Podcast Summary: "What Do You Wanna Talk About? with Cody Rhodes"
Episode: Jey Uso (February 4, 2026)
Episode Overview
WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes welcomes Jey Uso to a candid, heartfelt, and often hilarious conversation about careers, family, legacy, and the “yeet” movement that’s electrified WWE crowds. Together, they revisit pivotal moments — from a now-legendary press conference to emotional reflections on family and navigating wrestling’s relentless grind. The episode brims with never-before-heard anecdotes, backstage camaraderie, and honest insight into what it means to be at the center of one of wrestling’s all-time great sagas.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Unplanned Press Conference & Birth of "Yeet"
- Fastlane’s Aftermath & Press Conference (03:00–07:10)
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Neither Cody nor Jey expected to do the press conference after their tag team title win — it was impromptu.
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The chaotic press conference, filled with banter and confusion, unintentionally launched “yeet” from an inside catchphrase to a WWE mainstream phenomenon.
“That press conference is what lit [Yeet] on fire...none of that was planned, Deuce. Me and my dog Cody was out there just doing what we do.”
— Jey Uso (01:39)"Within 20 seconds of us shuffling out there...you're just fucking around with the Velcro on the title and it's all this noise...and the worst press corps of all time, God bless them...they're just staring like we're in this on the other side of the fence at the zoo."
— Cody Rhodes (04:44)
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2. The Evolution & Power of Connection
- The "Yeet" Movement & Fan Resonance (07:10–10:17, 51:56–53:44)
- Jey credits the crowd’s infectious energy for making “yeet” more than just a catchphrase.
- Notes the shift: "when you’re really over, you kind of don’t have to do nothing,” fans’ love and empathy fuel the performance.
- Emphasizes performing for kids:
“I’m gonna always go towards the kids... I just focus on the kids, man. That’s why I come out and I look for them now...”
— Jey Uso (52:36)
3. Wrestling Roots & Family Legacy
- Heritage, Hardship, and Parental Approval (12:44–17:14)
- Jey reflects on growing up the son of Rikishi, highlighting financial hardships, his dad's sacrifices, and the pride in making it.
- Shares Rikishi’s philosophy: “Always evolve. Don’t stay stuck, because you’ll get skipped.”
"Being a wrestler now...I know today it’s an easier hustle. And I’m not saying...this shit’s still hard. Being a wrestler. This life is hard."
— Jey Uso (16:28) - Speaks emotionally on his dad’s support and stamp of approval.
4. The Changing Business: Schedules, Tours, and House Shows
- Modern vs. Classic Hustle (19:23–22:53)
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Both lament the lack of house show loops for up-and-comers, noting how frequent matches bred camaraderie and developmental bonds.
"It’s hard to say you’re part of a team if you’re not playing with your team all the time, right?"
— Cody Rhodes (21:43)
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5. Mindset, Trust, and Responsibility at the Top
- On Growth and Carving Your Space (25:46–32:52)
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Jey discusses earning the company’s trust: going from being valued for ring work, to being handed the mic, to being allowed creative freedom.
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Talks about the pride and weight of being “main event” — and how "the chip [on the shoulder] is still there," even after earning world champion status.
“I’ve never...me and Jim has never been in the position like, yo we’re gonna push these two... our in-ring work has gotten me and Jim to where we needed to be.”
— Jey Uso (25:46)“Now when it works, I’m helping the company... I’m just so grateful and I appreciate everyone and... everyone on my journey, man, because it’s been a hard one. I bust my damn ass, Ooze.”
— Jey Uso (27:01)"There's gonna come a time where you're not one of the boys. Now it's like, oh, you can't be one of the boys. You gotta kinda dress alone...because now when it’s time to go against each other...it’s just business. Sorry, Us, but let's run the play."
— Jey Uso (33:01)
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6. Locker Room Lessons, Camaraderie, and the Art of Time Management
- Navigating Leadership (32:52–36:43)
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Cody shares about setting boundaries to refine his craft, maintaining performance quality under stressful circumstances, and learning from legends.
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Both stress modeling professionalism for younger talents like Carmelo Hayes.
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On leadership style: let others pitch ideas in meetings, sit back, and observe — wisdom passed from Rikishi to Jey.
"Some of my favorites aren’t the loudest in the room...they’re not performing for [the cameras]...If it comes to me, I’ll have something. But if it doesn’t, you can’t play dumb forever because you eventually have to run the play.”
— Cody Rhodes (34:18)
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7. Full Speed Ahead: Old School Intensity & The Rhodes/Usos Brotherhood
- Never Let Up, Even Off Camera (38:02–46:35)
- Several stories about touring together — from Austria house show shenanigans (“full speed ahead: FSA!”) to Goldust’s “give me a goddamn minute” in-ring moment.
- Pride in working hard even in front of small crowds:
“We’d been doing this tag match on the live events where we were doing everything...and the question became, when we got there, hey, not a great house. Do you guys want to kind of just lighten it up? And it was in unison...Chicken’s the one who said, no, full speed ahead, yo.”
