Cody Rhodes made a triumphant return to the ring at the 2023 Men’s Royal Rumble, stunning fans as the 30th entrant. Rhodes ended up winning the match and securing his place at WrestleMania 39 as well.
Ever since Cody Rhodes came back, he has been treated as a huge deal by the company. In fact, he has become an absolutely beloved babyface now.
While speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer talked about Cody Rhodes’ current run in WWE. Meltzer revealed that Cody Rhodes is a huge draw for the company and gave examples to prove his point.
He’s a draw. I mean Sami is a draw, but Cody is a draw. In the weekend at house shows in Columbus, Georgia and Pensacola. The advances were the same, 2000 – 2500, that they do everywhere else. In fact it was lower than usual. They were normal advances.
Cody wins the Rumble and then they announce that Cody is working those two shows and they did the all-time record gates in both Columbus, Georgia and Pensacola, Florida. You know about 6000 people in both shows, a little under six.
But for house shows, last year you could probably count on one hand, you know except for a Garden house show, some of the Canadian ones were big, there was a big on in Sacremento where Roman Reigns worked on, 6-7000. WWE house shows don’t usually draw like that, so he’s a mover, at least right now.
Dave Meltzer
Cody Rhodes is set to challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed Universal Championship in the main event of WrestleMania 39. We will have to wait and see whether Rhodes will be able to topple Reigns in the end.
H/T to Ringside News
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