Cody Rhodes has announced the death of Pharaoh, the beloved Rhodes family dog whose appearances across WWE and AEW made him a familiar and warmly received figure among professional wrestling fans.
Pharaoh was far more than a pet to Cody, Brandi Rhodes, and their family. In a heartfelt remembrance, Cody described the husky as a constant presence through major changes in his life, an animal with a strong personality, protective instincts, and an especially meaningful bond with the family’s daughter, Liberty.
To fans, Pharaoh became an unusually recognizable part of the Rhodes presentation during pivotal years for Cody both inside and outside WWE. He appeared on wrestling television, participated in charitable meet-and-greets, received WWE merchandise, and even became part of the toy world through a Mattel figure. Cody also fondly recalled Pharaoh’s role as an “opponent of The Rock,” a reference to the dog’s memorable place within the wider world of WWE storytelling and promotion.
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A Constant Presence in the Rhodes Family
Cody opened his message by reflecting on the particular nature of huskies, writing, “Huskies need a job.” In Pharaoh’s case, that job seemed to evolve throughout his life.
For more background on this topic, read Rob Conway Pushes Back On Randy Orton’s OVW Handshake Story.
The stories Cody shared painted a vivid picture of an energetic and expressive dog. Pharaoh would howl at the moon, patrol the pool, and react to unfamiliar people entering the backyard by tearing up a plant as a warning that they should not get too close. Cody said Pharaoh received excellent training and retained much of it, though he jokingly described him as “a crisis dog” because Pharaoh was always present whenever something was wrong.
That presence was especially important during difficult personal moments. Cody recalled Pharaoh putting his nose underneath his arm while they were in the truck, something he said happened every time. He also remembered a period when his world had been “turned upside down,” with Pharaoh sitting beside him outside under the Texas stars until the sky began to change. Pharaoh then pressed his head firmly against Cody, offering the kind of silent comfort that can mean everything to someone experiencing hardship.
“It goes without saying, he was a good boy. My best man.”
Those words captured the depth of the bond Cody felt with Pharaoh. The Rhodes family has long presented a close-knit image to wrestling audiences, and Pharaoh became part of that identity in an organic way. He was not merely used as a mascot or a fleeting television attraction. He was visible because he was a central part of Cody and Brandi’s everyday life.
Pharaoh’s Connection With Wrestling Fans
Pharaoh’s popularity was evident well before Cody’s return to WWE and his rise to the top of the company. Cody looked back on the first All In weekend and the inaugural Starrcast convention in Schaumburg, Illinois, recalling an unforgettable moment in the Hyatt lobby.
When Cody and Pharaoh arrived, the hotel was filled from front to back with wrestling fans and wrestling shirts. One especially memorable detail was a menu at the lobby bar featuring “Pharaoh’s fries.” Yet what stayed with Cody most was the reaction of the people in the building. As Pharaoh walked through the lobby, fans moved aside for him, took selfies, and chanted his name as though he were making a wrestling entrance.
It was a fitting moment for an animal who became entwined with one of the most important eras in modern wrestling. All In represented a landmark gathering for fans and wrestlers, while Starrcast became a major destination for the wrestling community. Pharaoh’s reception in that setting demonstrated how quickly audiences had embraced him as part of the extended Rhodes family.
His appeal was not limited to convention appearances or social media. Pharaoh made appearances on both WWE and AEW programming during his life, placing him in the rare company of animals who became recognizable to fans across major promotions. His look, personality, and association with Cody helped make him immediately identifiable.
Cody noted that Pharaoh took part in multiple charity meet-and-greets benefiting shelters around the country. He also described Pharaoh as a “Chewy champion,” a nod to the dog’s profile beyond wrestling alone. For fans who encountered Pharaoh at public events, those appearances represented an opportunity to meet a much-loved member of the Rhodes household while supporting worthy causes.
“The Siberian Nightmare”
Over time, Pharaoh gained an affectionate wrestling-style nickname: “The Siberian Nightmare.” The name playfully connected him to Cody’s own identity while recognizing the striking appearance and spirited demeanor associated with a husky.
Cody also shared a lighter memory involving Yeti, another dog in the family. He said he knew Pharaoh was a “true alpha” because he would simply allow Yeti to bite his face. The recollection was one of several that balanced the sadness of the announcement with warmth, humor, and gratitude for the life Pharaoh lived.
For a dog who began as what Cody described as a “little wolf pup,” Pharaoh’s connection to wrestling developed into something fans could recognize and celebrate. He had merchandise. He had a Mattel figure. He was seen at fan gatherings and on television. He was greeted by chants. But Cody’s message made clear that the milestones and novelty items were secondary to Pharaoh’s importance at home.
“He was part of the Rhodes’ wrestling family,” Cody wrote. That distinction mattered. Wrestling fans knew Pharaoh because of the Rhodes name and the visibility that came with Cody’s career, but the dog’s true place was within the family itself.
Finding His Most Important Job
The most moving section of Cody’s tribute centered on Pharaoh’s relationship with Liberty. Cody returned to his initial thought that huskies need a job and said he did not believe Pharaoh ever fully knew what his was until Liberty was born.
Looking back at old photographs, Cody found Pharaoh in nearly every early image with Liberty. Sometimes he was peeking into the frame. Other times he was right beside her. In other pictures, he appeared to be sternly looking directly through the lens. Whatever the setting, Pharaoh was close.
Cody’s conclusion was simple and powerful: Pharaoh’s job was to be with Liberty. He suggested that Pharaoh may have wanted to protect her, and the photographs appeared to support that sense of watchfulness and companionship.
That detail brought the tribute back to its central theme. Pharaoh was a public figure in a unique, wrestling-adjacent way, but his greatest role was personal. He was a companion through unstable moments. He was a source of comfort. He was a protective figure around a young child. And he was, as Cody wrote, always with the family.
Cody referenced the familiar phrasing of a watch ending, a fitting thought for a husky chosen after a late-night viewing of Game of Thrones. However, he chose to focus on the final words he said to Pharaoh before the dog went to sleep for the last time.
“You did your job. We love you.”
A Lasting Place in the Rhodes Legacy
Pharaoh’s passing is a deeply personal loss for the Rhodes family, but the response from wrestling fans is likely to reflect just how many people came to feel connected to him over the years. His involvement in wrestling was never conventional, yet that was part of why it resonated. Pharaoh brought a little bit of home life into an industry often defined by spectacle, travel, and competition.
He was there during moments that mattered to Cody’s career and to the formation of a new wrestling landscape. He was part of fan events and charity work. He appeared in WWE and AEW. He became merchandise and a figure. Still, the memories Cody chose to share were largely quiet ones: a nose beneath an arm in a truck, a head pressed against him beneath the Texas sky, and a husky standing close to Liberty in photo after photo.
Those are the memories that define Pharaoh’s legacy for the people who loved him most. For the Rhodes family, “The Siberian Nightmare” was a wrestling personality only in the most playful sense. He was their dog, their companion, their protector, and Cody’s best man.
Pharaoh will be remembered by the wrestling community as one of the most beloved animals ever associated with the business, but Cody’s tribute made the most important point clear: he was a very good boy who found his purpose in being there for his family.
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.