Sources Confirm Cody Rhodes Hasn’t Spoken Since Mania Loss — Only Communicates Through Old VHS Promos of Goldust

“He won’t answer questions, but last week he played the ‘Shattered Dreams’ promo six times in a row. I think he’s trying to say something.”

Following his devastating loss to John Cena at WrestleMania 41 in a match critics called “emotionally flat and spiritually evaporated,” sources close to Cody Rhodes confirm that the former American Nightmare has not spoken a word since the final bell. Instead, he has adopted an increasingly unsettling communication method: looping vintage Goldust promos on a battered VCR.

“He hasn’t said a single sentence in two months,” said an anonymous source from Cody’s inner circle. “But if you ask him how he’s feeling, he just loads a 1998 VHS labeled ‘RAW – Dusty in Drag?’ into a clunky Magnavox and points at the screen like it’s gospel.”

Insiders say Rhodes now carries a duffel bag containing dozens of old Goldust tapes, some of which appear to be self-recorded, paused on certain facial expressions, and annotated in Sharpie. Sources also report he’s edited several to include slow zooms on Dustin Rhodes whispering cryptic phrases like “You’ll never be as weird as me,” and “The golden age is lonely.”

At one point, when asked if he planned to return to WWE, Cody allegedly fast-forwarded to a clip of Goldust breathing heavily in a smoky backstage area, then stared into the middle distance for twelve minutes.

“It’s his version of a press release,” said one WWE official. “Honestly, it’s still more coherent than some of our creative meetings.”

Several friends and fellow wrestlers have attempted to reach Cody using more traditional methods—texts, phone calls, interpretive monologues in parking lots—but nothing seems to break through.

“I left him a voicemail offering to help,” said Seth Rollins. “He sent me a clip of Goldust licking a microphone, followed by total silence. I don’t know what that means. Am I supposed to tag with him? Fight him? Do mime?”

Brandi Rhodes reportedly tried to sit him down for a heart-to-heart. Cody responded by dimming the lights and playing a 1996 promo where Goldust explains his father never understood him, while slowly eating unseasoned oatmeal.

Even Cody’s extended family is baffled by the development.
“He used to cut promos in the mirror,” said a distant uncle. “Now he just stares at himself while mouthing along to Goldust saying, ‘I’m the bizarre one.’ I’m not saying he’s broken, but he’s…holographically cracked.”

Meanwhile, Dustin “Goldust” Rhodes is said to be flattered and alarmed.
“I didn’t know I had this much influence,” he said from his ranch in Texas. “Honestly, I’m touched. Also deeply disturbed. I sent him a VHS of Casablanca just to see what happens. He sent it back with glitter glued to every character’s face.”

WWE officials are reportedly discussing how to handle Cody’s condition, with one producer suggesting, “If he’s going to live in Goldust’s promos, maybe we book around it. WrestleMania 42: Cody vs. VHS Goldust, Cinematic Match. People liked Firefly Funhouse, right?”

Until then, Cody remains silent, expressive, and somewhere in a candlelit basement surrounded by clunky plastic VHS cases labeled “RAW 1997: Gilded Isolation.”

He has not blinked in several days.

He has not smiled since the bell rang.

He is not done with the story—
But the story may now be narrated entirely by Goldust.

Stay tuned. Or be tuned. Whatever he’s doing, we are all now just part of the promo.