A few weeks ago, wrestling fans were shocked to hear that Cody and Brandi Rhodes were leaving AEW, and many of those same fans believe that they will both be returning to WWE. Brandi Rhodes started off as a ring announcer, but she transitioned into an in-ring competitor shortly after WWE granted her release in 2016. She may not be the best in-ring competitor, but she has improved a great deal.
Brandi was involved in several AEW feuds, but she also served the company as its Chief Brand Officer. Wrestling fans are very knowledgeable, but some fans think that they know everything about every wrestler in WWE and AEW. Brandi is no different in this regard, but there are certain things even hardcore fans do not know about her.
10 She Has Won A Wrestling Title
Brandi may not be one of the most jacked women in wrestling history, but she is still quite fit. It's also true that she has not competed in any of history's most important women's matches, but that does not mean that she has not had some level of success.
In 2017, DDT Pro-Wrestling held a house show in Orlando, Florida, and Brandi won the Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship by pinning Joey Ryan. She was dropped onto some thumbtacks during the match. Unfortunately, she lost the title less than 24 hours later.
9 She Launched Her Own Swimwear
No one can deny the fact that Brandi is an athlete, but she also happens to be a very capable businesswoman with an eye for fashion. She became an entrepreneur in 2013 when she launched Confection Swimwear, which featured swimsuits that she designed herself.
The brand has since been discontinued, but it was successful financially. This venture gave her a great deal of business experience, and that experience undoubtedly came in handy during her time as AEW's Chief Brand Officer.
8 She's Been In Several National Advertisements
Most of the talent in WWE and AEW wanted to be part of the wrestling business from a young age, but others, like Brandi, had different careers in mind. Before she got involved with WWE in 2011, she pursued a modeling and acting career.
She appeared in Maxim magazine, and she also appeared in commercials for KFC and Budweiser. Brandi may have not gotten the acting jobs she wanted, but at least professional wrestling gave her the opportunity to get a taste of it.
7 She Has A Master's Degree
Education is important, and when she was younger, Brandi was very focused on getting a degree that would help her with her broadcasting career. She attended the University of Michigan on a full-ride scholarship, and she earned a Bachelor's degree.
She moved to Miami a few years later, and while there, she decided to continue her education at the University of Miami. She left the school with a Master's degree in broadcast journalism. Considering how well she did as a ring announcer and backstage interviewer, the degree definitely came in handy.
6 She & Scorpio Sky Are Related
In terms of in-ring skill, Brandi was not one of AEW's best female wrestlers, but she was not the worst woman on the roster either. Most fans know that her husband and brother-in-law are wrestlers, but many are unaware of the fact that her cousin is a wrestler as well.
That cousin is none other than Scorpio Sky, and he has come a long way since appearing in Team Hell No segments with WWE. AEW never mentioned that he and Brandi were related, which is strange considering a feud could have been built around it.
5 She Was A Reality TV Star Before Rhodes To The Top
Brandi and Cody's relationship has been well documented, and fans got a good glimpse of their relationship on Rhodes To The Top, a reality show which followed Brandi's pregnancy and her comeback. The couple had to deal with cameras for months, but this was not Brandi's first experience with reality television.
In 2018, Brandi joined the cast of WAGS Atlanta. The show followed several women who were dating or who were married to pro athletes, but it did not do well. It was canceled after just nine episodes.
4 Brandi Has A YouTube Channel
YouTube has become an important part of professional wrestling, and both WWE and AEW have used it quite effectively. Several wrestlers have established their own channels, including Brandi, and one of the reasons why she and Cody should re-sign with WWE is the fact that her channel would explode if WWE promoted it.
Shot of Brandi is the name of a segment that starred Brandi, and she would make drinks and food with AEW talent. These segments were actually well received. Brandi is now trying to trademark her show, so there is a good chance that her channel will continue to grow.
3 She Was A Figure Skater
Some people may not like it, but Brandi is a professional wrestler, and like many other wrestlers who have appeared in WWE and AEW, she has an athletic background. She started skating when she was just four years old, and this allowed her to become a competitive figure skater by the time she was 17.
Figure skating may not be as physically taxing as professional wrestling, but both sports require intense training, and they both produce fierce competition. Skating also gave Brandi experience in terms of performing in front of a live crowd.
2 She Made History At WrestleMania 31
WrestleMania has had its fair share of sad moments, but it has had plenty of great moments as well, and history has been made at the event more than once. WrestleMania 31 was held in Levi's Stadium, and Brandi played a historic role.
As soon as she appeared on TV that night, Brandi became the first African-American woman to ever work WrestleMania as a ring announcer. Given how many people watch WrestleMania each year, this was an especially significant moment, and it likely inspired several young girls.
1 She Was A News Anchor
Thanks to WWE and AEW, Brandi has appeared on live TV quite a bit, but it was her former job that really prepared her for being on-air, and it had nothing to do with professional wrestling. After getting her Master's degree, Brandi got a job as a local news anchor in her home state of Michigan.
She worked as an anchor for two years, and the only reason she left was that she wanted to pursue her aforementioned modeling and acting career. This job gave her plenty of confidence, and it was a great way to introduce her to the world of media.