Cody Rhodes Tears Up & Cries While Talking About His Late Father Dusty Rhodes After Winning WWE Championship At WrestleMania 40

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Cody Rhodes did something his father, the legend Dusty Rhodes, was never able to do: win the WWE championship.

On Sunday night, Rhodes “finished the story” and became the WWE Universal Heavyweight Champion by defeating Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40.

During the WrestleMania 40 postmatch press conference, Rhodes teared up and cried while talking about why his story resonated with fans.

“You know why it resonates… because it’s real. I wanted to be this because at first he wasn’t and I know he should have been and then when he passed away, I failed. I didn’t hand it to him. The story was beyond me at that point and I still felt the need to finish it.”

Rhodes was then asked about his message to his late father would be after winning the WWE championship.

“I think I’d want to say to him that I hoped I lived up to your name, and thank you for that name…and then I would say sorry for the tattoo.”