WWE Shop revealed the Cody Rhodes Kids’ Collection Friday afternoon on X, a move that furthers his position as a family-friendly star. Rhodes reposted the news, adding, “For the kiddos.”
Later that night
on SmackDown, Rhodes, wearing a shirt from his new kids’ line, seized the moment to make a bold statement about his manhood.
Referencing CM Punk’s comment on Up & Adams, where Punk referred to his upcoming WrestleMania main event with Roman Reigns as a “dick-measuring contest,” Rhodes said:
“I heard that it was going to be a you-know-what measuring contest. Well, they’re both glad I’m not in it because I didn’t get the nickname ‘Raheem’ for no reason.”
The comment, which plays on outdated stereotypes about race and masculinity, comes on the heels of other edgy Cody moments, including a heated exchange last year with The Rock, where Rhodes told him to “go f**k yourself” and questioned the Rock’s virility in 2024.
This behavior runs counter to Rhodes’ carefully crafted image as a role model. It suggests that WWE is trying to have its cake and eat it, too, using Rhodes’ wholesome persona to appeal to families while leaning into “Attitude Era” crudeness to stay relevant.
It reads like a Hail Mary from the self-proclaimed QB1, an attempt to keep pace with Reigns and Punk in a bid for the other WrestleMania main-event spot.
