Cody Rhodes believes WWE has made significant strides when it comes to accommodating talent with families in the post-Vince McMahon era.
Santino Marella joined Rhodes for the latest episode of the “What Do You Wanna Talk About?” podcast (full episode below), during which he spoke candidly about the difficulties he experienced during his WWE career. While Marella loved the job and considered himself fortunate to have it, he admitted that being away from his daughter for extended periods took a toll on him.
Rhodes, who is now raising two young children while working for WWE, said things are much different for today’s roster. He credited Nick Khan and Paul “Triple H” Levesque with creating a more family-friendly environment, while WWE’s reduced live event schedule has also resulted in talent spending less time on the road.
“To give you a bit of the modern WWE — and this is truth, it will sound very towing the company line, but it’s very true — the modern WWE, you’d be very happy,” Rhodes said. “You come backstage, you’d see multiple kids walking around, multiple buses with families on them. Just, it’s different.
“The way Nick and Hunter do it is different, and also the outlook is different. We’re not doing as many live events, and the TVs are already asking, the lift for TV is going to be very large, you’re not just going to be working a segment, you’re probably going to be working all day on various things, so we’re not on the road as much anymore.”
Rhodes added that he views the change as a positive evolution for the wrestling business.
“So to have that moment with them, it’s very nice. It’s evolved as a business,” Rhodes said. “As much as I love the old-school elements of it, it’s got to grow and it’s got to change, and it’s evolved in a good way in that case.”
Marella was happy to hear that Rhodes and today’s WWE talent don’t necessarily have to experience the same difficulties he did. He described his own career as a strange balancing act between living an incredible life on the road and struggling with how much time it took away from his family.
“How can you say you’re suffering? The most fun you’ll ever have in your whole life is being on the road with the WWE, traveling the world, making millions, entertaining fans, visiting countries you’d never would have gone to, New Zealand and South Africa and like Russia and China,” Marella said.
“It’s the greatest time you’ll ever have, but at the same time, you’re not f***ing there. You’re not there. And it’s this weird dichotomy of having the greatest time of your life, also simultaneously, it’s a part of you that’s suffering, man.”
Years later, wrestling has helped bring Marella and his daughter Bianca closer together professionally. Bianca currently performs for WWE NXT as Arianna Grace, while Marella serves as TNA Wrestling’s on-screen Director of Authority. The working relationship between WWE NXT and TNA has even allowed father and daughter to appear together in storylines.
“My daughter lives in Orlando right now. So if she wasn’t working, if TNA and WWE didn’t have that relationship, what am I going to see her? Three times a year? That’s horrible. That’s not good,” Marella said. “So anyway, I was really spoiled and very lucky and fortunate to have this last year and nine months to see her every TV loop.”
Marella hopes those opportunities continue for as long as possible. And if Grace eventually makes it all the way to a WrestleMania match, Marella already knows exactly what kind of father he’ll be in the crowd.
“If my daughter has a match at Mania, I’m going to be the most drunk, obnoxious dad ever all week,” Marella joked. “‘Shut up! What are you going to do? You can’t kick me out! My daughter’s here!’”
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