One of the most interesting things to me as a theme park fan is other people who share that passion for theme parks. I was fortunate to talk to professional wrestler Cody Rhodes, who is an enormous theme park fan, about his love of theme parks, his favorite coaster, X2, and just how Skull Island: Reign of Kong stacks up against his favorite Universal attraction of all time, Kongfrontation.

C101: You’ve been quoted as saying “There’s a deep love for the attractions industry.” How did you first get into theme parks?

Cody Rhodes: A portion of my family is from Tampa, kinda where my dad had started his career, and being in the Tampa area with cousins, and family and all of that, that was what I always wanted to do. Any excuse – whether it was Thanksgiving or whatever it was, I would always see if I could get to Busch Gardens, and then if it was a longer trip, to convince the family to go to Disney World. That’s where it started. Then when we started filming World Championship Wrestling shows at, at the time, Disney-MGM Studios, I literally would just walk out the back door there, and run amok all over the park.

C101: From the WCW shows at Disney as a kid to now identifying yourself as a “Universal Guy” and saying Universal Orlando is your “wheelhouse” – Why Universal over any other park?

Universal Orlando > Disney since 99' Make a new ride, not just concept art for one. @ZackRyder — Hyrule Husky (@PrinceCGR) June 20, 2014

CR: Specifically, I’m a theatrical person so in the early concept of that original Universal rides and movies era, I loved that. Especially because I had a love for the “Jaws” of the world, and some of the classics. Universal’s my favorite – they own the monsters franchise. But, specifically what did it, and what would be the main cause is Kongfrontation.

I thought there was nothing like it. To this day, I feel like it was incredibly ahead of its time. With the smell device, the news footage, the whole thing. To have done that in the 90’s and we still can’t do something that close to it in this era, that was the ride that did it for me.

C101: Why Kongfrontation over any other classic or current Universal attraction?

CR: Back in the day, you’d go to hit the parks, and you’d go to Hitchcock 3D, and as a kid, you don’t even know Alfred Hitchcock. Universal was almost educational in a sense, because some of the attractions were geared toward the generation prior to the youth that was coming there, or in Hitchcock’s case, several generations.

I don’t know what it was particularly. At this specific park, Universal Studios Florida, I fell in love with it. As a kid, I of course loved Disney, but we weren’t a “Disney” family. We didn’t do Mickey Mouse club, I never got on board with the Disney thing, which is weird, and even today, that’s bizarre. But I never got on board with it. With Universal and Kongfrontation, something just clicked with me.

Fell for @UniversalORL as a kid because of this guy Ready to experience his return. Thank-you @OrlandoVIPs pic.twitter.com/2UGwCEyZXT — Cody Rhodes (@CodyRhodes) September 27, 2016

C101: How does Skull Island: Reign of Kong stack up to Kongfrontation?

CR: We rode it–We rode it twice actually. I had kind of made the mistake – I didn’t read any spoilers, but spoilers were told to me that it’s very similar to the LA version, with the 3D attraction essentially. I was smart to the idea that there was going to be this big animatronic Kong. I really enjoyed it, and I think kids will dig Skull Island.

However, it pales in comparison to Kongfrontation. It’s wonderful, because I feel like they thought to bring Kong back, and as a kid to approach that ride, and see the façade, just the ride building alone. I think that’s going to be an attraction that children really get on board with, even though it may not be intended for that generation. It’s always meant for all generations.

For me personally, it just wasn’t Kongfrontation. I was not pissed – I enjoyed the attraction and rode it twice back to back, but I was irked that there was not the photo op at the end in the King Kong hand. That was part of the deal. Selfishly I thought my nostalgia fix would be hit. That was the best part. Even when you go down that walkway exiting the Mummy, you cant help but remember how the walkway used to go.

C101: While you were traveling for WWE (as well as now on the Independent Circuit) did you/do ever have downtime on the road to check out other parks around the country or around the world?

CR: Usually not. The wrestling gig is kind of “you go everywhere, you see nothing.” However, when you have long extended periods of time, like when you come to Los Angeles for Summerslam for an entire week, or the year Wrestlemania was in Orlando (Wrestlemania XXIV, 2008) that’s always a great time to make the effort to get to the parks.

Five or six years ago, when Summerslam was in LA, that was my first time ever visiting Six Flags Magic Mountain and discovering the grandeur in terms of coaster status of how great that that park really is. That was something that wrestling and traveling around kind of afforded me.When we were near Detroit, we stayed an extra day to stay with my wife’s family, but also to hit Cedar Point, the other coaster capital of the world.

