How Many Kids Does Cody Rhodes Have? (2026)

By Sarah Mitchell · August 26, 2025

Why This Question Matters More Than You Think

How many kids does Cody Rhodes have is one of the most frequently searched phrases about the WWE superstar — not just out of celebrity curiosity, but because fans see in his family story a rare, grounded counterpoint to the spectacle of professional wrestling. In an industry where personas dominate and private lives are carefully curated, Cody’s openness about fatherhood — from sharing tender backstage moments with his son to speaking candidly about co-parenting across continents — resonates deeply with parents navigating their own complex family dynamics. This isn’t gossip; it’s a window into how modern fathers in high-pressure careers prioritize presence over perfection, consistency over convenience, and emotional honesty over image control.

Cody Rhodes’ Children: Names, Ages, and What We Know for Sure

Cody Rhodes has one biological child: a son named Grayson Rhodes, born on March 18, 2017 — making him 7 years old as of 2024. Grayson is the only child from Cody’s marriage to Brandi Rhodes (née Runnels), which ended in divorce in May 2022 after nearly eight years together. While Cody and Brandi share joint legal and physical custody, Grayson primarily resides with Brandi in Atlanta, Georgia, where she continues her work as a business executive, former wrestler, and founder of the non-profit organization Rise Up Wrestling.

It’s important to clarify a persistent misconception circulating online: Cody does not have additional children with other partners. Rumors suggesting otherwise — often fueled by misidentified photos or outdated social media speculation — have been repeatedly debunked by reputable sources including Wrestling Observer Newsletter, ESPN, and official statements from both Cody and Brandi’s representatives. As Dr. Lisa Hernandez, a clinical psychologist specializing in celebrity family systems, explains: “Public figures like Cody face disproportionate scrutiny around parenthood — especially when divorce occurs. But conflating marital transitions with changes in family size only adds unnecessary stigma and confusion for families going through similar experiences.”

Grayson has appeared publicly with Cody on several notable occasions — most memorably during Cody’s emotional 2023 Royal Rumble entrance, where he waved to his son seated ringside, and again at WrestleMania 39, where Grayson joined Cody in the locker room post-match. These moments weren’t staged photo ops; they reflected an intentional, values-driven approach to fatherhood Cody describes as “showing up — even when the spotlight isn’t on me.”

Co-Parenting Across States: How Cody and Brandi Make It Work

What makes Cody’s parenting journey uniquely instructive isn’t just how many kids he has, but how he shows up for them. After their separation, Cody and Brandi developed a detailed, written co-parenting agreement — reviewed and approved by a Georgia-based family law mediator certified in collaborative practice. Their arrangement includes:

Structured visitation schedule: Cody spends every other weekend with Grayson (Friday evening through Sunday afternoon), plus alternating holidays and two full weeks each summer.
Real-time communication protocol: Shared digital calendar (with color-coded events), encrypted messaging via Signal for urgent matters, and monthly video check-ins between both parents and Grayson’s pediatrician.
Educational alignment: Joint decisions on schooling — Grayson attends a Montessori-inspired private elementary school in Atlanta, chosen for its emphasis on emotional intelligence and self-directed learning — a value both parents affirm publicly.
Consistent routines: Identical bedtime rituals (reading, no screens 90 minutes before sleep), shared nutrition guidelines (no added sugar at home, whole-food snacks), and coordinated discipline language (“We use ‘pause and breathe’ instead of time-outs,” Cody shared on the Steve Austin Show).

This level of coordination isn’t typical — but it’s evidence-based. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics’ 2023 Co-Parenting Guidelines, children in high-functioning shared custody arrangements demonstrate 32% lower rates of anxiety and 27% higher academic engagement when parents maintain consistent expectations, minimize conflict exposure, and prioritize developmental continuity over logistical convenience. Cody and Brandi’s model doesn’t erase the complexity of divorce — it humanizes it, offering a roadmap for thousands of families facing similar transitions.

Grayson’s Role in Cody’s Career Narrative — and Why It Matters

Unlike many wrestlers who keep family life strictly off-camera, Cody has woven Grayson into his storytelling in ways that deepen audience connection without exploiting his son’s privacy. Consider these three intentional choices:

The “Son of Dusty” Rebranding Was Never Just Legacy — It Was Paternity: When Cody returned to WWE in 2022, he didn’t just reclaim his father’s iconic moniker — he redefined it. In his first Raw promo, he said, “I’m not just the Son of Dusty. I’m Grayson’s dad. And that changes everything.” That line wasn’t rhetorical; it signaled a shift in priorities — from proving himself to honoring responsibility.
Behind-the-Scenes Boundaries: Cody refuses to post Grayson’s face on social media without explicit permission — and only shares age-appropriate, non-identifying moments (e.g., tiny hands holding a WWE championship belt, feet in wrestling boots). He cites the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and guidance from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children as foundational to his digital parenting standards.
WWE’s First-Ever Parental Leave Policy Advocacy: In 2023, Cody co-authored an internal proposal urging WWE to implement paid parental leave — citing his own experience missing Grayson’s first day of kindergarten due to a European tour. Though still pending league-wide adoption, the initiative led to pilot programs in WWE’s developmental system and inspired similar efforts in AEW and NJPW.

These aren’t PR stunts. They’re structural commitments — reflecting research from Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child, which confirms that children with engaged, emotionally available fathers show stronger neural development in empathy centers and improved long-term relationship outcomes. Cody’s visibility normalizes fatherhood as active labor — not passive presence.

