Getty

WWE Champion Cody Rhodes at red carpet event

Reigning WWE Champion and video game fanatic Cody Rhodes revealed that his passion for Zelda nearly landed him a lawsuit from Nintendo.

When speaking to WWE star Kit Wilson on his What Do You Want to Talk About? In a podcast, Rhodes confessed that Nintendo had previously sent him a cease-and-desist letter.

Rhodes stated that the letter was sent after he began donning wrestling gear featuring Zelda’s Triforce emblem.

“I also got a cease-and-desist from Nintendo,” he said after showing Wilson the Triforce tattoo he now has on his finger. “It was very kind, they weren’t coming after anybody. I’m not the first guy to have the Triforce.”

Rhodes added that he believed his wrestling persona embodied what the Triforce represented, leading to its inclusion in his gear.

“I thought the principles of the Triforce, which are power, courage, and wisdom… for those who don’t know. Zelda’s the wise one. Obviously, Link is the one who’s got the courage. And power is Ganon. They make up the three parts of the Triforce. That’s the whole deal.

“I just like the idea of thinking and leaning towards your own wisdom. Or what you’ve learned and applying it. Being ambitious and wanting to seek or be powerful, if you can, in a world that’s competitive, of sports and sports entertainment. And then having the courage to do it. Here you are, you’re taking a dive, you bust your elbow. You’re gonna decide to take the dive the next night, and you’ll bust your elbow even further. I thought it was just applicable.”

Following Nintendo’s “very kind” cease-and-desist letter, the three-time champion scrapped the Triforce from his wrestling gear.

Cody Rhodes Will Appear in Street Fighter

Cody Rhodes’ passion for video games isn’t just limited to the Legend of Zelda.

This summer, the WWE star will appear in the 2026 Street Fighter live-action movie as Guile.

Guile, one of the video game franchise’s most recognizable characters, is an Air Force soldier known for his sonic boom attacks.

Rhodes appeared at a WrestleMania 42 fan event in full Guile attire in April. Sporting the signature flat-top haircut and camo pants, Rhodes strutted out to WWE World in Las Vegas as the iconic video game fighter.

The official WWE Instagram page shared a video of his video game look.

Rhodes was officially announced as part of the cast five months ago. However, his appearance at WWE World proved his dedication to bringing the role to life.

For the film, Rhodes reportedly insisted on performing his own stunt work, including high-impact bumps.

WWE star Roman Reigns will also appear in Street Fighter. The reigning WWE Heavyweight Champion will play Akuma.

Both WWE stars were featured in the trailer for Street Fighter, released in April.

“I’m positive that a fireball came out of Ryu,” Rhodes states in the trailer.

Reigns does what 50 Cent, playing Barlog, calls “some abracadabra s—” to one of the other characters.

The film is set to release worldwide on October 16.