Cody Rhodes comments on hardcore wrestling fans not always loving the WWE NIL system.

WWE launched its NIL (Next In Line) talent recruitment system back in 2021. Stars like Oba Femi and Tiffany Stratton entered WWE through this system.

Speaking on the Double Coverage Podcast, Cody Rhodes and the host Zach Hirsch were talking about Dusty Rhodes’ legacy in wrestling.

Hirsch mentioned Ernie ‘Big Cat’ Ladd, Dusty Rhodes, and Rocky Johnson during the conversation. Rhodes mentioned that Big Cat Ladd came from pro football, and then commented on some fans not liking WWE’s NIL system.

“Today, hardcore wrestling fans don’t always love the NIL system, and I don’t think they realize, or maybe they do. That’s how we used to do it. You were out there looking for, ‘Hey, this guy he’s a baseball player out here. I think he’d be great. He’s got a great look.’ Or, you know, Bill Watts seeing somebody go through the airport. ‘What do you do?’ ‘Oh, I play offensive line.’ ‘Hey, try this.’ They were looking for the athlete. The reason they were looking for the athlete is because the wrestler’s always going to find wrestling.

The hardcore wrestler the types that love it and it’s true to them, they’re going to find it. Johnny Gargano was always going to find WWE. He was going to do everything in his power to make sure he was in the biggest wrestling company there is. But these others that are from the sports world, if you put it in front of them, they might fall in love with it. I think Oba, I don’t know, I just kind of keep a distance, watch him. I think he’s falling in love with it. That again, he’s out there shot putting or whatever the heck it was for Alabama, like setting records.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Rhodes talked about 50 Cent. Fans can read his full comments here.