Brandi Rhodes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brandi Rhodes
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Rhodes in 2011
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| Born |
Brandi Alexis Reed
June 23, 1983 Canton, Michigan, U.S.
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| Alma mater | University of Michigan (BA) University of Miami (MA) |
| Occupation | Professional wrestler • professional wrestling ring announcer |
| Spouse(s) |
Cody Rhodes
(m. 2013) |
| Children | 1 |
| Family | Dusty Rhodes (father-in-law) Dustin Rhodes (half-brother-in-law) |
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Professional wrestling career
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| Ring name(s) | Brandi Brandi Rhodes Eden Eden Stiles |
| Billed height | 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) |
| Billed from | Ann Arbor, Michigan Atlanta, Georgia Canton, Michigan Detroit, Michigan Los Angeles, California Marietta, Georgia |
| Trained by | Norman Smiley Sara Del Rey |
| Debut | April 2011 |
| Retired | February 2022 |
Brandi Alexis Runnels (born June 23, 1983), better known as Brandi Rhodes, is an American ring announcer and retired professional wrestler. She is famous for her time in WWE and for being the first chief brand officer of All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where she also wrestled.
Her career in WWE started in 2011. She was sent to a training group called Florida Championship Wrestling and worked as a ring announcer named Eden Stiles. During this time, she married fellow wrestler Cody Rhodes. When her husband left WWE in 2016, she also left a few days later. She then wrestled for other companies like Impact Wrestling and Ring of Honor.
In 2019, she helped start the new wrestling company AEW. She left AEW in February 2022 and later retired from wrestling. Before her wrestling career, Brandi was a competitive figure skater and a TV news anchor. She was also a star on the reality television show WAGS Atlanta.
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Early Life and Education
Brandi Alexis Reed grew up in Canton, Michigan, near Detroit, Michigan. She has an older brother named Jason. For 17 years, starting when she was only four, Brandi was a competitive figure skater.
When she went to college, she decided to stop skating to focus on her studies. She wanted a career in broadcasting. Brandi graduated from the University of Michigan with a full scholarship. After college, she worked as a local news reporter for two years. Later, she moved to Miami, Florida, to work in modeling and acting. While in Miami, she earned a master's degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Miami.
Professional Wrestling Career
First Run in WWE (2011)
In 2011, while working as a model, Brandi was invited to a tryout for WWE. She signed a contract to train with them and was sent to Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW). She first appeared with the ring name Brandi.
Soon, she began working as a ring announcer on TV shows like Superstars and NXT. For this role, she used the name Eden Stiles. She even announced for SmackDown on a few episodes. She had only one match in FCW, a battle royal. In December 2011, she asked to be released from her WWE contract and left the company.
Return to WWE (2013–2016)
Brandi announced her return to WWE in November 2013. Her ring name was shortened to Eden. She went back to being a ring announcer, starting on NXT.
By October 2014, Eden was the main ring announcer and backstage interviewer for SmackDown and Main Event. She also announced for major events like Hell in a Cell (2014). On May 24, 2016, Brandi left WWE, just a few days after her husband, Cody Rhodes, also left.
Wrestling on the Independent Circuit (2016–2019)
After leaving WWE, Brandi started appearing at independent wrestling shows. She often stood in her husband Cody's corner during his matches. In October 2016, she had her first singles match and won against Jordynne Grace.
Over the next few years, she wrestled against other famous wrestlers like Tessa Blanchard and Bea Priestley. In 2019, she made a surprise appearance at a Rise Wrestling event with Britt Baker and Nyla Rose.
Impact Wrestling (2016–2017)
In September 2016, it was announced that Brandi had signed with TNA (now known as Impact Wrestling). She and her husband Cody started a storyline against another wrestling couple, Maria Kanellis and Mike Bennett.
Brandi had her first match in TNA in a mixed tag team match, where men and women team up. She and Cody fought against Maria and Mike. She later teamed up with Moose for another victory. Brandi left Impact Wrestling in 2017.
Ring of Honor (2017–2018)
Brandi made her wrestling debut for Ring of Honor (ROH) in July 2017. She teamed up with Sumie Sakai in a tag team match. In 2018, she competed in a tournament to crown the first-ever Women of Honor World Champion but did not win.
World Wonder Ring Stardom (2018)
In 2018, Brandi wrestled in Japan for a company called World Wonder Ring Stardom. She joined a group of wrestlers called the Oedo Tai stable. She won her first match in their Cinderella Tournament but lost in the second round. It was later revealed that she had broken her collarbone during her time there.
All Elite Wrestling (2019–2022)
In 2019, Brandi became the Chief Brand Officer of the new wrestling company All Elite Wrestling (AEW), which her husband Cody helped create. At AEW's first big event, Double or Nothing, she surprised the audience by adding Awesome Kong to a women's match. This showed she was playing a "heel" character, or a villain.
Brandi had her first AEW match at Fight for the Fallen, where she defeated Allie. She and Awesome Kong started a group called The Nightmare Collective. However, the group was not popular with fans, and Brandi left it in February 2020.
Afterward, she started appearing as a "face," or a hero. She supported her husband Cody and formed a tag team called The Nightmare Sisters with Allie. In late 2020, she began a storyline with Jade Cargill and basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal. After her daughter was born, Brandi made fewer appearances. She and Cody both left AEW on February 15, 2022.
Return to the Spotlight (2024)
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At WrestleMania XL in April 2024, Brandi appeared with her husband Cody for his main event match. After Cody won the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship, she joined him in the ring to celebrate this major victory.
Life Outside of Wrestling
Brandi has appeared in TV commercials for big brands like Budweiser and KFC. She also started her own line of swimwear called "Confection Swimwear." In 2017, she was a cast member on the E! reality TV show WAGS Atlanta. In 2021, she and Cody starred in their own reality show, Rhodes to the Top.
Brandi has achieved several "firsts" in her career. She was the first African-American woman to be a ring announcer at WrestleMania. As AEW's Chief Brand Officer, she became the first African-American woman to be an executive at a major American wrestling company. She also helped AEW partner with KultureCity, a charity that helps make events more welcoming for people with sensory needs.
Brandi married professional wrestler Cody Rhodes in September 2013. They have one daughter, Liberty.
Championships and Accomplishments
- DDT Pro-Wrestling
- Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship (1 time)
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Ranked No. 50 of the top 100 female wrestlers in 2019
See also
In Spanish: Brandi Rhodes para niños
