Cody Rhodes is proud to be part of a ‘renaissance’ in professional wrestling which he believes has not only met but has surpassed the much-acclaimed Attitude Era.
While the Attitude Era is often heralded as the greatest period of wrestling, it’s hard to ignore how well WWE and other promotions have done as of late. In a recent interview with FOX News Digital, Rhodes compared the product of today to that fans consumed in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
“I’ve heard it coined as the Renaissance Era, and I really like that outlook on it. For me, as a wrestler, I’m most excited that we no longer have to stand in the shadow of the Attitude Era because of the last two years we’ve done better business than they ever did — and they did exceptional, unbelievable, amazing business. I’m only making comparisons on a black and white level, dollars and cents, in terms of what WWE’s been able to do over the last two years.“
WWE’s Renaissance
It could be argued that WWE’s renaissance began at WrestleMania 38, the night Cody Rhodes returned to the promotion. Since then, the promotion has seen significant changes, with Triple H being granted greater creative sway behind the scenes.
With Vince McMahon out of the picture (seemingly for good,) the Game has been allowed to try things that would’ve never made it to TV under his father-in-law. This has ranged from more long-term storytelling to giving opportunities on unlikely talent like Chad Gable and Ivar. WWE’s new era has even allowed for talent to work outside the promotion, with Shinsuke Nakamura competing for Pro Wrestling NOAH in 2023 and Charlie Dempsey wrestling for All Japan earlier this year.