Cody Rhodes Says House Shows Rival WrestleMania for Him During WWE’s European Tour

Cody Rhodes has a well-known reputation as one of the hardest-working performers on the WWE roster, and he made clear this week that his enthusiasm extends well beyond the pay-per-view spotlight. Appearing via video on The Ariel Helwani Show while participating in a house show during WWE’s June 2026 European tour, Rhodes said he enjoys live events almost as much as headlining WrestleMania.

The sentiment is notable coming from someone who has main evented two consecutive WrestleManias and captured the Undisputed WWE Championship. For Rhodes to place house shows in that company speaks to a genuine love of in-ring performance that goes beyond the cameras and the high-stakes broadcasts. House shows, which are untelevised live events held primarily for local markets, rarely generate the headlines of a premium live event, yet they remain a consistent part of the WWE schedule and an important touchpoint between talent and fans.

WWE has been running its European tour through June 2026, and Rhodes took the time amid that run to connect publicly with fans through the Helwani interview, using the setting of a house show itself as the backdrop — a choice that reinforced the point he was making.

Rhodes has long been vocal about his passion for the craft and for connecting with live audiences wherever they are. His comments here add another chapter to that ongoing narrative, and serve as a reminder that for some performers, the love of professional wrestling isn’t measured solely in WrestleMania moments.