Cody Rhodes has dealt with sneak attacks, contract confrontations, and mounting pressure ahead of Clash in Italy, but it turns out one recent backstage conversation caught him off guard for a completely different reason.
While speaking with ESPN’s Unsportsmanlike, Rhodes shared a humorous interaction involving WWE main roster newcomer Ethan Page during WWE’s ongoing European tour.
Although the Undisputed WWE Champion told the story with a laugh, he admitted the exchange left him surprisingly “offended.”
Cody Rhodes jokes about Ethan Page’s “Rookie” question
According to Rhodes, the interaction started innocently enough backstage before quickly turning into what felt like an “All Ego” moment.
“Ethan Page is on the tour, it’s his first tour, he’s basically a rookie,” Rhodes explained. “I asked him, ‘Are you on the tour?’ He said, ‘Yeah, I am. Are you?’”
That response clearly stunned the champion.
“I’m the WWE Champion, like what a weird…” Rhodes continued. “I replied, ‘I might be.’ Do you not look at anything? Am I on the show? I was offended.”
Rhodes framed the situation as playful banter rather than genuine tension, noting that Page is still adjusting to WWE’s demanding touring schedule after arriving on the main roster following WrestleMania 42.
Still, for a man carrying the Undisputed WWE Championship across Europe, the comment clearly hit harder than a cheap shot from behind.
The timing also comes as Rhodes prepares for one of his toughest title defenses yet against Gunther at Clash in Italy. Their rivalry has escalated in recent weeks with repeated attacks and heated confrontations on SmackDown.
Meanwhile, Page has quickly made noise on Raw as part of the Intercontinental Championship scene. The self-proclaimed “All Ego” star recently aligned himself with Rusev and continues demanding another shot at Penta’s title.
For Rhodes, though, Page may have learned an important lesson about WWE touring life — when the champion’s on the card, it’s usually not exactly a mystery partner situation.
READ MORE: Cody Rhodes Declares a New King of the WWE Merch Game
