Cody Rhodes has made his future crystal clear — when his current WWE contract runs out, he’s not shopping around.
During a Wednesday appearance on ESPN’s Unsportsmanlike, the former Undisputed WWE Champion addressed retirement rumors and contract speculation head-on. While he admitted he doesn’t have a specific end date in mind, he made one thing certain: his next deal will be his final one — and it will be with WWE. Rhodes didn’t dance around it.
“I don’t have an end date like I used to. I do know that whatever the next deal that I sign with WWE, I ain’t going nowhere, that next deal will be the last.”
That’s about as definitive as it gets. After previously leaving WWE years ago and building himself into a global name before returning in one of the company’s biggest comeback moments, Rhodes now says he sees his career ending exactly where it currently stands — under the WWE banner.
At 40 years old, Rhodes doesn’t view himself as winding down. In fact, he believes he’s operating at his peak.
“Wrestling’s so unique in terms of it’s hard to determine your time. Especially in 2026, with the level of athlete that you can grow to be.”
He pointed to several top stars as proof that age no longer dictates decline in modern wrestling.
“Look at what Brock [Lesnar] is doing currently at this level, he’s in peak form. Roman, older, peak form. Punk, Punk is the best he’s ever been. So age is really not what it used to be in the industry.”
With Elimination Chamber set for Chicago this Saturday, Rhodes is far from coasting. He’ll enter the steel structure alongside Randy Orton, Je’Von Evans, Trick Williams, LA Knight, and Jey Uso for a guaranteed Undisputed WWE Championship opportunity against Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas.
But beyond title shots and main events, Rhodes is already thinking long-term — and he’s planting his flag firmly in WWE. No bidding war. No final farewell tour elsewhere. No late-career surprise run in another company. If Rhodes keeps his word, his final chapter will play out in a WWE ring.
Do you think Cody Rhodes ending his career in WWE is the right move, or would you want to see him take one more run somewhere else before hanging it up? Let us know your thoughts below.