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WWE star Cody Rhodes wants a real-life superhero-style funeral inspired by a DC comic... with his wrestling co-workers coming as their characters
Cody Rhodes wants his funeral inspired by one of DC Comics’ most (in)famous moments.

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The worlds of professional wrestling and superhero comic books have been intertwined for almost a century, but comic book fan/pro wrestler Cody Rhodes wants to take it a step further by having his real-life funeral take a page from the epic superhero funeral scene in DC Comics' Identity Crisis by Brad Meltzer and Rags Morales.

(No, Cody Rhodes doesn't plan on dying anytime soon.)
(But yes, this would be his real-life funeral.)
“Identity Crisis has one of the greatest funeral scenes of all time because all of [the superheroes] showed up in gimmick, full gear,” Rhodes told interview (and actor and comic book fan) David Dastmalchian. “So when my time comes, I want the wrestling world in full gimmick.”
In wrestling parlance, that means he wants anyone who attends his funeral who comes from the wrestling world to come dressed as and playing their fictional characters. That would mean his longtime friend Randy Orton coming as the fictionalized version of himself from WWE television, his real-life uncle Fred Ottman coming as one of his characters (Tugboat, Typhone, or the Shockmaster included), a retired Texas veteran Steve Williams coming in full-on as 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin, and so on.
And yes, Danhausen.
"Bury me in the American Nightmare Sandra Gray robe; bury me as I was," says Rhodes, referring to the designer of his current wrestling gear. "I spent so much time giving back to pro wrestling and taking from pro wrestling, and I love that. I just got to play a superhero and I'd like to go out a superhero."
Rhodes is a lifelong comic book fan, shopping at some of the same Alabama and Georgia comic book shops in the '90s and '00s as I did. Rhodes has written a comic before (Michael Kingston's Headlocked: The Hard Way graphic novel), and has homaged several comic book superheroes with his wrestling attire over the years. Out of all of comics though, Rhodes considers Identity Crisis his favorite DC comic of all time.
"I widely consider it my favorite DC graphic novel of all time, and made me a comic book fan later in life after I drifted away."
Dastmalchian and Rhodes are co-starring in the upcoming Street Fighter movie. Dastmalchian said he would come to Rhodes' funeral as his Street Fighter character M. Bison or as his horror host character, Dr. Fearless.
"I don't know if I'm supposed to spoil it for anybody, but I've seen you as M. Bison and that's who I want at my funeral," Rhodes agreed.
Interested? Here's where to find your closest local comic store, courtesy of Sweet.
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