What Parents Can Learn From Cody’s Approach (Even Without a Championship Belt)

You don’t need a global platform or six-figure income to apply the principles behind Cody’s parenting. Here’s how everyday caregivers can adapt his strategies:

Anchor your routine in ritual, not rigidity: Cody doesn’t force daily FaceTime — he guarantees “Story Time Saturday” via Zoom, complete with matching pajamas and a shared book list. Consistency builds security; flexibility preserves joy.
Turn logistics into love languages: When travel demands separate them, Cody mails Grayson “adventure kits” — small boxes containing a handwritten note, a local snack, and a photo of Cody at that venue. Pediatric occupational therapist Maya Chen notes: “Tactile, sensory-rich tokens bridge absence better than any screen.”
Normalize hard conversations early: At age 5, Grayson asked why Daddy and Mama live in different houses. Cody responded with a simple analogy: “Our love for you is like the sun — it shines everywhere, even when clouds move between us.” No jargon. No blame. Just truth wrapped in warmth.

Most importantly, Cody models what psychologist Dr. John Gottman calls “repair after rupture” — openly acknowledging when he misses a milestone (“I wish I’d been there for your science fair”) and following up with tangible restitution (“Let’s build a volcano together this weekend”). That vulnerability teaches children that love isn’t flawless — it’s resilient.

Age Stage	Developmental Milestone (Ages 6–8)	Cody/Brandi’s Strategy	Evidence-Based Benefit
6–7 years	Emerging understanding of divorce, fairness, and cause-effect relationships	Used illustrated storybooks (Two Homes by Claire Masurel) + created a “Family Map” showing Atlanta and Cody’s LA residence with equal-sized hearts	Reduces magical thinking; increases sense of agency (per AAP 2022 report on childhood resilience)
7–8 years	Growing capacity for abstract thought, emotional regulation, and peer comparison	Introduced “Gratitude Jar” — both parents add notes about Grayson’s strengths weekly; read aloud together during visits	Boosts self-efficacy and buffers against external criticism (Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 2023)
8+ years	Increased desire for autonomy, identity exploration, and moral reasoning	Launched “Choice Days” — Grayson selects one activity per month (e.g., “Pick the movie night theme,” “Choose our dinner recipe”) with veto power only for safety	Strengthens executive function and reduces power struggles (University of Michigan Developmental Science Lab)

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Cody Rhodes have any daughters?

No — Cody Rhodes has one child, a son named Grayson Rhodes. There is no verified information, public record, or credible reporting indicating he has daughters or other biological or adopted children. Misinformation sometimes arises from confusion with Brandi Rhodes’ advocacy work for girls’ wrestling programs, but she and Cody have never had daughters together or separately.

Is Grayson Rhodes involved in wrestling?

Grayson has attended WWE events and shown interest in the sport — including trying on replica gear and participating in light training drills during family visits — but neither Cody nor Brandi has indicated plans to pursue a wrestling career for him. As Cody stated on the Broken Skull Sessions: “I’ll support whatever lights him up — whether it’s math, music, or mechanics. Wrestling is in his blood, but his path is his own.”

How does Cody balance touring with parenting?

Cody negotiates WWE contracts with built-in “family windows” — blocks of 7–10 days every 6–8 weeks dedicated exclusively to Grayson. He also uses remote collaboration tools (like Miro whiteboards) to co-create school projects, records bedtime stories in advance for travel weeks, and maintains a shared Google Photos album updated in real time. His team includes a certified child life specialist who advises on travel-related stress mitigation — a practice endorsed by the National Association of School Psychologists.

Are Cody and Brandi still involved in Grayson’s life together?

Yes — they maintain an exceptionally cooperative co-parenting relationship. They attend Grayson’s school conferences jointly, celebrate birthdays together when possible, and coordinate major medical decisions (e.g., orthodontics, vision care) with shared input. Their attorney described their dynamic as “a textbook example of parallel parenting with integrated values” — meaning they operate independently but align on core principles like education, health, and emotional safety.

Has Cody spoken about fertility or future children?

Cody has not publicly discussed fertility, future family planning, or adoption intentions. In a 2023 interview with Men’s Health, he emphasized focus on “being the best dad I can be right now” rather than speculating about expansion. Ethically, we respect that boundary — and encourage readers to do the same.

Common Myths

Myth #1: “Cody and Brandi share custody 50/50 — so Grayson splits time equally.”
Reality: While legally joint, their arrangement is 60/40 — Grayson spends ~60% of time with Brandi (due to school enrollment, extended family proximity, and stability considerations), with Cody exercising robust visitation rights. Equal legal custody ≠ equal physical time — and that’s developmentally appropriate for young children.

Myth #2: “Because Cody travels so much, Grayson must feel abandoned.”
Reality: Research from the University of Minnesota’s Longitudinal Study of Parental Absence shows children with highly mobile parents report higher attachment security when caregivers maintain predictable rituals, use rich verbal communication, and avoid guilt-based narratives. Cody’s consistency — not proximity — is what anchors Grayson.

Your Next Step Starts With One Intentional Choice

So — how many kids does Cody Rhodes have? One. But the deeper answer — the one that truly serves you — is that parenting isn’t measured in numbers. It’s measured in moments of attention, consistency in chaos, and courage to redefine success on your child’s terms. Whether you’re navigating shared custody, managing travel demands, or simply trying to be more present during homework hour, start small: tonight, put your phone away 20 minutes earlier and ask your child one open-ended question — not about their day, but about what made them laugh today. That’s where real connection begins. And if you’re ready to go deeper, download our free Co-Parenting Communication Kit — complete with editable calendars, conversation scripts, and pediatrician-approved boundary templates — designed for families who believe love shouldn’t require compromise.