Cody Rhodes Addresses Homelander Comparisons and Gear Inspiration

One big thing: WWE Champion Cody Rhodes clarifies his gear’s inspiration

Cody Rhodes, the current Undisputed WWE Champion, has addressed longstanding comparisons between his ring gear and the character Homelander from “The Boys” during a recent appearance on “Insight with Chris Van Vliet.”

Key points:

• Rhodes denies his American Nightmare robe is based on Homelander’s costume.
• He attributes the design to military dress uniforms.
• The wrestler acknowledges the comparisons but distances himself from the villainous character.

Why it matters:

The clarification comes amidst ongoing speculation about Rhodes’ character direction and potential heel turn in WWE.

By the numbers:

• Rhodes has been compared to Homelander for years.
• “The Boys” has run for 3 seasons on Amazon Prime.

What they’re saying:

“With all the love I have for ‘The Boys,’ and [Antony Starr’s] performance as Homelander — the entire cast — and their production is first class, … the robe is not based on it,” Rhodes said.

The big picture:

Rhodes’ comments highlight the complex relationship between wrestling characters and pop culture references. While some wrestlers lean into comparisons, others, like Rhodes, prefer to maintain their unique identities.

What’s next:

Rhodes addressed the potential for a heel turn, noting that WWE must carefully gauge whether it’s a vocal minority or the broader audience calling for such a change.

What do you think about Cody Rhodes’ explanation of his gear inspiration? Do you see similarities with Homelander, or do you think the comparisons are overblown? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.