Cody Rhodes made a triumphant return from his torn pectoral muscle injury to win the 2023 Men’s Royal Rumble match. ‘The American Nightmare’ entered at number 30 and eliminated Logan Paul and the number one entrant in the match, GUNTHER, to punch his ticket to the main event of WrestleMania Hollywood. This takes him one step closer to realizing his dream of bringing the WWE Championship to the Rhodes family.

Even though WWE advertised his appearance in the Royal Rumble match weeks ago, the former Intercontinental Champion revealed there was still some doubt as to whether or not he will be cleared on time for the match. Rhodes has been under rehabilitation and training since his surgery. As such, WWE wanted to be fully confident about his fitness ahead of his big comeback.

Cody Rhodes says WWE cleared him on the day of the Royal Rumble

As Cody Rhodes pointed to the iconic WrestleMania sign in the Almodome, fans basked in the feel-good moment. Rhodes had come ‘home’ after his AEW run and beat Seth Rollins at WrestleMania last year in his second debut with the WWE. He then cut a passionate promo on RAW about how his legendary late father Dusty Rhodes never won the WWE Championship and he made a promise to win it for his father, family, and the fans. However, his pectoral muscle injury delayed his quest for glory, and remained out of action since June last year.

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But now the ‘American Nightmare’ is on the road to fulfill his American Dream at WrestleMania. His Royal Rumble win will long be talked about. But his incredible redemption arc almost didn’t happen. There were doubts over his Rumble appearance despite WWE announcing it beforehand.

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Speaking to Ariel Helwani of BT Sport, Rhodes said he had been training at the Performance Center with NXT talents Carmello Hayes and Joe Gacy. Rhodes praised the two stars, saying their rough approach helped him to get partially cleared. He then said he didn’t get fully cleared until the day of the Royal Rumble itself.

Rhodes stated, “I didn’t really get fully cleared until today. So everything looked good, everything great. They still had to get in there and grab it and feel on it. And that’s a wild situation when you have been announced for the Royal Rumble. ” The 2023 Royal Rumble winner said although it was formality it left him worried. He continued, “I think it was more a formality than anything. But still had me shaking. And I’m glad. WWE has been very good to me medically.”

For Cody Rhodes and his fans, it was a surreal moment when he walked out in the Royal Rumble match and eventually won the whole thing. His story now takes him to the ‘Showcase of Immortals’, where he would look to keep his promise to his late father.

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