Cody Rhodes says Nattie Neidhart slapped him harder than Travis Scott
Cody Rhodes says Travis Scott’s slap at Elimination Chamber 2025 wasn’t the hardest he’s been hit.
During an interview with Chris Van Vliet, the WWE Champion said he was unfazed by Scott’s attack, despite it leaving him with a busted eardrum and black eye.
Rhodes said:
“Travis Scott did not hurt me. It looks like he hurt me. I took a photo with Travis Scott at the OBB studio event and I never saw that photo which, I like Travis Scott. I think it’s safe to say at this point I like Travis Scott. I like that he lended us his time and that we had moments with him. I mean, he took a Cross Rhodes. Most people just remember the slap and I’m going to be on this side of history with it. I know it wasn’t everyone’s favorite thing.”
Rhodes said Scott’s slap was the third hardest he’s been hit, naming Bob Holly and Nattie Neidhart as number one and two, respectively.
“I’ll give you the list of slaps. Number two, Bob Holly in London. I think he says, ‘Fire up out there, kid.’ And I think, I don’t want to say something nefarious that gets anyone in trouble. I think someone told him to try and knock me out because the way he slapped me was trying to knock a man out. It didn’t. I have a decent little jaw. So, I took said splash.
The number one might shock you, but I felt it in both of my heels. I felt it in my feet. I had to plant my feet. It was so hard. Nattie Neidhart. Nattie Neidhart hit me, it felt like an MLB batter swinging the bat. And I walked into it. She leveled me.So, Nattie’s one, Hardcore Holly two, Travis Scott, I’d say maybe three.”
Scott joined The Rock and John Cena in an attack on Rhodes at the PLE from Toronto on March 1, 2025. He delivered what appeared to be stiff punches to Rhodes’ face during the segment. WWE also reportedly had long term plans for Scott integrated into the storyline but those plans ultimately fell through.
Rhodes discussed the slap last year with Complex, saying that Scott “hit him with the power of a thousand suns.”
“The next day after the incident, I told everyone, ‘He didn’t hit me.’ I didn’t realize there was a fan video circulating of him hitting me with the power of a thousand suns and the noise deafening. And then I had a Tommy Boy situation where the entire side of my face was black and blue and I kept saying, ‘Oh no, I’m good. I’m good.’ And then I had a little flutter in the eardrum because it popped.”
Rosanne Raphael is a wrestling writer with over three and a half years of experience covering all things related to the industry. From a kindergarten teacher to PR Associate to turning her lifelong passion for the industry into a career, Rosanne is currently writing for F4W Online where she focuses on wrestling news, analysis, and storytelling.
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