Cody Rhodes Says Leaving WWE Helped Him Build The American Nightmare

TLDR

Cody Rhodes told ESPN that leaving WWE was crucial in helping him develop The American Nightmare character, as his experimentation on the independent scene, Ring of Honor, Bullet Club, and New Japan allowed him to build the presentation that eventually followed him back to WWE. Rhodes explained that his father Dusty was hands-off in teaching him the business, so he had to learn through trial and error, including developing his entrance music, robe, bleached blonde look, and complete identity outside of WWE. He credited his time away from the company as essential for becoming the fully formed star he is today, noting that he was still searching for the right presentation when he originally left WWE.