... A M E R I C A N N I G H T M A R E ...

' Cody 2022 '

Brandi Rhodes has never looked more professional in her life. Her hair is perfect, not a strand out of place. Her perfectly crisp yellow dress stands out. She's seated with her legs crossed, giving a most endearing smile to the camera.

Brandi Rhodes: An opportunity has presented itself here in WLCW. A chance for my husband to position himself for a shot to be the champion at Ascension. Cody's a humble man, he works hard and keeps his head down. He hates, and I mean hates, drawing attention to himself.

Wait, what?

Brandi Rhodes: So I've put together this little video to make the case as to why Cody Rhodes deserves, nay, HAS TO BE.. The first WLCW Champion.

She flashes her pearly white teeth.

Brandi Rhodes: Enjoy.

" We all know the beginning of a new promotion is most important. Getting off on the right foot is paramount. One wrong move and the whole ship sinks. Having the wrong man carry the championship will set all of the potential back to the point of no return. That's why we need someone who has all of the qualities that makes a Champion the cream of the crop. "

" Seen here is Cody supporting a small business. While some.. especially me.. Might think this was an ill-advised idea that will last forever, at least ONE person online has gone to bat for the tattoo, calling it, and I quote, 'not that bad.' So while he carries his Nightmare brand on his neck, Cody Rhodes also supports the fans. "

" And speaking of small business, did you know that Cody is giving back with his own factory? "

" Look at those smiling faces! It's odd. Instead of Cody paying, the people pay HIM to keep coming back! "

" He gives it all to make others better. Take TBS for example. He lent his star power and name value to an upstart cable network trying to get their vision off the ground. In doing so, he gave Go Big Show the most famous judge on the entire show! Wow! Thank YOU, Cody! TBS will never be the same. Snoop Dogg was so touched, telling Cody, 'My bizzle, you shaved the showshizzle. You are the true G and the future WLCW Champion, my bizzle.' And Cody KNEW what he meant because a man of the people speaks all languages. "

" WLCW also needs a champion who is loved and in turn, loves his fans. As you can see here, the arrows point to Cody in a sea of supporters. They kept chanting that he was being 'too sweet' to them, but that's just how my husband is to everyone he meets. You can't see his face due the box, but a young fan told Cody meeting him was the best day of his life, and he was going to name his first born after him. Cody was moved. Cody reminded the fan that he was seven and maybe didn't need to be planning on things that probably wouldn't happen. Your future WLCW Champion, inspires the youth of today to reach for attainable goals! "

" Cody Rhodes as a friend? Second-to-none. Look at the way he leans in close and whispers words of encouragement to his friends when they need it the most! A little factoid, Cody practices tough love. He was not wishing bad upon his friend, he was giving best wishes! He was serving as that kick in the butt to get someone he cared for to get on his level and 'do the work' as he so famously says! "

" Cody believes in the Reverend King's vision that we are all born equal and shouldn't be judged based on the color of our skin as seen here in this completely inoffensive photo. Cody WISHES he was able to go back in time to: save his father, cure cancer, and march with the Reverend. Although we are all equal in life, in the ring, we are not. It tears my husband apart that he is heads and tails above the rest of WLCW. But this is a new year, a new promotion, and someone worthy has to carry this company on his broad shoulders. Cody has a dream, and it's coming to fruition very soon as he survives the battle royal and then goes on to climb the ladder for the championship, just as he's climbed the ladder to the top in life! "

" And when Cody Rhodes captures the WLCW Championship, he already has his own version of the title prepared at no expense to Mick Foley! WLCW, you'd be so lucky to have someone like my husband representing you. Look no further; 'The American Nightmare' is on his way to the rescue! "

The faux-campaign style video ends and Cody is now sitting next to Brandi. Cody's baby blue suit jacket almost takes all attention off of the fact that he's wiping tears from his eyes. He clears his throat and shakes his head in disbelief.

Cody Rhodes: Wow. I had no idea you were going to do something like this for me. We're all our worst critic, but you're right. WLCW needs me just as I need it. The championship needs me just as I need it. Ascension needs me.. Just as it needs me in return. It will be my honor to give the fans something to believe in.

A quick clearing of the throat once more buys Cody some time to find his words.

Cody Rhodes: That was a very influential video, but wrestling matches aren't determined by hype videos or propaganda. Somewhere along the way, the marriage between sports-entertainment and pro-wrestling reached a fork in the road and went separate ways. I'm not a sports-entertainer. I've seen my entrance, I know how many pieces of merchandise I have, so I can see where you may dispute that claim, and I get it. Deep down, at my very core, I am a professional wrestler. Salt Lake City, be ready to witness history on Saturday night.

Brandi hooks her arms around Cody's right bicep.

Cody Rhodes: History made me who I am today. The Omni, Horsemen Country, Stamford, Chicago, you name the town and somewhere along the way, a Rhodes has done the dance there. Salt Lake, it's fitting that my defining moment, my World Championship moment, happens in your fair town, a place that is desperate to have its own story to tell about this beautiful sport we love so much. Just as WLCW and myself need one another, Salt Lake City, it seems as though you and I need one another as well. I've tried for 36 years to fill footprints and carry a legacy that's 60 years strong that cannot be filled and cannot be carried, but Saturday, I will outlast every man who enters that battle royal. I know the task is tall and the road will not be an easy one to walk.. But I also know what I'm capable of.

Cody pauses and stares out past the camera, clinching his jaws together tightly.

Cody Rhodes: My shtick is all about honoring the past, right? Grandson of a Plumber, the American Nightmare, all of that. Mementos and stories of the past are wonderful, I'll cherish them forever.. But I'd be remiss in saying that I'll cherish nothing more than carrying a brand new era, a new company as World Champion to greater heights than Mick Foley could have ever imagined it going. The trails we walk were blazed by those who came before us. Hell, some of those names are still on this roster, clinging to their laurels as tightly as they can.. But it's time to leave those trails and begin anew.

His tone is optimistic. He believes it.

Cody Rhodes: Wrestling is a paint-by-numbers kind of thing. Always has been. Therein lies the juxtaposition of it all. You compare what everyone says, you'll have the same opinion from everyone. Everyone is the best, the man, the top guy. Compare what's being said to what's being done in the ring, and there's your contrast. It's all about desire.

With his shoulders broad and his chest puffed out, Cody expands.

Cody Rhodes: "To wish or long for. To crave." The final two men in this battle royal are going to desire the opportunity at hand more than the others. There is no free pass, there is no line to skip. You want a chance to climb the ladder at Ascension and then sit on the throne? You'd better want it more than me. Though I promise you this, there's no one with more desire, with more of a need to be champion, who will do as much of the work necessary as me. "Do the Work" isn't a marketing ploy for t-shirts, it's my manta. My battle cry. It's not "do the work and lose," it's "do the work and reap the benefits." I'm willing to do the work and prove my desire to be the man in WLCW. I have the characteristics, I have the ability, I have the desire.

He cocks and eyebrow with a smirk.

Cody Rhodes: Do you?

Fade.

Achievements: Gets to wrestle for the people.