"Thank you for the tour": WWE superstar expresses gratitude to Manchester City; shares excitement for upcoming event at Co-Op Live Arena

Cody Rhodes took to popular social media platform, Instagram to express his gratitude to Manchester City and WWE UK for giving him a special tour and thoughtful gifts ahead of WWE's highly anticipated return to the UK. Rhodes will be headlining the event at the new Co-op Live arena in Manchester on October 16, 2024.

In the Instagram post, Cody thanked Manchester City for their hospitality, and expressed his excitement for WWE's first-ever show at the Co-op Live venue, writing, "Thank you for the tour, Man City, and the heartfelt gifts. Looking forward to the first show at The Co-op Live this Wednesday."

The American Nightmare shared three images on his Instagram account. Cody can be seen with his Championship belt sitting at the Etihad Stadium. In another image, he can be seen holding two Manchester City jerseys, one of which has his name with the number 9 printed on the back.

This event marks a significant moment for WWE as it's the first show to be held at the Co-op Live arena, located on Manchester's Etihad Campus. The main event will feature Rhodes in a Steel Cage match against Solo Sikoa for the Undisputed WWE Championship. The event promises an action-packed night, also featuring stars like GUNTHER, Nia Jax, Bayley, and Randy Orton.

With WWE superstars and fans alike excited for this milestone event, Cody Rhodes' personal message underscores the importance of the upcoming show in Manchester's vibrant wrestling scene.

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Cody Rhodes envisions WrestleMania coming to the UK within the next five years

WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes recently expressed his desire for WrestleMania to be hosted in the UK within the next five years. Speaking to BBC 5Live, the 39-year-old "American Nightmare" stated, "If I’m aiming, it would be cool to get it [in the UK] in the next five years."

WrestleMania, the longest-running event in professional wrestling, is traditionally held in the U.S. between mid-March and mid-April. However, Rhodes believes the UK has some "really big venues" that could accommodate the show, mentioning the enthusiasm that American fans would have for a UK-based WrestleMania. "I think American fans would jump at the chance to come to a WrestleMania [overseas], whether that be in Manchester or London, I think they’d go nuts for it," Rhodes said.

His comments come after fellow WWE legend John Cena and London Mayor Sadiq Khan expressed similar ambitions earlier this year. Rhodes acknowledged Cena's influence on the possibility, stating, "When the greatest of all time, as we like to call John [Cena], goes out there and says it, it almost wills itself into existence."

Cody Rhodes, son of wrestling icon Dusty Rhodes, secured the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40 by defeating Roman Reigns in a monumental match that featured appearances from WWE legends such as Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and The Undertaker. Reflecting on his return to WWE and his path to the title, Rhodes remarked, “If you look at it now, it feels like it was destined to be, but I never looked at it that way.”

Rhodes' vision for a UK WrestleMania is fueled by the excitement from both fans and industry icons, setting the stage for a potential historic move for the biggest show in wrestling.

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