“Cody Rhodes Calls It ‘Real Magic’: Inside the Exact WrestleMania XL Moment That Changed WWE Forever”
Cody Rhodes’ journey back to WWE was once considered impossible — and yet it ended with one of the most iconic WrestleMania moments of the modern era.
After leaving WWE years ago and becoming a founding pillar of All Elite Wrestling, Rhodes was widely expected to finish his in-ring career outside of Stamford. Insiders believed AEW would be his long-term home. Instead, Cody shocked the wrestling world by walking away, sensing the shift in momentum before most others did.
When “The American Nightmare” returned to WWE, the company itself was very different from the one he had left behind. Creative leadership had changed, backstage priorities had evolved, and for the first time, Cody’s full potential was embraced at the very top of the card.
Cody Rhodes Reflects on His WrestleMania XL Coronation
That belief reached its peak at WrestleMania XL in 2024, where Rhodes finally fulfilled his destiny by defeating Roman Reigns and ending one of the most dominant championship reigns in WWE history. The victory didn’t just earn him the world title — it cemented him as the new face of the company.
Speaking on The Undertaker’s podcast, Cody opened up about that unforgettable night and the surreal sequence of events that unfolded behind the scenes.
“I describe it as actual magic,” Rhodes said. “You’re walking backstage real slow, almost like a Yoda move. Then suddenly, the speed changes when you roll into the ring — you can hear it.”
Cody went on to describe a subtle but powerful moment involving The Undertaker that stuck with him forever.
“You looked back at me while I was selling, maybe not the moment you imagined, but you gave me that look like, ‘I got them. He’s yours now.’ Then you winked. When you winked, the lights went out. I remember thinking, ‘He’s real magic.’”
What’s Next for Cody Rhodes?
While Rhodes’ momentum has remained strong, his path hasn’t been smooth. Earlier this year, he dropped the world title to Drew McIntyre, who also eliminated him from the Men’s Royal Rumble match last weekend.
Even so, Cody’s WrestleMania XL victory remains a defining chapter in WWE history — a moment that proved the long road was worth it, and that sometimes, destiny really does arrive wrapped in magic.
