Add as a preferred source on Google Cody Rhodes once again highlighted WWE’s current run, saying pro wrestling is in a rare period of sustained growth.
During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, the Undisputed WWE Champion said the industry has always been defined by highs and lows, pointing to the Attitude Era and the golden era of the 1980s as periods that were shorter than many fans tend to remember. According to Rhodes, WWE has been on the rise for “four or five years.”
The most notable part, however, was his direct praise for WWE President Nick Khan.
“A lot of that has to do with Nick Khan coming to WWE. A super genius. And that’s kind of a wrestling term — super genius.”
Rhodes also pointed to the company’s roster as a key part of this current run, mentioning Seth Rollins and saying that as long as the roster stays healthy, happy, and performing at a high level, WWE’s growth should continue.
The comment comes during a stretch of major business deals for WWE. Starting in 2026, the company’s Premium Live Events, including WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, SummerSlam, and Survivor Series, will have ESPN as their exclusive home in the United States. In the official announcement, Khan called the deal a “pivotal moment” for the company.
Monday Night RAW had already made its move to Netflix in January 2025 as part of a historic 10-year agreement valued at more than $5 billion.
The numbers also help explain Rhodes’ comments. In 2025, TKO reported that WWE generated $1.709 billion in revenue, up from $1.398 billion the previous year. The division’s adjusted EBITDA also rose to $896.5 million.
In other words, inside and outside the ring, WWE remains in its strongest financial position in many years, with Rhodes treating Khan as one of the central figures behind that turnaround.