Brandi Rhodes seriously considered a return to WWE competition after Cody Rhodes made his high-profile move back to the company, but she ultimately decided that a full-time in-ring schedule was not right for her family at that time.
Speaking with Carmelo Hayes on Shot of Brandi, Rhodes confirmed that she had trained at the WWE Performance Center with the intention of exploring a more complete return to wrestling. Hayes brought up having seen her at the facility, prompting Rhodes to explain what had been happening behind the scenes.
“‘What’s Brandi doing here?’ Hey! I was having a good time,” Rhodes said on Shot of Brandi. “I was wanting to come back fully, and in full swing, because I had Liberty and I felt like I was ready to be back and wrestling full-time.”
Her comments provide clear context to a question that had followed her since Cody Rhodes returned to WWE. Brandi had been part of WWE in multiple capacities earlier in her career, first appearing as an announcer before expanding her presence as an on-screen personality, manager, and wrestler. With Cody becoming one of WWE’s central stars after his return, there had naturally been interest in whether Brandi might eventually resume a regular role in the company as well.
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Rather than merely discussing the prospect, Rhodes said she took concrete steps toward it. She trained at the Performance Center for approximately two weeks and worked with respected WWE coaches Norman Smiley and Fit Finlay. Rhodes described the experience positively and made clear that the training itself was not the issue.
“I went to the PC, trained for about two weeks,” Rhodes said on Shot of Brandi. “I had a great time. I really enjoyed working with Norman Smiley and Fit Finlay.”
Smiley and Finlay are both deeply experienced figures in developmental wrestling. Their involvement underscores that Rhodes’ visit was more than a casual stop at the facility. She was putting herself through the process necessary to assess a legitimate return to an active WWE in-ring role.
However, the demands of that path quickly brought the personal side of the decision into focus. Rhodes explained that being separated from her daughter, Liberty, made it difficult to continue pursuing the follow-up training and preparation needed to get back into ring shape for a sustained return.
“Every time I stepped out of the ring, my daughter [would run to me], crying, holding on to me; it was very hard,” Rhodes said on Shot of Brandi. “And so I did not do the follow-up that I should have to really get into the ring, because I felt like I couldn’t do it.”
Rhodes did not frame the decision as a lack of interest in wrestling or a negative experience at WWE. On the contrary, she said she wanted to return “fully” and was enjoying her time training. The obstacle was the reality of committing to the travel, conditioning, and extended time away from home that a full-time wrestling comeback would require.
That distinction is important. Rhodes was not simply asked whether she might wrestle again and offering a vague response. She revealed that she had reached the point of beginning training at the Performance Center, only to decide that her responsibilities as a mother made a deeper commitment untenable. Her comments indicate that the decision was personal rather than connected to a reported creative dispute, injury, or issue with WWE.
A Career Across Several Wrestling Roles
Brandi Rhodes has occupied a variety of roles during her time in major professional wrestling companies. Her initial WWE run introduced her to a national audience through announcing, and she later developed further as an on-screen performer. Following the departure of Cody and Brandi Rhodes from WWE, she became increasingly visible in wrestling-related projects alongside her husband.
When AEW launched, Brandi Rhodes took on multiple responsibilities, including executive and on-screen duties, while also competing periodically. She wrestled 20 matches for AEW before she and Cody Rhodes left the company in 2022. Her AEW presentation included matches, character-driven segments, and managerial work, reflecting the versatility that has defined much of her wrestling career.
That background helps explain why a WWE return would have generated substantial curiosity. Brandi has experience working live television, speaking segments, managing, and wrestling. A return would not necessarily have needed to fit just one traditional category. Still, Rhodes’ remarks centered specifically on the possibility of getting back into the ring full-time, and it was that commitment she decided against pursuing.
The timeline also highlights how much planning goes into any return to active competition. For wrestlers who have spent time away from regular in-ring action, training is not only about taking bumps or rehearsing moves. It involves rebuilding timing, physical conditioning, ring awareness, and confidence while preparing for the intensity of a regular television and live-event environment. Rhodes’ two weeks at the Performance Center gave her an opportunity to begin that evaluation firsthand.
In the end, it also clarified what she was not prepared to sacrifice. Rhodes spoke candidly about the emotional impact of leaving Liberty after training sessions. While professional wrestling often celebrates the determination required to return from an absence, Rhodes’ account puts equal emphasis on the difficult family decisions that can accompany such an opportunity.
No Indication of an Imminent In-Ring Return
Rhodes’ explanation should not be read as confirmation that she is preparing for a WWE match now. Her comments instead detail a previous attempt to explore a comeback, followed by a decision not to continue the training needed for full-time competition. She did not announce a future match, a WWE contract, a new on-screen role, or a timetable for another try.
At the same time, she did not dismiss wrestling altogether. Rhodes spoke warmly about her training experience and the coaches she worked with, which suggests she valued the opportunity. But enjoying the environment and electing to take on a full-time schedule are very different matters, especially for someone balancing a young family with the demands attached to wrestling at WWE’s highest level.
For WWE fans, the revelation answers why Brandi Rhodes may have been spotted at the Performance Center and why there had been occasional speculation about her potential involvement after Cody Rhodes’ return. There was a genuine effort to see whether a return could work. Rhodes was open to the idea, trained for it, and initially hoped to resume wrestling on a full-time basis. Ultimately, though, she made the decision to prioritize being present with her daughter.
Her story is also a reminder that a wrestling comeback is rarely as simple as an appearance or an announcement. The public often sees only the finished product: a surprise entrance, a match graphic, or a new role on television. Rhodes’ comments reveal the less visible process behind that possibility, including training, family discussions, and the emotional calculation that comes with time away from home.
For now, Brandi Rhodes has made her position clear: she did pursue a possible WWE in-ring return, but she chose not to follow through with the full-time commitment required. The door to wrestling is not explicitly declared closed in her comments, yet there is no indication that an immediate return is planned. What is confirmed is that she gave the opportunity serious consideration, enjoyed her brief time back in a WWE training ring, and ultimately decided that her family needed to come first.
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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.