WWE superstar Cody Rhodes has been busy preparing for one of the most high-profile cinematic roles of his career, stepping into the iconic combat boots of the legendary Street Fighter character, Guile, for the highly anticipated upcoming movie reboot. As production moves forward, the multi-time champion has opened up about how his extensive background as a professional wrestler has uniquely equipped him to bring the stoic, high-ranking U.S. Air Force pilot to life on the big screen.
In a recent question-and-answer session held to promote the forthcoming feature film, Rhodes reflected on his lifelong connection to the franchise. His love for Street Fighter II dates back to his childhood, an era when getting the top-selling game for his family’s Nintendo console felt like a monumental event. Looking back at his early gaming days with a touch of humor, he admitted that he was surprisingly better at executing special moves as a kid than he is now as a full-grown adult male.
Despite joking about his declining arcade reflexes, Rhodes is certainly no slouch when it comes to athletic performance and competitive environments today. Having held the prestigious WWE Championship multiple times, he is already a familiar face in the digital gaming world, serving as a playable character in many of the pro wrestling promotion’s own video game offerings. Even so, securing a chance to step into the massive Street Fighter cinematic universe as Guile stands out as one of the proudest moments of his professional career yet.
During the promotional event, the grappler shared some of the specific inspirations and creative choices behind bringing the iconic U.S. Air Force pilot into the live-action movie adaptation. Much of the process, he noted, involved striking the right balance between the character’s larger-than-life origins and grounded military authenticity. To achieve this, Rhodes sought out real-world perspectives to ensure his portrayal resonated with authenticity.
He revealed that he consulted with a personal friend who currently serves in the United States Air Force, asking detailed questions about military life, posture, and even whether there were specific phrases or mannerisms that service members commonly use or appreciate. However, among all the details discussed, the element that Rhodes connected with the most on a personal level was the military dog tags, which helped ground the character’s visual identity.
Rhodes also explained how coming straight from the theatrical, high-energy environment of the WWE Universe provided an unexpected advantage when it came to nailing Guile’s overall presentation and commanding physical presence before the cameras.
How WWE Training Prepared Cody Rhodes to Play Guile in ‘Street Fighter’
"Being a wrestler and coming to do Street Fighter informs the character, but probably in different ways than people think," said the athlete widely known as The American Nightmare.
Elaborating on the physical demands of transitioning from the squared circle to a Hollywood movie set, Rhodes pointed out that his athletic background directly translated to the rigorous stunt choreography required for the film. Being accustomed to high-impact physical performance allowed him to tackle complex action sequences with confidence.
"I can get on the wire, and I can actually pull this Flash Kick off, and I can land. You can throw a punch… So, there were those components that being a wrestler helped with: the fights and this wonderful stunt team coming together," Rhodes explained.
Beyond the physical stunts and fight choreography, however, Rhodes emphasized that professional wrestling instilled in him a specific kind of star power and non-verbal communication that is vital for portraying an iconic fighting game character. He noted that there is a distinct aura associated with Guile that mirrors the presence of legendary figures in the professional wrestling industry. According to Rhodes, both domains share a requirement for a commanding demeanor where a performer simply walks into a room and instantly commands attention, making heads turn without needing to say a word.
Balancing a demanding, full-time schedule as a top-tier WWE superstar with the intense commitments of shooting a major, big-budget Hollywood motion picture required a serious personal investment and careful time management for Rhodes. Despite the logistical hurdles, the wrestling icon could not have been keener to dive into the project and pull it off successfully. He described the transition as moving directly from one high-intensity career to another, treating his cinematic debut with the same dedication he brings to his professional wrestling career every single week.
"I jumped right from my day job as a pro wrestler into my new day job being Guile," he remarked, emphasizing his commitment to honoring the source material. "In my mind, it’s important that what you do reflects what we grew up playing."
Fortunately, navigating this major career crossover was made smoother by the camaraderie on set. Rhodes reported having a fantastic experience working alongside the rest of the star-studded cast, which features notable names such as Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson and comedian Andrew Schulz. The collaborative environment fostered a unique sense of unity among the performers from diverse entertainment backgrounds.
Reflecting on the collaborative energy among the talent involved in the project, Rhodes expressed a level of creative alignment that surprised even him. He noted that he had rarely experienced such an immediate and natural synergy with a group of people he had barely known prior to production.
He attributed this strong connection to the fact that many of the cast members are proven leaders and trailblazers in their respective industries, whether those fields happen to be hip-hop music, stand-up comedy, professional wrestling, or traditional dramatic acting. In Rhodes’ view, this diverse blend of accomplished talents working toward a common creative goal means that the film’s production team has likely captured lightning in a bottle.
Street Fighter is scheduled to arrive in theaters on October 16, 2026. Fans looking to follow Cody Rhodes’ ongoing journey inside and outside the ring can find him on Instagram.
