Cody Rhodes Discusses What a Third Royal Rumble Win Would Mean To Him, Thinks Everyone Has a Target on Their Backs

Former WWE Undisputed Champion and two-time Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes appeared on ESPN SportsCenter earlier today to discuss the Royal Rumble. Rhodes is looking for his third Rumble match victory at today’s event.

If Rhodes wins his third Rumble, he’d become only the third man in history to pull off such a feat. Stone Cold Steve Austin is the only other WWE Superstar who has won three, with Rumble match wins in 1997, 1998, and 2001. Below are some highlights and clips of Cody Rhodes on ESPN SportsCenter:

Cody Rhodes on If There’s a Target on His Back During the Royal Rumble

“There’s been a target on my back ever since I came back in the first place. People trying to prove that I didn’t have it the first time around, and me trying to prove that I did have it this time around. The fact that I had gone from undesirable to undeniable. Every single one of the men in the Royal Rumble, and the thirty women in the rumble for that, all have a target on their back, and they all have an incredible insane — if you got to watch SmackDown last night. The audience here in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, just in this wonderful stadium that we put together, is going to be having the time of their life. But everyone has a target on their back. I’m no different.”

On Going for Three Rumble Wins

“I’m a big proponent of even if the score is up, we’re not punting away. And since I’ve returned have every statistic you could think of. Winning the WWE Championship, King of the Ring, Crown Jewel. Again, you said it. Two Royal Rumbles. I want to run the score up. One more Royal Rumble. Ty Stone Cold Steve Austin. The argument about the Attitude Era versus what we’re doing now. All is put to rest. That would be the biggest thing done in my career yet. A near impossible feat. Looking to get it done in a matter of hours.”

If He Has Any Concern That Drew McIntyre Will Interfere in the Rumble

“I would hope he’s not watching this interview because then that maybe, perhaps, gives him some ideas. Drew McIntyre, though, has his hands full with Sami Zayn, and Sami Zayn said it last night on SmackDown. He has never lost in Saudi Arabia, and I think tonight, Sami Zayn becomes WWE champion. Sami Zayn finishes the story, and then whoever wins that Royal Rumble, hopefully yours truly, will be pointing at that sign and perhaps pointing at Sami Zayn.”

On the One Guy He’d Want To Eliminate From the Rumble If He Could Pick

“That’s a great question. I think you always want to go for the biggest bear in the woods, the biggest guy in the yard. And Brock Lesnar, he went on Pat McAfee’s show. He’s talking about entering the Royal Rumble. I wrestled Brock Lesnar three times, and I beat him twice. This would make up for that one little loss. Toss him over, send him on his way. far easier said than done. But if I had to pick somebody, it would be him.”

Cody Rhodes How He Feels Hours Before the Royal Rumble Match

“I will always appear that I am not rattled. always appear that there aren’t any nerves, but for me, these are the situations where you got to be Tom Brady, fighter pilot calm. You got to know everyone has the same series of nerves going into this. A lot of guys, first Royal Rumbles ever, Hunter, Triple H, who’s coming on the broadcast, he mentioned there’s going to be surprises. You can’t prepare for those surprises other than knowing they’re going to happen. What I like is the crowd here. Again, we saw it last night on SmackDown. They lift me up. For whatever reason, they’ve continued to lift me up. They’ve continued to cheer. They’ve continued to sing. And when those moments happen, it locks me in 110%. And that’s what can get you into the end zone.”

The WWE Royal Rumble 2026, featuring Cody Rhodes in the men’s Rumble match, goes down later today at the KAFD in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It will air live on the ESPN App in the U.S. and on Netflix internationally.

If using any of the above quotes, please credit ESPN SportsCenter, with a h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.