Cody Rhodes has made his preference clear when it comes to two very different looks from opposite ends of his entertainment career: he would take Guile’s signature flat top for a full year before he would agree to put on Stardust face paint for even one day.

Rhodes, who portrays Guile in Street Fighter, was asked to choose between living with the character’s distinctive hairstyle for 12 months or returning to the Stardust presentation for 14 days. His answer was immediate, and it underlined just how little interest he has in revisiting the cosmetic side of one of the most polarizing personas from his WWE past.

“I mean, I would rather always do the Guile haircut. I mean, a year is a long time, so you’re committing. I can’t see a world where I would want the Stardust face paint for one day. So I definitely would go with the Guile flat top.”

The choice is especially notable because neither option is subtle. Guile’s flat top has long been one of the most recognizable visual traits associated with the Street Fighter character. Stardust, meanwhile, was built around a far more theatrical WWE presentation, including dramatic face paint and an exaggerated cosmic-inspired character style.

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For Rhodes, however, the comparison was not particularly close. He acknowledged that maintaining Guile’s haircut for a year would represent a serious commitment, but he still viewed it as the preferable alternative. The possibility of wearing Stardust face paint again, even briefly, was apparently enough to eliminate the other side of the debate altogether.

Rhodes Is Playing Guile In Street Fighter

Street Fighter arrived in theaters on October 16, with Rhodes taking on the role of Guile. The movie also features Roman Reigns as Akuma, giving the project two major WWE names in prominent roles connected to one of gaming’s most recognizable fighting franchises.

The casting naturally places added attention on Rhodes’ visual transformation for Guile. A faithful version of the character’s appearance is difficult to separate from the famous flat top, making the haircut an obvious topic whenever Rhodes discusses the film. His response shows that he is willing to accept the unusual look as part of the role, even if the idea of keeping it for an entire year would be significant.

That willingness also illustrates the distinction Rhodes appears to make between a role connected to a current film project and a presentation that belongs to an earlier chapter of his wrestling career. Guile is a character he is portraying in a new setting. Stardust is a WWE identity that remains closely tied to a particular period in Rhodes’ professional development.

The Stardust Character Remains A Distinct Chapter In WWE History

Stardust was among the characters Rhodes portrayed during his earlier WWE run. The persona was immediately identifiable because of its elaborate face paint, metallic styling, and larger-than-life mannerisms. It was designed to stand apart visually from Rhodes’ previous presentation, and it did exactly that.

Years later, Stardust remains a frequent point of conversation whenever Rhodes is asked to reflect on his career path. The character was so different from the version of Rhodes seen in WWE today that it has become an easy shorthand for the dramatic changes he has experienced professionally.

Rhodes’ answer does not rewrite that history or diminish the fact that Stardust was part of his time in WWE. Instead, it offers a candid indication of where he stands on the prospect of personally returning to that look. There is a difference between recognizing a past character as part of a career and wanting to recreate every element of that character in the present. In this case, Rhodes made clear that the face paint is not something he is eager to revisit.

His wording was emphatic. He did not merely say that he preferred Guile’s haircut. He said he could not picture a scenario in which he would want to wear the Stardust face paint for one day. That is a definitive response to a hypothetical question that fans can easily understand, particularly because the visual contrast between the two characters is so stark.

A Lighthearted Question With A Clear Answer

The question itself offered Rhodes two deliberately extreme choices. Fourteen days in face paint would be a short-term inconvenience, while a year-long commitment to Guile’s flat top would carry a much longer public visibility. Rhodes still saw the haircut as the easier decision.

That response reflects how memorable both looks are. Face paint can be removed at the end of the day, but it also requires a performer to immediately step back into a very specific visual identity. A haircut lasts longer and would be seen everywhere Rhodes goes, but it does not necessarily carry the same personal association as a past wrestling persona.

There is also a practical element to Rhodes’ answer. He framed the year-long haircut as a true commitment, showing that he did not dismiss the challenge involved. Yet after considering that commitment, he still arrived at the same conclusion: Guile’s flat top would be the choice.

For fans who remember Stardust vividly, the exchange provides a concise answer to a question that may have lingered around the character for years. Rhodes can discuss the persona, and its image remains instantly recognizable, but he has no apparent desire to once again wear the face paint that defined it.

Rhodes Continues His WWE Run Following New Deal

The comments come during a period in which Rhodes remains firmly connected to WWE’s future. He recently signed a five-year contract extension with the company, securing his continued place with WWE while also taking part in a major theatrical release.

The extension is important context for a conversation about Stardust. Rhodes’ present WWE position and public identity are very different from the era associated with that character. His current work, combined with his role as Guile in Street Fighter, gives him projects that look forward rather than backward.

At the same time, Rhodes’ willingness to answer the question directly demonstrates that he is not avoiding discussion of his earlier work. He simply has a strong preference about one part of it. The Stardust name and presentation remain part of his WWE history, but the face paint is not something he wants back in his day-to-day life—not even for a single day.

For now, fans have a straightforward answer should the debate ever arise again. Cody Rhodes would rather commit to Guile’s flat top for a year than spend 24 hours under Stardust face paint. Given the certainty of his response, there appears to be very little room for negotiation.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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.