C101: What was it like having roller coasters (and the park?) basically to yourself at Six Flags Over Texas while promoting Wrestlemania 32 in Dallas?

CR: The Wrestlemania week schedule is so busy that you’re almost kind of griping about getting up and doing this and doing that, but that appearance was one where you think “wow, it’s amazing that they pay us for this.” What a cool chance. I used to go to Six Flags Over Texas when I was a kid with my grandmother.

Now, here I am, and the park is completely empty, and they’re taking me around. I got to go by the Hall of Justice, and no one’s in the park. It was really surreal.

They were actually really forthcoming, they told us “hey you can ride this as many times as you want, this as many times as you want.” We only rode Mr. Freeze Reverse Blast and Titan, and only rode them twice each, but gosh, it was so cool. They had the 3-D camera that they had expertly stationed on the front of the ride vehicle. Just surreal. Very lucky to be doing something like that. Plus, I was up and at’em. I lived in Dallas at the time. Zack [Ryder, another professional wrestler], he’d had a long night the night before, and he was hurting on the second Reverse Blast. It was pretty fun to see.

C101: Is your wife, Brandi, also a big theme park fan?

CR: One of our first dates was Halloween Horror Nights 21. That was one of the most fun nights of my life. I’d say my wedding was my favorite night of my life, but honestly that night at Halloween Horror Nights 21 was one of the most fun nights I’ve ever had. She dug it all. It’s always cool when you can show somebody a park where you have the expertise, and they can really dig it. She was all about Halloween Horror Nights. Now that’s more her thing, she talks to the creative director like every other week and asks all these questions. She’s a lot of fun. I guess I’ve converted her to more Universal, and Zack has yet to fully convert her to Disney yet. She likes west coast Disney, she does not like east coast Disney. So we’re trying!

C101: How did you first link up with Michael Aiello, Director of Entertainment Creative Development for Universal and Halloween Horror Nights?

CR: I want to say we met via twitter. Just as simple as that. I think he just wanted to meet us one time in the park. Mike and I have a nice symbiotic relationship, and he’s really just become a family friend. He’s great.

One of the more fun things, is when we go with him is when people come up to Mike in the park and ask for pictures and ask for autographs. It almost I think makes Zack jealous. It looks like they might be approaching him, but then ask him “hey can you take this picture of me and Mike?” To see Mike in his element is a lot of fun. If you go to Finnegans, it’s like a celebration of Mike. Everybody in there knows him, and its really cool to see. I like it because he works so hard, and works year round to get the best quality HHN, and I dig it.

C101: What did you think about this year’s Halloween Horror Nights, both at Universal Orlando and Universal Hollywood?

It's that time of year again…?@OrlandoVIPs & @Michael_Aiello(i l o) about to raise the bar once again. Just bought my lady some swag. pic.twitter.com/KvHfnUrBjQ — Cody Rhodes (@CodyRhodes) September 25, 2016

CR: Well, full disclosure, we party pretty hard. I knew in advance, but on the west coast, it’s a little bit bizarre that they don’t serve alcohol during Halloween Horror Nights out there.

Overall, the experience of Halloween Horror Nights in Orlando is the bigger, better, more grand experience. I think people shouldn’t short change the west coast though. They had their own American Horror Story house at each park this year, and I actually liked the west coast version better. It was a more seamless discovery of “Oh I’m in the new season – I’ve moved from Hotel to Freak Show or what have you.”

Also, the West Coast has the beautiful advantage of the actual studio lot. Part of the Terror Tram, you get to take a picture at the Psycho House, plus you’re basically on the old studio tour, walking through real sets. Stuff like that really gets me. They also slash at your face on the west coast. I don’t know if that’s a legal thing, I have no clue, I was trying to figure it out. Sometimes I try to go too deep inside HHN!

We've always been Orlando snobs… giving the West Coast HHN a shot ? pic.twitter.com/thCQ7v9lRb — Cody Rhodes (@CodyRhodes) November 1, 2016

I’ll say that I enjoyed HHN Orlando the most, but I was really surprised, because just went to the west coast version on a whim – we’re almost those Orlando-type snobs – but I was really surprised at how the good the west coast version and what special things it offers, being on the west coast.

