My Favorite Cigar
Cody Rhodes • WWE Champion • Arturo Fuente 8-5-8
On April 7, Cody Rhodes was crowned the undisputed WWE champion, fulfilling a dream that began 47 years ago. Rhodes is the son of “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes, and while Dusty was one of the most famous wrestlers ever to perform in the squared circle, one of the few things he never did was win that coveted belt. But he came close. Back in 1977, Dusty thought he had won, put the belt on in the ring only to have it taken from him on a technicality. When Cody became aware of the snub as a young boy it didn’t sit well. “That became it,” Cody Rhodes has said. “I wanted to win this title. And while he was still alive, I wanted to hand it to him.”
Dusty died before Cody won the belt, but Cody, who is now 39, keeps his memory alive in many ways. One is the gold Rolex that he wears, a watch once worn by his dad. The other is in the cigar that he deems his favorite: the Arturo Fuente 8-5-8, a tried-and-true classic that provides great bang for the buck. Why does he like it? It’s what his father smoked, what his brother smoked. It also puts him in touch with his Cuban roots (his mother’s father is from Cuba). He smokes on days off, a rarity given his busy schedule, or to celebrate.
