After nearly three years of wearing face paint, like his brother, and taking on an even more bizarre persona than Goldust, Cody Rhodes, aka Stardust, asked for and was granted his release from WWE after a decade in the organization. It wouldn't surprise me in the least bit if TNA, which at one time employed Cody's late father, Dusty, as an on-screen authority figure, reached out to Cody to sign him.
Rhodes' resume in WWE was impressive to say the least. Six tag team titles with 4 partners (Hardcore Holly, Ted DiBiase, Jr., Drew McIntyre (Galloway), and Goldust), and was on the doorstep of a 7th title had Team Rhodes Scholars been given a full push to the titles. Rhodes also won 2 Intercontinental title, becoming the 2nd set of brothers (w/Goldust) to hold the strap, following Bret & Owen Hart in the 90's.
With wife Brandi (Eden Stiles) and Goldust still with WWE, I wouldn't rule out a return with a new gimmick, or returning to the "Dashing" gimmick he had a few years ago, capitalizing on his own movie star looks. However, with Galloway now in TNA and with WWE's working relationship with Evolve, there are other possible options.
It can be said, however, that comics geek Cody's WWE career peaked with the adoption of his alter-ego of Stardust, which was meant to be a parody of Goldust, but for different reasons. Whereas Dustin adopted the Goldust persona 21 years ago in order to get over as an androgynous character, he was never able to get over as himself, even in an earlier WWE run or in WCW. Cody, on the other hand, should've gotten more respect as himself, especially considering he is a capable worker. His partnership with DiBiase was neutered in 2009 when they linked up with Randy Orton as Legacy, but WWE Uncreative fumbled that gimmick and plunged the trio into a protracted feud with DX and the McMahon family. Perhaps subconsciously, Vince McMahon was keeping Cody down because of his family's WCW/NWA roots. We'll never know for sure. Stardust's feud with actor Stephen Amell ("Arrow") last year should've raised his profile, but it didn't.
Personally, I can't honestly say I'd know where he's headed next. Ring of Honor sounds appealing, but ROH or Japan would be behind TNA, Evolve, and WWE, in that order. Just a guess.
Or maybe he can follow CM Punk's lead and write comic books......
