Cody Rhodes has identified several of the strongest wrestlers he has ever faced, highlighting Mark Henry’s background as a world-class weightlifter and strongman competitor as a key reason for his inclusion. Rhodes made the comments during an appearance on the Double Coverage Podcast, where he was asked to reflect on the opponents who left the biggest impression on him in terms of raw power.
According to Rhodes, Henry’s accomplishments outside the ring set him apart from almost anyone else he has competed against. Henry built a reputation long before his wrestling career as one of the most accomplished strongman competitors to cross over into WWE, and Rhodes pointed directly to that history of weightlifting and strongman tournament wins as evidence of his exceptional strength.
Beyond Henry, Rhodes also named Big Show, Big E, Bron Breakker, Brock Lesnar, John Cena, and a member of the Death Riders faction as wrestlers who stood out to him physically. The list spans multiple eras of the industry, pairing veterans like Big Show and Henry with present-day performers such as Breakker, who has built his early WWE run around a power-based style, and Big E, a former WWE Champion known for his weightlifting background before transitioning into pro wrestling.
The inclusion of Lesnar and Cena reflects two of the most dominant forces in modern WWE history, both of whom built extended championship runs in large part on displays of overwhelming strength against a wide range of opponents. Rhodes did not provide additional detail on specific matches or moments tied to each name during the discussion.
Rhodes’ comments come as he continues his run as a top champion in WWE, where his in-ring resume includes matches against several of the names he mentioned. The remarks offer a rare glimpse into how a current top star assesses the physical gifts of both his contemporaries and the legends who came before him, without delving into storyline implications or upcoming matchups tied to any of the wrestlers named.
