Cody Rhodes Pays Tribute to Dusty Rhodes After 6/28 WWE SmackDown

Cody Rhodes became the Undisputed WWE Champion at WrestleMania 40 and fans are happy he was able to finish the story and fulfil his father Dusty Rhodes’ dream. In fact, he also paid tribute to Dusty Rhodes after Friday Night SmackDown this week.

Rhodes has often reflected on the roots of his journey in wrestling. His father, Dusty Rhodes, famously faced ‘Superstar’ Billy Graham at Madison Square Garden in 1977, winning the WWF Championship in a match marred by controversy over a count-out decision. Cody Rhodes has shared that his ambition was to honor his late father by achieving the same championship glory. Years after Dusty’s passing, Cody fulfilled his dream by dethroning Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40.

WWE returned to Madison Square Garden on June 28 for Friday Night SmackDown, where a lot of things happened as he declared war on The Bloodline following an intense brawl.

After Friday Night SmackDown went off the air, WWE uploaded a video where Cody Rhodes appeared before the live audience. He recounted the significance of The Garden in his family’s wrestling legacy, emphasizing how his father’s pivotal match with Billy Graham inspired his own aspirations. Cody Rhodes expressed gratitude for the crowd’s enduring support and his determination to hold the classic WWF Title on the top rope in order to honor his father Dusty Rhodes.

“I mentioned it earlier when we came out here. I had a different plan in mind for my return to The Garden. Because it is not just my return to The Garden. For those of you who know this story, this is where it all began. In the late ‘70s, my father, ‘The American Dream’ Dusty Rhodes traveled to New York City to wrestle ‘Superstar’ Billy Graham. He was a country boy from Austin, Texas, and for some reason, you guys just loved him. Anyways, in this fabled match, Dusty Rhodes defeated ‘Superstar’ Billy Graham. He grabbed what would become this WWE Championship. He climbed that buckle over there, and he held it up. But moments later, they took it away from him. It’s okay, this story has a happy ending. I was eight years old, I saw the picture of this title.

I knew nothing about the ins and outs of pro wrestling and sports entertainment. All I knew was I wanted to win that title for him. I had always planned on saying the silliest thing to him, but I just wanted to tell him that nobody can take it away from you now. So like I said, if you’ll indulge me, I am gonna climb that buckle because I wanna hold up the WWE Championship, but if I could, my cousin [WWE timekeeper] Berkley , you got something in your hands over there? I will trade you.”

Cody Rhodes, Kevin Owens and Randy Orton are set to square off against The Bloodline at Money In The Bank, so we will have to wait and see who will have to wait and see who will triumph in the end, as Dusty Rhodes will certainly be watching over his son.

Were you touched by Cody Rhodes’ tribute to Dusty Rhodes? Let us know in the comments section below!