Before she was the first Black woman to hold an executive position in a major wrestling promotion, Brandi Rhodes was gliding across ice rinks in sequins. Before she married into one of wrestling’s most iconic families, she was anchoring local news. And long before she took a single bump in the ring, she was a kid watching wrestling on pay-per-view with her older brother—until her parents banned it.

“One of my earliest memories is actually getting wrestling taken away,” Rhodes tells BET.com. “My brother didn’t get the winner he wanted, threw a tantrum, and my parents were like, ‘That’s it. No more.’”

Eventually, wrestling found its way back into her life—and this time, she wasn’t just watching. She was making history. Starting in WWE as a ring announcer under the name Eden Stiles, Rhodes went on to work in promotions like Impact Wrestling, Ring of Honor, and Japan’s World Wonder Ring Stardom. But her most groundbreaking role came in 2019 when she was named Chief Brand Officer and Executive Vice President of All Elite Wrestling (AEW).

“It wasn’t about making history—it was about contributing creatively and being in the room,” she says. “I brought a different voice to the table and helped shape the brand during a crucial time.”

From Ice to Impact

Rhodes' entry into wrestling was unexpected, but she had already spent years preparing her body and mind for the physical toll. She spent 17 years as a competitive figure skater, which she says gave her a major advantage.

“People think it’s all pretty spins and twirls, but the ice is hard, and you fall a lot,” she explains. “So when I got into wrestling, the physicality wasn’t a shock. The biggest adjustment was learning to bounce back up even faster.”

Her competitive edge and athleticism translated naturally into the ring, but even as she took on bigger roles and more visibility, Rhodes says she was always thinking ahead—about what came next.

A Tag Team in Real Life

Rhodes met her husband, WWE superstar Cody Rhodes, during her early WWE days. “He struck up conversation in the hallway a few times,” she remembers. “At first, I thought he was teasing me. But a friend clued me in—he was actually interested.”

Their friendship quickly evolved into something more. “We’ve been together ever since,” she says simply. These days, with Cody’s star rising fast in WWE, Brandi’s focus is on holding it down at home—especially for their daughter, Liberty.

“I always knew he’d reach this level,” she says. “But now we’ve got a kid, and people run up to him with so much excitement—meanwhile, she’s standing there like, ‘Who are you and what’s your problem?’”

Brandi often plays the role of security guard and mom when fans approach the family in public. “If we’re at a theme park and fans want to say hi, I keep it moving. I’m not being rude,” she clarifies. “I’m just focused on my daughter and keeping her safe.”

Despite Liberty growing up backstage and around wrestling rings, she hasn’t actually seen her parents wrestle. “She runs around the ring and plays, but she has no idea what’s going on,” Brandi says. “She’s turning four this month and has never seen a wrestling match. That’s a personal decision. One day she’ll get it—but there’s no pressure.”

Brandi is also clear that Liberty doesn’t have to follow in the family footsteps. “Every time I post her, someone’s like, ‘Next generation!’ And I’m like—maybe not. If she wants to wrestle, sure. But just because her parents did it doesn’t mean she has to.”

Finding Peace in Movement

After stepping back from in-ring competition, Brandi began building something entirely her own. She recently opened Naked Mind, a wellness studio in North Atlanta that focuses on yoga, Pilates, and mindfulness. The idea was rooted in self-preservation—and a desire to challenge herself in new ways.

“At first, I did not like yoga at all,” she admits. “Before I started wrestling, I tried it during the Bikram era, and I just wasn’t into it. But I gave it another try, and it turned out to be so beneficial for me.”

She describes Pilates as a more athletic counterpart to yoga. “It’s a bit more strength-based, depending on where you go and who you train with,” she explains. “It’s a beautiful way to find balance and work on your mobility—especially as you get older. Once you hit your 40s, mobility becomes everything.”

And no, despite the name, Naked Mind doesn’t involve nudity. “The name refers to you as a blank canvas,” Brandi says. “You come in, everything is clear, and you go do your thing. Of course, if you put ‘naked’ anywhere in the name of anything, people pay attention. That was a little bit intentional. But we don’t get as many people as I thought we would asking if it’s actually naked yoga. Every once in a while someone will ask, and I’m like, ‘No. Keep your clothes on. Treat it like a normal class.’”

Reinventing the Legacy

For Brandi, Naked Mind represents more than a fitness space—it’s a personal pivot and a blueprint for life after wrestling. She’s seen what happens when athletes wait too long to plan for the next chapter.

“I’ll always be connected to wrestling—especially with Cody being such a major figure—but I knew early on I didn’t want wrestling to be the only thing,” she says. “Too many people wait until their bodies give out before they figure out their next move. I never wanted to be one of those people.”

She hopes the studio, and her journey, show her daughter that identity can be multifaceted, and strength doesn’t always have to come from the spotlight.

“I want Liberty to see there are so many ways to be strong. So many ways to lead,” Brandi says. “Wrestling is one part of our story—but it’s not the whole book.”