In the electrifying world of professional wrestling, where legacies are forged in sweat-soaked rings and under roaring spotlights, few moments rival the unveiling of Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s annual Top 500 list. This year, as the leaves turn in late September, the honor of crowning the industry’s pinnacle once more falls to WWE’s undisputed king: Cody Rhodes. For the second consecutive year, the “American Nightmare” has clawed his way to the No. 1 spot, joining an elite pantheon that includes Bret Hart, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and John Cena as only the fourth wrestler to repeat the feat. It’s a testament not just to Rhodes’ in-ring dominance, but to his unyielding grip on the hearts of fans worldwide—a grip that’s turned him from a journeyman underdog into the face of the biggest wrestling empire on the planet.
Picture this: It’s August 1, 2024, the start of PWI’s evaluation window, and Rhodes is fresh off his crowning at WrestleMania 40, where he finally “finished the story” by dethroning Roman Reigns after years of heartbreak. Fast forward through a grueling 12 months ending July 31, 2025, and what unfolds is a highlight reel that reads like a wrestler’s dream diary. Rhodes didn’t just hold the Undisputed WWE Championship; he wielded it like Excalibur, defending it against a murderers’ row of challengers that included the ruthless Solo Sikoa in brutal Bloodline skirmishes and the ever-dangerous Kevin Owens in matches that left arenas breathless. But Rhodes’ year wasn’t confined to title defenses. He etched his name into history as the inaugural Men’s Crown Jewel Champion, toppling the imposing Gunther in a Riyadh showdown that blended raw power with surgical precision. And let’s not forget his triumphant run in the 2025 King of the Ring tournament at Night of Champions, where he outlasted Randy Orton in a semi-final epic that fans are still dissecting frame by frame—a match PWI lauded for its storytelling depth and sheer athletic poetry.
What sets Rhodes apart, though, isn’t just the gold around his waist; it’s the alchemy he performs in the ring and on the mic. PWI’s criteria—win-loss records, technical prowess, influence, competition quality, diversity of foes, and sheer activity—paint him as a five-tool phenom. During the period, he headlined WrestleMania 41 against a heel-turning John Cena, a bout that transcended wrestling to become a generational clash, complete with betrayal twists that had Twitter ablaze. Rhodes’ Cross Rhodes finisher has become synonymous with victory, landing with the finality of a guillotine, while his promos—raw, emotional soliloquies about legacy and redemption—elevate him beyond mere athlete to storyteller-in-chief. “He’s the QB1 of WWE,” one analyst quipped, and it’s hard to argue when his matches routinely pull five-star ratings from critics and casual fans alike.
This repeat summit isn’t happening in a vacuum. Rhodes’ ascent mirrors WWE’s creative renaissance under Triple H, where long-term arcs reward patience and peril. Yet, whispers from the indie trenches and AEW loyalists question if the list overlooks the chaos across the pond. Jon Moxley, Rhodes’ old Revolution comrade, snags No. 2 with his deathmatch grit and AEW World Title reign that embodied the promotion’s wild spirit. Gunther’s powerbomb precision earns him third, while Hangman Adam Page’s cowboy charisma and Hirooki Goto’s NJPW stoicism round out the top five, proving wrestling’s global pulse beats strong. Jey Uso’s YEET-fueled rise to sixth, Swerve Strickland’s AEW swagger at seventh, and Seth Rollins’ visionary eighth place highlight a top 10 that’s as diverse as it is debate-worthy—Místico’s lucha libre flair and Will Ospreay’s aerial wizardry sealing the deal. Social media erupted post-announcement, with fans crowning Rhodes “untouchable” while others championed Moxley’s “real wrestling” edge, turning the list into the annual forum for passionate pugilism.
For Rhodes, this accolade caps a year of personal triumphs too. Off the mat, he welcomed his second child, a bundle of joy amid the chaos, and stepped into Hollywood’s glare as Guile in the live-action Street Fighter adaptation—trading suplexes for shoryukens alongside Dwayne Johnson. Earlier accolades, like his Male Superstar of the Year Slammy sweep and PWI’s 2024 Wrestler of the Year nod, feel like mere preludes to this symphony. At 40, Rhodes embodies the grind: from pec injuries that sidelined him in AEW to building his own empire with the Nightmare Factory, he’s the everyman’s hero who rose by rewriting his script.
As the December PWI issue hits shelves on October 14, complete with the full 500 rankings, one thing’s clear: Cody Rhodes isn’t just at the top—he’s redefining it. In an industry of giants and dreamers, he’s the nightmare that keeps delivering wake-up calls. Fans, raise your Cross Rhodes—here’s to the American Nightmare, long may he reign. What a ride, Cody. You’ve earned every thunderous ovation
