Who Is Cody Rhodes’ Wife? Unveiling WWE Star’s Love Story With Fellow Wrestler Brandi Rhodes

Wrestling runs deep in the Rhodes family, and so does the story of Cody and Brandi Rhodes’ partnership. The couple met in 2011 while both were working for WWE. At the time, Cody’s father, wrestling legend Dusty “The American Dream” Rhodes, held various positions at NXT. Dusty met Brandi while training up-and-coming wrestlers and even created a promo highlighting her striking green eyes — not realizing he was introducing his son to his future wife.

“He thought, ‘You know what I’m gonna do? I’m gonna do these vignettes where we just focus on her eyes, and it’s like her eyes do the talking,’” Cody recalled in 2019. “And I didn’t know at the time that he was talking about my future wife.”

The couple has now been married for over a decade, sharing glimpses of their lives in reality series like Rhodes to the Top on TNT and WAGS: Atlanta on E!. They welcomed their first daughter, Liberty Iris Runnels, in June 2021, and their second daughter, Leilani Ella, in August 2025.

Early Life and Career of Brandi Rhodes

Born Brandi Alexis Reed on June 23, 1983, in Canton, Michigan, Brandi began figure skating at the age of four, aiming to become the first Black female Olympic gold medalist in the sport. However, her path shifted to television. She earned a full scholarship to the University of Michigan, leaving figure skating in her sophomore year to focus on academics. After graduating, she worked as a news anchor for two years before pursuing a master’s in broadcast journalism at the University of Miami. Brandi also modeled for brands including KFC and Budweiser.

In March 2011, she signed a development deal with WWE after a tryout and was assigned to Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW).

Falling in Love with Cody Rhodes

Brandi and Cody began dating within the first year of her WWE career. Though hesitant to date a co-worker, Brandi realized Cody was special on their third date to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios, a horror-themed outing she had always wanted to attend. The couple made it an annual tradition.

They got engaged in November 2012, announcing it on X (formerly Twitter), and married on September 12, 2013, at the Swan House and Atlanta History Center. Brandi wore a strapless, beaded lace mermaid gown with a feathered train, while Cody donned a classic black tuxedo.

Breaking Barriers in Wrestling

Brandi debuted in FCW in 2011 and started as a WWE ring announcer, eventually becoming Eden Stiles in NXT. She made history as the first Black woman to announce at WrestleMania in 2015. After stints on Main Event, SmackDown, and other independent circuits, Brandi became the first Black woman to compete at New Japan Wrestling’s Wrestle Kingdom in 2018 and the first Black woman executive in a North American wrestling organization as AEW Chief Brand Officer in 2019.

Despite her successes, Brandi acknowledged navigating challenges due to her family’s wrestling legacy. “It’s because my last name is Rhodes that I have to work harder than everyone else,” she explained. Both she and Cody left AEW in 2019.

Honoring Dusty Rhodes

In 2015, Brandi encouraged her father-in-law Dusty, who was battling kidney disease, to appear in a WWE Hall of Fame backstage segment — his final television appearance before passing away three months later. Cody praised Brandi for creating a touching moment for Dusty.

Parenthood and Family Life

Brandi and Cody welcomed their first daughter Liberty in June 2021. Brandi openly shared her struggles with postpartum depression, describing her anxiety over Liberty’s well-being and her confrontations with medical professionals. In August 2025, the couple announced the birth of their second daughter, Leilani Ella. Brandi has spoken about enjoying flexibility in motherhood after leaving AEW.

Supporting Cody’s WWE Comeback

Cody returned to WWE in early 2022, crediting Brandi for supporting his decision. “I wouldn’t even be able to have come back if Brandi had not made a very selfless decision that changed my life,” he said. Her encouragement gave him the motivation to win the Royal Rumble in January 2023 and the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania in April 2024.

Life Beyond Wrestling

While Brandi does not plan to wrestle professionally again, she remains active in fitness. In July 2023, she opened her own yoga and pilates studio with an accompanying virtual app, emphasizing how these practices helped her through pregnancy and postpartum recovery.

From figure skating prodigy to wrestling trailblazer and mother of two, Brandi Rhodes continues to make her mark both inside and outside the ring.

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