Cody Rhodes Advocates for WWE's Return to Abu Dhabi, Amidst 'Street Fighter' Film Buzz

Nearly nine years have passed since WWE last held an event in Abu Dhabi, but three-time WWE champion Cody Rhodes believes it's time for the wrestling giant to return. "Love Abu Dhabi," Rhodes shared with The National. "I usually only get to stop by for a short time, but it feels like it's been a while since WWE has been in the Middle East, and we haven't really visited Abu Dhabi. We absolutely should." WWE's last shows in the UAE capital were in December 2017, featuring stars like Roman Reigns at the Zayed Sports City Tennis Stadium. Since then, the company has expanded its presence in Saudi Arabia, with its next major event, Crown Jewel, scheduled for November 7 in Riyadh, where Reigns is set to face Sami Zayn.

Rhodes is currently promoting the new 'Street Fighter' film, in which he stars alongside American comedian Andrew Schulz. Schulz is a familiar face in Abu Dhabi, having performed at Etihad Arena twice, first in October 2023 and again in May 2024 during the inaugural Abu Dhabi Comedy Week. "Abu Dhabi is fantastic. Some of the best comedy audiences globally," Schulz commented. In director Kitao Sakurai's adaptation of Capcom's renowned fighting game series, Rhodes takes on the role of US Air Force fighter Guile, while Schulz portrays Dan Hibiki. The film, set in 1993, follows estranged fighters Ryu (Andrew Koji) and Ken Masters (Noah Centineo) as they are enlisted to compete in the World Warrior Tournament by Chun-Li (Callina Liang).

Schulz brought two decades of stand-up comedy experience to the film, though some of his stage habits needed adjustment for acting alongside other performers. "We're not getting a big pop or a big laugh," he explained. "So, I think in some ways it's about retraining yourself not to wait for the reaction. This character isn't looking for laughs; he's deadly serious about his statements. It might seem ridiculous and absurd, but to him, it's the most important thing in the world. It's like unlearning things we've both been doing for the past 20 years."

Rhodes found a more comfortable environment during a large tournament scene with hundreds of extras. Surrounded by competitors and spectators, he could leverage the showmanship honed throughout his wrestling career. "There's an element of peacocking to what Guile was doing," Rhodes noted, even challenging Schulz to an arm-wrestling match. Director Sakurai and representatives from Capcom were present on set, offering feedback similar to what Rhodes was accustomed to from wrestling crowds. Their input helped him gauge the effectiveness and faithfulness of his portrayal of Guile. There was also room for creative experimentation, particularly when Schulz and Rhodes suggested incorporating humor into the action. Schulz was particularly intrigued by aerial performers suspended above the set, some by their hair, which inspired an idea for a scene. He and Rhodes proposed that a performer descend upside down during a conversation involving Guile, interrupting the dialogue before ascending again. The filmmakers embraced the gag, including it in the final cut. "They were very open to hearing our absurd ideas," Schulz said.

Beyond these contributions, Schulz found himself in a production where overarching creative decisions were made by others, a novel experience after building his own comedy career for two decades. "It was incredibly rewarding to be part of something where you trust the creators and simply say, 'Okay, for the first time in my career, I'm fully submitting to your creative vision and will execute it to the best of my ability'," he stated. Rhodes is joined in the film by fellow professional wrestlers Roman Reigns, who plays Akuma, and Hirooki Goto, who portrays E Honda. WWE has supported the film's promotion, with Rhodes even wearing Guile-inspired ring attire during his SummerSlam entrance in August. This crossover between wrestling and film provides an opportunity to engage an audience already familiar with their work while offering fans something new from all three performers. "What I love is that when they see Roman, when they see Goto, when they see me, they won't be seeing their usual personas, which is a testament to what we've achieved and the skills we developed before entering this field, in terms of creating a brand new character, adding another layer to ourselves," Rhodes explained. 'Street Fighter' is set to release in UAE cinemas on Thursday.