Cody Rhodes: The Dream Lives On
Who said dreams can't come true? Following the untimely passing of Dusty Rhodes, fans waited in anticipation for the return of Cody to the ring. The youngest Rhodes son was rumored to be back more than once and would supposedly not be in the Stardust gimmick that he had been running up until the moment he was last seen on TV.
The character was really going nowhere and seemed to be lost after Goldust had stopped appearing on the air. So to many fans, all of that meant the time was right for Cody to start over. But nothing could be further from the truth.
Stardust returned and fans lamented his reappearance. Why was WWE making him do this? Why couldn't he just be himself? Where was the tribute to Dusty?
But as with so many other things, fans missed the point. The point was not that Cody needed a change; Cody just needed to come back. Being Stardust, being his own man and doing what was best for his career, that's what is best for him.
It's not about him showing up in denim and a cowboy hat, fighting the good fight as The American Dream revisited. It's about him making his own way and that is exactly what he's doing.
That means totally inhabiting the character he brought to life before his father passed away. Stardust is a hybrid of Goldust and Guardians of the Galaxy. The character is brought to life by Cody's love of comic books and when he is in that role, the superhero influence is undeniable.
It's that superhero mentality that has so much potential to be very entertaining when used the right way. This is where Neville comes in; he's very heroic with a dynamic move-set and aerial ability that puts him on the same page as any caped crusader.
But as with any superhero, Neville needs a villain. Stardust is that villain, the perfect foil to Neville in practically every way. The two are fairly evenly matched in the ring and they complement each other in terms of attitude and personality. Neville is the straight-laced protagonist and Stardust is the bizarre antagonist, with his father's sense of showmanship.
When Cody wears the paint and gear, he becomes Stardust. The difference between the two is astronomical and such an outlandish gimmick could only be brought to life by a guy that believes in it and is willing to play it to the hilt.
That is exactly what Cody does every time he's on camera and after months of trying to find himself, he may just have found the perfect feud and the perfect opponent in Neville.
Fans will likely see Cody Rhodes again some time. After all, nothing lasts forever and the day may come when the paint comes off. But regardless of when or if that happens, fans should just enjoy the talent that's right in front of them. Cody is doing all he can to entertain and to carve out his own niche.
No one can replace Dusty and nothing can make fans forget his legacy but that legacy is now being carried by Cody. It's up to him to keep the Rhodes name alive and that name is synonymous with entertainment; Stardust is the logical extension of that.
Dreams can come true. They did for Dusty, they did for Dustin and they are for Cody. Dusty wouldn't want his career for Cody, he would want Cody to have his own career and make the best of every opportunity. Stardust may or may not be the greatest opportunity that will come Cody's way but it's all his and he's making it work. Maybe that's what matters most.
