GOOD THINGS OFTEN COME in pairs. And, in 2025, this has certainly been the case for “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes. On August 3, the grandson of a plumber defeated John Cena to become a two-time Undisputed WWE champion. Later that month, he and his wife, Brandi, surprised fans with the joyous arrival of their second daughter, Leilani Ella Runnels. Now, WWE’s top dog has topped the “PWI 500” ranking for a second consecutive year.
This latest milestone comes after a breathtaking run for Rhodes, whose first reign with the WWE championship lasted 378 days (and included defenses against Kevin Owens, Solo Sikoa, Carmelo Hayes, and Jacob Fatu). The 19-year veteran defeated Gunther in a champion-vs.-champion bout at Crown Jewel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he would later best Randy…
