Cody Rhodes paid an emotional tribute to the late Brodie Lee during WWE’s Holiday Tour stop in Rochester, honoring Lee’s legacy in the city he proudly called home.
Following a hard-fought Street Fight victory over Drew McIntyre, Cody Rhodes, the reigning Undisputed WWE Champion, remained in the ring to address the Rochester crowd. Instead of simply celebrating his win, Rhodes chose to spotlight someone deeply connected to the city, Brodie Lee, formerly known in WWE as Luke Harper.
As the fans listened following the match, Rhodes spoke about Lee’s roots and the pride he took in representing Rochester. “That’s where Luke Harper… that’s where Brodie Lee came from,” Cody Rhodes said as fans erupted into chants of Lee’s name. “He was an absolute wonderful representation of this city, he loved this city, he always talked about it.”
He also tied the moment into what had just unfolded in the ring. After taking a beating during the Street Fight, he referenced being helped by The Wyatt Sicks, a nod that carried extra emotional weight.
He said, “It’s funny how things work out. I’m out here getting my b**t kicked in, so Wyatt Sicks comes and saves me. It’s amazing how it all these all works. Thank you, guys, for being a part of it.” [H/T: 411mania]
The chants of Brodie Lee filled the arena in no time and made the moment very strong and emotional. For Cody Rhodes, it was highly significant as he was the last rival to wrestle with Lee before the latter’s death in 2020.
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Last video of the night. Cody talking about Brodie Lee/Luke Harper and giving some lucky people some signed stuff. #WWERochester pic.twitter.com/gU2rzilmSS
— Paul Pescrillo (@PaulPescrillo) December 29, 2025
