Cody Rhodes appears to have made a major impression on his Street Fighter co-stars both in front of the camera and away from the set.
During an appearance on Not Sam Roberts, rapper and actor 50 Cent, who plays Balrog in the film, spoke about an outing organized by Rhodes for members of the cast. Rhodes, set to portray Guile, took the group out on a yacht, and 50 Cent made clear that the gesture stood out even to someone with his level of celebrity and experience.
“Cody took us all out on a yacht. It was so nice that I was looking at the people that I came with and was like, ‘Why the fuck didn’t you think about that for me, bro?’” 50 Cent said. “I was like, ‘How the fuck does he make me look like I’m not 50 Cent? What the fuck are you doing?’”
The comments offer a lighthearted but notable look at Rhodes’ role within a cast that brings together performers from pro wrestling, music, film, and television. A yacht outing is not the sort of small, routine cast activity that fades into the background, and 50 Cent’s reaction suggests Rhodes’ generosity became one of the memorable off-screen stories from the production.
For more background on this topic, read Royce Keys Embraces Leadership Role as 946 Expands Its Reach on WWE Raw.
Rhodes has long presented himself as someone who values the larger experience around major projects, not simply his own individual role. That mindset has been a visible part of his WWE career, particularly since his return to the company and rise to the top of its roster. His work on Street Fighter gives him another high-profile setting in which to represent WWE, but it has also put him alongside performers whose careers come from very different corners of entertainment.
Noah Centineo Highlights Rhodes’ Performance
50 Cent was not the only cast member to speak enthusiastically about Rhodes. Noah Centineo, who plays Ken in Street Fighter, also praised the Undisputed WWE Champion’s work as Guile and specifically pointed to Rhodes’ comedic instincts during filming.
“Cody’s performance as Guile is incredible. He’s so funny,” Centineo said. “He came up with lines off the cuff every day. All of his hilarious moments are pretty much from his brain. He improvised so much.”
That assessment is especially interesting given the nature of Guile as a character. Guile is among the most recognizable figures in the long-running Street Fighter franchise, traditionally known as a military man whose visual presentation, fighting style, and sense of justice have made him a staple of the games. The role naturally carries fan expectations, and Rhodes stepping into it puts one of WWE’s most recognizable modern stars in charge of bringing that character to a new medium.
Centineo’s comments indicate that Rhodes did more than simply execute his assigned scenes. The description of regular improvisation suggests Rhodes contributed his own ideas in shaping some of Guile’s lighter moments. It also points to an aspect of Rhodes’ on-screen skill set that WWE audiences have seen in a different form for years: the ability to deliver a line with personality, adjust to the moment, and make a character feel distinct.
Professional wrestling demands a combination of physical performance, timing, character work, and verbal confidence. Those traits do not automatically translate to acting, but they can provide a useful foundation. Rhodes has had extensive experience speaking live before large audiences and performing within fast-moving television environments. Centineo’s remarks suggest that confidence was apparent on a film set as well.
A WWE Presence Within the Street Fighter Cast
Rhodes is not the only wrestling name attached to Street Fighter. Roman Reigns, another of WWE’s biggest stars, is also part of the film. The project additionally includes former IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hirooki Goto, creating a cast connection that reaches beyond WWE and into New Japan Pro-Wrestling history.
That mix gives the movie an unusually strong pro wrestling footprint. Rhodes and Reigns have been defining figures in WWE’s main-event scene, including through their major rivalry on WWE programming. Goto, meanwhile, has spent years as an established and respected name in Japan, with a career that includes winning the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Their involvement places several prominent wrestling personalities in a project built around one of gaming’s most familiar fighting properties.
For Rhodes, the Guile role arrives at a point when he remains central to WWE’s identity. He is recognized not only as a top champion but also as a key public-facing representative of the company. His crossover work therefore carries added visibility, especially when it draws praise from fellow cast members before audiences have had the chance to see the finished performance.
Centineo’s emphasis on Rhodes’ humor may also give fans a hint of what to expect from his version of Guile. While the character’s core identity is well known, adaptations often provide room for performers to bring their own rhythm and personality to familiar material. Rhodes’ ability to improvise, as described by Centineo, could help distinguish his portrayal while still fitting into the broader ensemble.
Why the Cast Reaction Matters
There is an obvious promotional value in hearing co-stars praise one another, but the specific details shared by 50 Cent and Centineo go beyond a generic compliment. Centineo spoke about Rhodes’ creative contributions on set, including improvised lines. 50 Cent recalled a social event Rhodes arranged and framed it as something impressive enough to make him jokingly question why his own friends had not offered a similar experience.
Those are two different forms of praise. One centers on Rhodes as a performer who arrived prepared to add to scenes and find comedic moments. The other centers on Rhodes as a colleague who made an effort to bring people together outside of work. Taken together, the stories paint a positive picture of his place within the production.
Rhodes has repeatedly operated in environments where relationship-building is essential. Wrestling is inherently collaborative, requiring performers to establish trust with opponents, producers, creative teams, and the wider locker room. A large film production brings a different set of demands, but the importance of communication and rapport remains. The yacht story, while shared in a humorous tone, suggests Rhodes was eager to help create a sense of connection among the ensemble.
It is also a reminder that crossover projects can be meaningful for wrestlers beyond the final screen product. Appearances in films introduce WWE talent to new creative partners and audiences, while allowing them to demonstrate skills that may not always be foregrounded in the ring. Rhodes’ work as Guile will ultimately be judged by viewers when they see the movie, but the early response from his castmates has been enthusiastic.
Rhodes Continues to Expand His Profile
The Street Fighter role represents another significant opportunity for Rhodes to expand his profile outside WWE without stepping away from his status as one of the promotion’s leading names. Playing Guile ties him to a character recognized across generations of fighting-game fans, while working alongside Centineo, 50 Cent, Reigns, and Goto gives the project a wide range of star power.
For now, the clearest takeaway from the cast’s comments is that Rhodes was well received during production. Centineo believes his Guile performance is “incredible” and credits him with bringing improvised humor to the role. 50 Cent, meanwhile, has a lasting memory of Rhodes raising the bar for cast hospitality with a yacht trip.
WWE fans will have to wait to see Rhodes’ complete performance as Guile, but the stories coming from his colleagues provide an encouraging early indication. Whether he was finding a new line on set or making sure the cast had an unforgettable day away from it, Rhodes appears to have approached Street Fighter with the same larger-than-life energy that has helped make him one of professional wrestling’s most prominent figures.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.