Brandi Rhodes got about as close as anyone can get to a WWE in-ring comeback without it actually happening, and the reason she pulled back has nothing to do with wrestling itself.
A Two-Week Run at the Performance Center
On a new episode of her Shot of Brandi YouTube series, guest Carmelo Hayes brought up something he remembered clearly: seeing Rhodes training at the WWE Performance Center back in 2022. Rhodes confirmed it happened, and it went well. “I was having a really good time,” she said. “That was super fun. So I was wanting to come back fully, in the full swing.” She spent about two weeks there, working closely with Norman Smiley and Fit Finlay alongside a group of talent still on the roster today.
What Actually Stopped Her
It wasn’t an injury, a contract dispute, or a change of heart about wrestling. It was her daughter, Liberty. “Every time I stepped out of the ring, my daughter [was] crying, holding onto me,” Rhodes said. “It was very hard. And so I did not do the follow-up that I should have to really get in the ring. Because I felt like I didn’t think I could do it. And that’s the truth. I don’t think I can live on a bus with this kid needing me 24/7 when I’m hurt. Because like, they don’t reach for dad, they reach for mom.”
Her Last Real WWE Moment
Rhodes, formerly known as ring announcer Eden Stiles during an earlier WWE run, went on to wrestle for TNA/Impact, ROH, Stardom, and AEW, but she hasn’t had an official match since she and husband Cody Rhodes left AEW in 2022. Her most visible WWE moment since then came at WrestleMania 40, when she walked out as part of Cody’s entrance the night he finally won the Undisputed WWE Championship, a night Cody has said he’s glad she got to share with the fans.
What’s Next for the Rhodes Family
There’s still plenty going on for the family. A reality series called “All Rhodes” was reported to be in development back in April, following Brandi’s life at the center of family, fame, and a growing business empire, though no network is attached yet. She and Cody also welcomed their second daughter, Leilani, in 2025, joining older sister Liberty. For now, the in-ring return stays on the shelf, and Rhodes sounds completely at peace with why.
