Stone Cold Steve Austin’s Legacy Looms as Cody Rhodes Maps His Wrestling Future

Stone Cold Steve Austin’s name enters Cody Rhodes’ retirement calculus

Stone Cold Steve Austin’s career choices still shape the conversation around wrestling longevity as Cody Rhodes, now 41, maps out his own future in the ring. Rhodes told The Ariel Helwani Show he doesn’t plan to adopt a part-time schedule like Roman Reigns or the limited runs of veterans such as Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock. His comments arrive just days before his 41st birthday on 31 July 2026.

What happened?

Rhodes spoke frankly about his wrestling timeline during an interview on The Ariel Helwani Show. He dismissed the idea of a restricted schedule, saying he doesn’t think in those terms right now. “I don’t think too much about a limited schedule,” he said. Rhodes also revealed he doesn’t expect to be an active wrestler in ten years, predicting he’ll step away from full-time competition by then. “I do think in ten years I will no longer be wrestling bell-to-bell,” he added.

Why it matters for Stone Cold Steve Austin

Stone Cold Steve Austin retired in 2002 at age 38, becoming a benchmark for when top stars exit the business. Rhodes invoked that legacy while discussing his own timeline, noting he’ll turn 41 in a week yet feels the best he ever has. His wife Brandi Rhodes knows his addiction to performing, but their daughters Liberty (age 5) and Leilani are now central to his retirement planning. “Liberty’s five and by the time she’s 10/11/12, I don’t need to be falling down no more,” he said.

Rhodes also floated the possibility of signing a shorter contract-maybe five years-if he agrees to a new deal. He stressed there are no set end dates, but his family’s needs will guide the final call. The comments underscore how Stone Cold Steve Austin’s early exit still frames expectations for aging stars in WWE.

What comes next?

Rhodes’ next WWE contract could arrive before the end of 2026. He’s not ruling out another run, but he’s also not banking on a part-time model. His daughters’ ages give him a personal deadline: avoid the kind of hard falls that defined the careers of Stone Cold Steve Austin and others who stayed too long. Rhodes’ future will hinge on balancing peak performance with family time-and he’s leaving the door cracked for one last chapter.