"Cody Rhodes explores a future WWE corporate role while still reigning as champion and top star"
Cody Rhodes is not just wrestling anymore.
His current in-ring chapter with WWE remains intense he’s holding the Undisputed WWE Championship and actively engaged in storylines on Friday Night SmackDown but what’s happening behind the scenes suggests something new.
Rhodes recently opened up about exploring life off camera inside WWE’s Stamford headquarters. That’s significant. It wasn’t casual curiosity. It was intentional research into what a corporate or creative role in WWE might look like once his competitive years wind down.
On his own podcast, he explained how he approached that visit like an interview.
He didn’t just stroll into the building. He prepared sample creative formats, met with multiple departments, and tried to understand how the machine behind WWE’s TV shows, events, and storytelling actually operates.
That level of preparation is unusual for a full-time performer, and it suggests Rhodes is thinking several steps ahead.
Early steps toward a new role
This isn’t talk of winding down in a lazy way. Rhodes treats it like strategic planning. He made clear he wanted to go beyond being a spectator.
He sat with WWE’s creative team, discussed ideas with figures in production, met with people in WWE’s community relations and commercial departments, and even sought opinions from other wrestlers on potential concepts.
He wanted to know how he could contribute meaningfully if and when a behind-the-scenes opportunity opens.
That “prepared like a job interview” comment stands out. Most wrestlers who transition into backstage or executive roles tend to be groomed slowly over time, learning specific production or creative skills.
Rhodes has done that too, but his approach feels intentional: he’s treating the corporate side of WWE like a second career with a real plan, not merely a fallback.
This kind of self-directed preparation hints at something specific Rhodes wants to understand the business on its own terms, not just as a performer.
From writing full creative formats to meeting with WWE’s internal heads, he’s trying to absorb how decisions are made and how stories come together. It positions him less as a future consultant and more as someone who could be integrated into WWE’s core creative or strategic teams.
A new chapter, not just an exit
The big picture is clear: Rhodes isn’t walking away from wrestling any time soon. He’s still in the thick of major storylines and his title reign is a cornerstone of WWE’s programming this year.
What’s different is that he’s now publicly acknowledging and preparing for a second phase of his career inside the company. That’s bigger than casual backstage involvement.
Wrestlers have transitioned into corporate or creative roles before, but rarely on their own terms mid-career while still performing at the top of the card.
Rhodes may be aiming for something like that a hybrid role that blends in-ring performance with input on creative direction, talent development, or broader strategic work. That kind of dual influence is rare, but his recent actions suggest he wants it.
This approach also fits Rhodes’ documented path in wrestling: he’s always been someone who pushes his own boundaries.
His time helping launch All Elite Wrestling where he carried an executive vice president title while performing showed he can think beyond being a competitor.
Even though he later said he felt he “failed” in that executive role, he has taken lessons from that experience and appears to be applying them now inside WWE.
What’s compelling about all this is that it’s happening while he’s still a major force in WWE’s storylines.
That duality big time performer and potential corporate contributor makes Rhodes an especially interesting figure right now. He’s not walking away from the ring because he’s slowing down. He’s adding another layer to his career.
If WWE were to formally embrace this direction, it could signal a shift in how the company treats top stars especially those with business interests outside the ring.
WWE has a history of using veteran talent in producer or creative positions after retirement, but installing a current top champion into such discussions while he’s still active would be unusual. The fact Rhodes is already doing this voluntarily makes it even more noteworthy.
Implications for WWE’s future
If Rhodes moves toward a corporate or behind-the-scenes role, the effects would be felt both on camera and off. From a talent perspective, he could bring a wrestler’s insight into creative decisions in a way others might not.
Doctors and trainers keep wrestlers safe physically; someone like Rhodes could help protect their characters and story arcs. That kind of internal perspective is invaluable in a business built on storytelling and fan engagement.
On the corporate side, his presence in offices could help bridge divides between creative, marketing, and commercial departments.
Wrestlers who transition into executive or production roles often struggle when they don’t fully understand the business side of things. Rhodes’ deliberate preparation suggests he’s trying not to repeat that mistake.
And fans are already talking about it. Some see this as the next logical step for someone with his experience and legacy in wrestling.
Others see it as a possible blueprint for how WWE could retain its biggest stars in meaningful ways after peak in-ring years. Either way, the fact Rhodes is publicly exploring this path adds fuel to debates about where wrestling is headed.
Right now, WWE hasn’t announced any formal corporate role for Rhodes. But the groundwork he’s laying matters. He’s not just speculating. He’s doing the work, meeting people, asking questions, and building ideas.
That kind of initiative isn’t common in wrestling, particularly for someone who is still the company’s top champion.
If WWE decides to bring him in behind the scenes after his active years, he’ll be prepared. And if they don’t, he still gains something important: a deep understanding of how the business operates at every level.
That knowledge can only enhance his influence, whether he’s in the main event spotlight or shaping stories behind the curtain.
For now, fans should expect Cody Rhodes to wrestle and defend his title. But behind the scenes, he’s already thinking about the long game. That combination of present focus and future planning might be the real story here — and one that could redefine how a top WWE star transitions through his career.
