“We Were Both Frustrated”—Former Tag Partner Breaks Silence on Cody Rhodes’ Explosive WWE Rise
Cody Rhodes’ journey to the very top of WWE hasn’t gone unnoticed—especially by someone who shared the road with him long before the main-event spotlight followed everywhere he went.
Now a multi-time world champion and a WrestleMania headliner, Rhodes has cemented his place as one of WWE’s defining stars of this era and a future Hall of Famer. But his rise wasn’t instant. It was built through years of reinvention, setbacks, and moments that tested his belief in himself.
One of the people who saw that struggle up close was Damien Sandow.
Back in 2012 and 2013, Rhodes and Sandow formed Team Rhodes Scholars, a pairing of arrogant, ambitious young stars who quickly became fan favorites. Many believed the duo was destined for greatness, especially when they entered the Money in the Bank ladder match. Sandow ultimately won the briefcase, and the team soon split—sending Rhodes down a babyface path while Sandow remained a villain.
While Rhodes steadily rebuilt his momentum, Sandow’s WWE run took a very different turn. Despite holding tag team gold and becoming one of the most memorable characters of his time—including his run as The Miz’s silent stunt double—he never captured a singles championship and was released by WWE in 2016. Ever since, fans have wondered how things might have turned out if the company had fully backed him.
That history made Sandow’s recent comments especially meaningful.
Speaking with TMZ Inside the Ring, the former WWE star reflected on his bond with Rhodes and didn’t hide his admiration for what his old partner has achieved.
Sandow admitted that both men experienced frustration during their early WWE years, often feeling stuck in different ways. But he made it clear that Rhodes’ current success is no accident. According to Sandow, Cody’s rise is the result of pure talent, relentless perseverance, and earning every opportunity placed in front of him. He added that seeing Rhodes reach the level he always envisioned is genuinely rewarding—and said he believes Dusty Rhodes would be incredibly proud as well.
While Sandow watches from afar, Cody Rhodes is far from slowing down.
This Saturday, Rhodes steps back into the ring at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Montreal, where he’ll face Jacob Fatu in what promises to be a physical showdown. Just one week later, he’ll attempt to make history once again by winning the Men’s Royal Rumble for the third time, earning another guaranteed shot at championship gold.
Saturday Night’s Main Event airs live on January 24 at 8 p.m. ET on Peacock in the United States and on WWE’s YouTube channel internationally, with several major matches already confirmed—including a Fatal 4-Way to determine the next Undisputed WWE Title contender.
For Cody Rhodes, the climb never truly ends. And for those who knew him before the fame, his success feels both inevitable—and well deserved.