C101: What was your favorite house at Hollywood Horror Nights in Orlando?

CR: That’s tough. I know I was really blown away by Ghost Town. Tomb of the Ancients was a lot of people’s favorite, which was cool with it not being one of the big IPs. The one I think we particularly enjoyed the most was Walking Dead, and Brandi and I are not Walking Dead fans. We keep waiting for them to not do Walking Dead stuff, but the reality is, Walking Dead has a massive audience, and it’s not going anywhere.

Exorcist, AHS, Chainsaw' They are bringing the heat this year. (@ZackRyder is already asking for an itinerary) https://t.co/npgUZ0mtXs — Cody Rhodes (@CodyRhodes) September 15, 2016

I guess it’s because that one year we went and Walking Dead did all the scare zones, that we were “Walking Dead-ed” out a little bit, but this year the house was truly phenomenal. Halloween, with the sequel house this year, Halloween is always a win, because the idea of these big 6’ something Michael Myers popping out of every corner, there’s so many scares available. We didn’t have a bad house. Every house in Orlando, we were a fan of.

C101: What are your thoughts on Universal’s new additions that are on the horizon?

CR: I stayed at Sapphire Falls, and my room had an incredible view of Volcano Bay. Volcano Bay, especially with the virtual lines, is a game-changer.

That’s what I personally like about Universal. It seems like every year I go there, and there’s a new attraction, and not a rushed, haphazard refurb, but a full blown new attraction. They continue to build. They’re behind Disney in the terms that Disney has the resort “feel” and is almost its own city. Universal’s moving fast. Volcano Bay is going to be the game changer for people who want the water park experience.

C101: You’ve said that X2 is your Favorite Coaster anywhere. What do you like most about it?

CR: So there’s a picture of me on X2, I have no shoes on because I had to take my flip flops off, no hat, and a tank top, it’s the funniest goofiest picture ever, and my eyes are crossed, just due to how intense for a first time rider X2 is. I’ve done a tandem plane jump before, and that wasn’t as intense as X2.

That first time, not knowing which way, on these rotating seats, which way you’re going to end up when you hit the first hill, and then the fire randomly going off, and the constant switch in air you feel, it’s just so intense that it crossed my eyes. That’s why it’s my favorite coaster.

C101: Are there any parks or roller coasters that are on your theme park “bucket list” that you haven’t experienced yet? – Rides you really want to ride or parks you really want to visit?

CR: The wing coasters have alluded us. I haven’t been able to hit Wild Eagle, X-Flight, or Gatekeeper. And I feel like such a jabroni that I haven’t gotten on them yet. Whether it’s a Cedar Point visit, or if we ever get out to Dollywood – I used to go to Dollywood as a kid. I used to go to every park as a kid, I was a little spoiled brat – But those wing coasters are alluding us.

C101: While you were with WWE, you briefly hinted at creating a theme park podcast with Zack Ryder. Is that still in the works?

(1/2) #TheParkLife is very real, moving outta' preproduction now…what do you park fans want to hear us discuss? pic.twitter.com/hVxVcIgKLS — Hyrule Husky (@PrinceCGR) May 11, 2016

CR: I think we’re gonna do it. He’s upset. I think Zack’s still mad that I quit. And he can get over it. I think we’re definitely going to do it, and I think we have some cool guests that we have lined up. [WWE Wrestler] Randy Orton is secretly a big theme park fan, Joe Coffey, a big independent wrestler in the UK and Ireland and Scotland, is a theme park fan – we’re going to line up some cool guests to feature and talk just theme parks. It’ll happen, it’s just a matter of when. I’d say it’ll definitely happen in 2017.

C101: Cody, I really appreciate your time. Anything else you’d like our readers to know?

CR: I don’t know what it is for me, maybe it’s because the business I’m in is the business to escape reality, but theme parks a very easy transition for me.

I always went to parks with the idea that the moment that you walk in and hear the music, whether its Disney World or Islands of Adventure, you’re not bound to the real world anymore. And the really good parks do that in such a seamless way, where you’re not trying to have a good time, you’re just having a good time. Diagon Alley, as a lifetime Harry Potter reader, it’s like being in the books and in the movies. It’s mind blowing. I hope Disney does the same with Star Wars.

Right now, it’s a great time to be a theme park fan.

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Thanks to Cody Rhodes for his time, and Brian Wittenstein for facilitating the interview. You can follow Cody on Twitter at @CodyRhodes.