"I am going to do it for 'The American Dream' Dusty Rhodes"

Cody Rhodes: "So... What do you guys want to talk about...? [the crowd cheers]

It has been 47 days since the abrupt news that I was a free agent. Amongst that I chose to remain silent, and I heard stories, defamatory whispers, theories that surmise to be nonsense. Everyone thinks the decision to return to WWE was difficult... It was not. [cheering from the crowd]

It was simple, really. The star that left them in the dust. The man standing here now having signed a multi-year agreement with World Wrestling Entertainment. And if there was, if there was... [a loud chant of 'You deserve it!' breaks out causing Cody to pause']

If there was a glimmer of doubt, a shred of trepidation, the moment I rose up in front of seventy something thousand fans, the moment I made the walk at a WrestleMania and defeated one of the best superstar wrestlers in any era; that being Seth Rollins, that doubt was eradicated.[cheering and applause from the fans]

I'm an avid reader and I stumbled across this quote. It said 'A man often finds his destiny on the path he takes to avoid it.' [see Note 1]

So if you'll humor me, let's all take a look at the Tron, if you will. [Cody points towards the 'Titantron' (the large screen video display over the entrance ramp). The image shown on it prompts heavy applause from the crowd and a chant of 'Dusty'] Right there is my father 'The American Dream' Dusty Rhodes, It's so... It's so simple to say that's my father. But in reality... Yeah, he's a legend. Yeah, he's the son of a plumber. He's a common man. He's all those things to me. He was my hero. [Cody's voice cracks with emotion. More chants of 'Dusty' from the crowd]

This photo was taken in 1977, Madison Square Garden. That very photo right there he is holding the championship belt that eventually Hulk Hogan would get his hands on [booing], the Undertaker would get his hands on [cheers], the 'Heartbreak Kid' Shawn Michaels on [cheers].... Oh and uh... Triple H too... And many other greats. So I'm going to tell you a quick story which made this all very simple to me. This photo... This very photo was on the mantel in my parent's bedroom until my dad's last day And as I... As I got hip to the industry, I worked up a little courage. And I remember I asked, and then I worded it very poorly. I said 'I didn't know that you were a champion like Hulk Hogan....'

[Cody is becoming visibly emotional and struggling slightly with his words] And he looked at me with the same eyes that Liberty has [see Note 2] and he said, very stern and very patiently, he explained to me the champion's advantage. He said that he had won the match, but because it was by countout, he did not take home the championship belt. [see Note 3]

So I'm eight years old. What's a boy to do? Right then and there at eight years old, I knew not what I wanted to do, what I needed to do. I was going to win this championship belt. Right here! [Cody points to the belt that Dusty is holding aloft on the 'Titantron']

I was going to place it, I was going to bestow it into the hands of 'The American Dream' Dusty Rhodes. And I would tell him 'Nobody can take it away from you now!'

And there are many here tonight who have followed my journey. But for those who are new to it... Unfortunately, that dream died...[see Note 4] It died right in front of me.... That opportunity passed... That opportunity passed.. Or did it? Yes. I cannot physically put that title belt into my father's hands. I cannot bestow upon 'The American Dream' Dusty Rhodes, but I certainly can put it around the waist of 'The American Nightmare.' [cheering from the crowd which evolves into a chant of 'You can do it!' that brings a huge smile to Cody's face]

With that in mind, the silence is broken, my intentions are clear. I've made them clear to all of you here. I stand before you ready. Finally ready. And I'm going to do it. I'm going to give the distinction that my family has long since been denied. And I'm going to do it for you. I'm going to do it for me. I'm going to do it for my family. And I am going to do it for 'The American Dream' Dusty Rhodes."

- Note 1: This is a variation of a quote attributed to the first volume of French poet Jean de La Fontaine's collection 'Fables' published in 1668, however the phrase is perhaps better known in more recent times for being featured in the 2008 animated film 'Kung-Fu Panda'.

- Note 2: Liberty Iris Runnels is Cody and Brandi Rhodes daughter, born 18th June 2021. Thanks to inmate CrewsWrestling for submitting this note.

- Note 3: As shown in the graphic on-screen, the match in question took place at Madison Square Garden on 26th September 1977 in what was then known as the WWWF. Dusty Rhodes beat Billy Graham by count out after 15:55. As Rhodes Sr explained, the title could not change hands on a count out. While he competed for it several times more, ultimately 'The American Dream' never captured the title which, 45 years later, has evolved into the WWE Championship.

- Note 4: Dusty Rhodes had passed away almost seven years prior to this, on June 11 2015 at the age of 69. His cause of death was listed as kidney failure as a result of kidney disease.