Cody Rhodes has reflected on how dramatically WWE‘s developmental system has evolved since he came up through Ohio Valley Wrestling in 2006 — and his assessment of the current Performance Center model is thoroughly positive, even as he acknowledges a personal affection for the less structured environment of the old school system.
“Today, they’ve got it all mapped out really well. They’ve got agility. They’ve got multiple rings, including one that has an extra layer of pad and bounce if you’re going to try big high spots. They’ve got Shawn Michaels — probably the greatest in the ring ever. So that’s your head coach. How could you not be good?” Rhodes said on Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast.
Cody Rhodes Says the Current WWE System Is Designed Specifically for the Modern NIL Athlete
Rhodes also addressed the demographic shift in who WWE is now recruiting, explaining that the Performance Center’s comprehensive facilities are specifically engineered for athletes transitioning from other sports backgrounds. “The system they have down there with the Performance Center now is designed for the NIL athlete because they’re used to it. ‘I came from baseball, I came from football, I came from gymnastics.’ They need a recovery suite. They need a full-blown weight room. When I came up, you were just doing it yourself, which I liked because you found like-minded people. But the system now, it’s a lot healthier. A lot healthier to get everybody ready.” Rhodes also credited WWE‘s 2007 wellness policy with shifting the emphasis from physique toward overall athleticism. He defends the Undisputed WWE Championship against Randy Orton on WrestleMania 42 Night One in Las Vegas on April 18.
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