Cody & Brandi Rhodes Welcome Baby No. 2: Meet Leilani Ella
WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and his wife, former wrestler and executive Brandi Rhodes, have quietly welcomed their second child.
Brandi revealed the news on Instagram Friday, August 29, posting a tender photo of her hand holding the newborn’s. The couple named their daughter Leilani Ella Runnels, who joins her big sister, Liberty Iris, 4.
“Welcome to the world Leilani Ella Runnels,” Brandi wrote in her caption. “We are in love. Thank you God for answered prayers. Cody + Brandi + Libby + Lani = ❤️.”
Cody also celebrated the moment, resharing Brandi’s post and adding a photo of Liberty proudly wearing a pink “Big Sister” hat. The Rhodes family received an outpouring of love from the wrestling community, with Natalya Neidhart commenting, “Congratulations!!!!!! This is amazing!” while Gail Kim-Irvine added, “Wow, kept a little secret! Congratulations 🎉.”
💬 Family First for Cody Rhodes
The birth of Cody’s second daughter comes at a pivotal moment in his career. Earlier this year, he captured WWE’s top prize and has since spoken openly about balancing family with life in the spotlight.
In an interview on Today back in April, Cody revealed how he explains wrestling to Liberty after she saw him injured. “What I have told her — and I don’t know if this is the best strategy — is that I’m pretending to be a superhero and I’m playing with my friends,” he said. “So far, that works, but we’ll see.”
Cody has also admitted that fatherhood changed his entire perspective. “Wrestling is selfish, and you want to be number one. For so long, I wanted it for me… maybe a little for my dad. But having a daughter right out of the gate, all of that went away. It wasn’t about where I am. It was about the life I could give her.”
🎙 Wrestling.news | Backstage Take
The Rhodes family’s new arrival adds another emotional layer to Cody’s story, especially as he heads into WWE’s biggest events. Fans have watched him honor Dusty Rhodes’ legacy, achieve his own WrestleMania dreams, and now embrace fatherhood as his greatest role yet.
In an industry defined by championships and rivalries, Cody’s focus on family reminds fans that behind the “American Nightmare” is a dad whose biggest win is at home. Expect this moment to be woven into Cody’s on-screen narrative — WWE thrives on reality blending with storylines, and nothing hits fans harder than seeing real joy and vulnerability shine through.
