Spears went on to win the OVW Television Championship in response. On March 31 2007 at the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony Cody, alongside Dustin, inducted their father Dusty Rhodes into the Hall of Fame.^[6] On April 11, the duo lost the Southern Tag Titles. Cody went on to defeat his now heated rival on July 6 2007, to become the new OVW Television Champion. Cody would then lose the TV Title back to Spears exactly one week later.^[7]

World Wrestling Entertainment

On June 30 2007, Rhodes participated in a Dark Match before SmackDown!'s television tapings, in a match where he defeated Daivari. In that match with Daivari, he was hit with an elbow to the head and had a severe cut; after the match, he was carried by the referees to the back of the arena to get stitches.^[8]

On the July 2, edition of RAW, Cody appeared backstage with his father Dusty Rhodes and Randy Orton, where Orton introduced himself to Cody and then slapped Dusty Rhodes as a sign of disrespect.^[9] On July 9, Cody slapped Orton in return.^[10] The following week, Cody faced Orton in his debut WWE match with his father at ringside, but was pinned after an RKO.^[11] Cody appeared at The Great American Bash to prevent further damage to his father from Orton.^[12] The next night on RAW Cody challenged Orton to a rematch from the previous week, only to be pinned again in a losing effort. Randy followed this up by kicking Cody's father in the head, similar to how he kayfabe nearly ended the careers of Rob Van Dam and Shawn Michaels.^[13]

After a 0-2 start on live television, Cody was told by Jonathan Coachman on the July 30 edition of RAW that if he did not win his next match he would be fired. Soon after, Cody had his first victory by pinning Daivari, while sporting a badly bruised left eye.^[14] This started a feud with Daivari. Two weeks later, he defeated Charlie Haas and the next week defeated Shelton Benjamin, both members of The World's Greatest Tag Team, and was assaulted by them after defeating Benjamin.^[15][16] The next week, he, Paul London and Brian Kendrick beat The World's Greatest Tag Team and Daivari in a 6 man tag match.^[17] One week later, Rhodes teamed up with Mickie James to defeat Daivari and Jillian Hall, with Rhodes executing a flowing snap DDT on Daivari to get the pinfall.^[18] He also went to the aid of John Cena's father Mr. Cena, who was in a match against Randy Orton, but got beat up by Randy Orton.

Three weeks later, he began a feud with Hardcore Holly and lost three consecutive matches to him.^[19][20][21] He eventually earned Holly's respect, and the two formed a tag team. They earned a shot at the World Tag Team titles by defeating Paul London and Brian Kendrick and The Highlanders in a WWE.com exclusive match after an Alabama Slam. They fought against the Tag Champs Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch at the 2007 Survivor Series, in what was be Cody Rhodes first on-screen title shot, and first pay-per-view appearance, but were unsuccessful.

On the November 19 2007 episode of RAW, Cody Rhodes faced Hardcore Holly for a fourth time in an attempt to finally defeat his tenured senior. Eventually, Cody managed to finally defeat Hardcore Holly, however, immediately following the pinfall, Randy Orton incapacitated both Cody and Holly with the RKO.

On December 10 2007, on the Raw 15th Anniversary special episode, Rhodes along with Hardcore Holly defeated Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch for the World Tag Team Championship, marking Rhodes' first championship in WWE.^[22][23]

In wrestling

• Finishing and signature moves

• Flowing snap DDT
• Diving crossbody / Running crossbody
• Bionic elbow
• Standing dropkick / Missile dropkick
• Snap scoop powerslam
• Bulldog
• Punching combo

• With Shawn Spears

• Golden Lasso (Modified Hart Attack)
• Double Russian legsweep
• Powerbomb (Spears) / missile dropkick (Rhodes) combo
• Double flapjack
• Double dropkick

• Attire

• Cody has worn wrestling gear that is half polka dots and half gold, which is a tribute to his father Dusty Rhodes and his half brother Dustin "Goldust" Runnels, respectively.
• Cody's current WWE attire consists of a pair trunks with his his initials (C.R.) written on them. The colors change regularly and also he now wears a black elbow pad on his right arm like his father Dusty used to.

Championships and accomplishments

• Ohio Valley Wrestling

• OVW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[24][25]
• OVW Southern Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Shawn Spears^[26][27]
• OVW Television Championship (1 time)^[28][29]
• OVW Triple Crown (1 time)

• World Wrestling Entertainment

• World Tag Team Championship (1 time, current) - with Hardcore Holly

Notes

External links

• WWE Profile
• Official Myspace Site