Cody Rhodes’ new podcast, What Do You Wanna Talk About, just dropped a massive episode featuring none other than actor Timothée Chalamet. While Tim was there to promote his upcoming A24 film Marty Supreme (releasing Christmas Day), the conversation quickly revealed that Chalamet isn’t just a casual viewer—he is a legitimate, die-hard wrestling fan who grew up in the thick of it.

The interview, filmed in a secret “Kayfabe space” provided by Fanatics, started with a rare moment of vulnerability from the “American Nightmare.” Cody Rhodes admitted he was actually nervous to introduce the Hollywood star, prompting Chalamet to share a touching parallel about his own father meeting Johnny Cash on the set of Gunsmoke. Just as his father sensed the magnitude of meeting the “Man in Black,” Chalamet seemed genuinely humbled to be in the presence of the Undisputed WWE Champion, immediately establishing a bond of mutual respect that set the tone for the rest of the show.

Timothée Chalamet Was Born in the Wrestling Business

Chalamet, a New York native, explained that his fandom was practically inevitable given his location. He grew up near Times Square, frequenting the old WWF store and treating wrestling as a central part of his cultural upbringing. When discussing the legitimacy of wrestling as an art form, Tim made a great point: “I don’t think in 2025 wrestling is downstream from pop culture. I think it is pop culture.”

Timothée’s ECW Connection

Perhaps the most surprising reveal was Chalamet’s deep love for ECW. When discussing his favorite wrestling memories, he didn’t point to the Attitude Era’s biggest stadium shows, but rather a gritty night at the Hammerstein Ballroom.

Tim detailed exactly why that specific event stuck with him: “That’s my favorite pay-per-view ever is ECW One Night Stand in New York at the Hammerstein Ballroom. That was Sabu, Rey Mysterio, and John Cena. And that’s an RVD push got canceled there for a weed violation or something. This is the classic John Cena throws the shirt, the shirt comes back. But that crowd was electric. And JBL talking [trash] from the stands. That is like a masterpiece.”

The “Art” of Jeff Hardy and Paul Heyman

Tim didn’t just stick to the main events; he showed a nuanced appreciation for the performers who brought a unique artistic flair to the ring. He spoke passionately about Jeff Hardy, comparing his fearless style and enigmatic presence to a legendary Hollywood actor.

“I love Jeff Hardy… doing the Swanton Bomb,” Chalamet said. “That was… talk about acting… He is sort of like the Heath Ledger of wrestling… strange… brilliant artist weird… I feel like they didn’t realize how big he was at the time.”

He also heaped praise on Paul Heyman, specifically highlighting the raw authenticity Heyman brings to his promos, which resonates with Chalamet as an actor: “I love Paul Heyman dude. I like that he’s on all the broadcasts. I think he brings such a level of authenticity… what he’s saying is from the gut. Obviously he’s been hired by WWE on that occasion… but his animosity is so real for the corporate big dogs.”

The Hammerstein Dream & The Reality

Chalamet’s love for the Hammerstein Ballroom runs so deep that he actually tried to host the premiere for Marty Supreme there. However, he ran into the harsh reality of the venue’s logistics after a call with Triple H.

“I want to go see a show at Hammerstein man,” Tim admitted. “I told Triple H on the phone. He said it’s basically impossible to make money there. He said there’s one elevator you have to load everything in and out of.”

Cody Rhodes validated Triple H‘s assessment, offering a wrestler’s perspective on why the venue, despite its charm for fans, is a nightmare for talent.

“It’s the worst back of house ever,” Cody explained. “God bless Manhattan Center Hammerstein, it’s open windows, freezing, there’s no room for anything. But there’s a hidden little gem to Hammerstein wrestling… at the end of the night you can walk out front… and the fans are right there.”

[shopify type=”product” id=”8938143776992″ blogid=”1236″]

The Pursuit of Greatness

Before wrapping up, Chalamet drew a compelling line between the worlds of high-level acting and main-event wrestling. He noted that despite the different mediums, both are driven by an “individual pursuit of greatness.” He sees Marty Supreme not just as an art film, but as fitting right alongside pro wrestling in the “popcorn crunch” entertainment category—accessible and exciting, but grounded in character. Chalamet believes the ambition to be the best serves as the universal language connecting Cody Rhodes‘ journey to that of a ping pong player chasing a title.

About Marty Supreme

The film that brought Chalamet to the podcast, Marty Supreme, is an A24 production set in 1950s New York City. Loosely inspired by the life of table tennis legend Marty Reisman, the movie follows Marty Mauser (Chalamet), a “degenerate kid” and hustler who battles his way through the gritty world of professional ping pong in pursuit of athletic greatness.

Marty Supreme hits theaters on December 25th. Listen to the full conversation below.

[carbongallery id=”685ad7675bfce006ca97a564″]