Cody Can't Use The "Rhodes" Name In TNA While Wife Brandi Can, How TNA Can Get Around It
As noted, TNA posted the video above of Cody Runnels, f.k.a. Cody Rhodes, teasing an appearance for tonight's Impact Wrestling (most likely a video package since the show was taped).
TNA had also announced earlier this week that Cody's wife Brandi, f.k.a. Eden in WWE, had signed with the company and will be wrestling in the Knockouts division. She will be known as Brandi Rhodes, which WWE doesn't own because she never used that name in WWE. However, as noted, Cody is not able to use the "Rhodes" last name because WWE has it registered. Cody had never used the "Rhodes" name as a wrestler before his WWE run since he started his career with them.
Dave Meltzer had first reported in The Wrestling Observer that Cody and Brandi were scheduled to do a program with Mike Bennett and Maria Kanellis in TNA. Meltzer noted in the latest issue of the Observer that while Cody can't currently use the Rhodes last name, they can bill Cody and Brandi as Cody & Brandi Rhodes for their mixed tag matches, since he will be going by "Cody" on television anyway.
Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter
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