— Cody Rhodes (41:52)
8. Passing the Torch & Generational Continuity
- Family Business, Training the Next Gen (44:55–45:21)
- Updates on Jey’s brother, Jimmy (“Big Jim”), and the next generation: Rhodes and Anoa’i offspring stepping into the ring.
9. The Bloodline Saga: Wrestling’s "Cinema"
- Historic Impact and Ongoing Legacy (59:30–65:54)
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Cody compares the Bloodline narrative to wrestling’s greatest storylines: Austin/McMahon, Sting/NWO, etc.
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Jey describes the organic, improvisational aspect — “we didn’t even know we was cooking like that.”
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Adapting during the COVID era with more “cinematic” performances ("acting through the lenses").
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The Bloodline’s strength: every member and every opponent were elevated by association.
“The Bloodline story always had someone opposed to it, and always was able to bring them up. This is a story that nobody pulled down, which is a really incredible string...Everyone’s growing as a character...”
— Cody Rhodes (60:45)“It was like every week, what we gonna do? Or like, what did we do last week?...Sometimes it would get stale, something would happen and it would, like, revive the story...It was always something.”
— Jey Uso (61:54)“And you know what they say today, it was like cinema. That’s all they kept calling us: cinema, cinema...We were just cooking every week.”
— Jey Uso (63:52)
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10. The Work Under the Work: Reality TV & Protecting Wrestling’s Magic
- On "Unreal" and the Blurred Lines (49:41–51:53)
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Both discuss the new "Unreal" docuseries and how it lifts the curtain, but insist, “there’s still work that can happen under the work.”
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Reflect on how fans have grown smarter and the challenge of keeping them guessing.
“That’s the most old-school thing of all, is the fans are...smart, they’re passionate, they’re loyal...They’ve only gotten more educated — why shouldn’t our product become more educated?”
— Cody Rhodes (51:06)“Work under the work—that could happen.”
— Jey Uso (51:06)
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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On Press Conference Chaos and “Yeet” Birth
“Yeet was already popping...That press conference is what lit it on fire though...None of that was planned, Deuce. Me and my dog Cody was out there just doing what we do.”
— Jey Uso (01:39) -
On Being Over
"Once you’re really, really over, you are. There’s a different art to the game, where you kind of, not to say don’t have to do nothing, but you kind of can just...gain empathy and sympathy from the fans when they really, really, truly love you.”
— Jey Uso (07:10) -
On Responsibility of Leadership
“It was cool being like, you know, one of the boys, but, man, being the leader, just want to, like, move right, give Example. But, man, I’m still, like you said, no highs, man, I’m still, like, locked in, man. I’m trying to take it. I’m trying to take it all still.”
— Jey Uso (30:33) -
On Wrestling for the Kids
“Wrestling...is for the kids, and I’m gonna always stick with that...Sometimes I do get caught up with some...noise out there...But I focus on the kids, man, because that’s why I come out and I look for them now. And I haven’t started that. That just started, like, with the kids, man. And now we got babies now. Now I just focus on the kids.”
— Jey Uso (52:36) -
On Legacy of The Bloodline
“The crazy part is we didn’t even know we was cooking like that...That’s how the bloodline was rolling...didn’t even have concrete [plans]...sometimes it would get stale, something would happen and it would, like, revive the story...I don’t think it’s dead.”
— Jey Uso (61:54–65:02) -
On Full Speed Ahead
“Full speed ahead. FSA. That’s in the group thread.”—Jey Uso (42:58)
Timestamps of Important Segments
- Fastlane Press Conference & "Yeet" Origin: 01:29–07:10
- Impact of Family & Rikishi’s Approval: 12:44–17:14
- Changing Wrestling Landscape (House Shows, Schedules): 19:23–22:53
- On Company Trust, Growing as a Star: 25:46–32:52
- Leadership, Work Ethic & Locker Room Lessons: 32:52–36:43
- “Full Speed Ahead” Touring Stories: 38:02–46:35
- Bloodline Saga Impact & Evolution: 59:30–65:54
- Children as WWE’s Heart: 51:56–53:44
Tone & Style
- The conversation is loose, brotherly, and at times emotional, alternating between locker room humor, razor-sharp honesty, and genuine vulnerability. Both Cody and Jey are proud, grateful, and eager to honor those who helped them while guiding the next generation.
Takeaways
- “Yeet” and the press conference that sparked it were unscripted, organic magic.
- The real alchemy of wrestling comes from trust, family, resilience, and facing adversity together.
- Legacy is lived, not just inherited. The Bloodline saga wasn’t just a storyline—it’s a transformative chapter for WWE and its modern era.
- The best wrestling—on TV or behind the curtain—remains anchored in reality, psychology, and human connection.
This episode is essential for fans wanting a raw, in-the-trenches account of what it means to hit the heights in modern wrestling — and still cherish every moment along the way.