Cody Rhodes’ famous Triforce-themed boots once received a warning from Nintendo.
It’s widely known that WWE star Cody Rhodes has a deep passion for Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda franchise, having spoken about the series numerous times over the years. However, the wrestling legend recently revealed that his love for the game almost landed him in legal trouble.
During a recent episode of his What Do You Wanna Talk About? podcast (starting at minute 45:47), Rhodes shared that Nintendo once sent him a cease and desist order after he used the iconic Triforce logo from The Legend of Zelda on his wrestling boots–something he famously did back in 2009 while openly expressing his passion for gaming, particularly the Zelda franchise.
Looking back at older interviews, Rhodes once said:
“All you need to do is look down at my boots. My pro wrestling boots that I’ve worn for the past year have the Triforce symbol from The Legend of Zelda on them.”
Nintendo eventually stepped in after some time. Reflecting on the situation, Rhodes explained that the company handled the matter respectfully. “It was very kind. They weren’t coming after anybody. I’m not the first guy to have the Triforce.”
Despite the minor conflict, Rhodes has continued to embrace his love for the Zelda universe, and now even sports a Triforce tattoo on his finger.
Cody Rhodes shares his thoughts on the Zelda Triforce
The Triforce is one of the central symbols in Zelda lore, representing three virtues–Power, Wisdom, and Courage–each connected to different characters within the series.
Rhodes praised the concept as something that deeply resonates with him, particularly in relation to his competitive career.
“I live that s**t, dog,” Rhodes explained on the podcast. “I thought the principles of the Triforce, which are power, courage, and wisdom... For those who don’t know, Zelda’s the wise one, obviously Link is the one who’s got the courage, and power is Ganon. They make up the three parts of the Triforce. That’s the whole deal.”
He continued:
“And I just like the idea of thinking and leaning towards your own wisdom, or what you’ve learned and applying it, of being ambitious and wanting to be powerful, if you can, in a world that’s competitive, of sports and sports entertainment, and then having the courage to do it.
“Here you are, you’re taking a dive, you bust your elbow. You’re going to decide to take the dive the next night, and you bust your elbow even further. I thought it was just applicable.”
The podcast also went on a little as Rhodes and his guest, Kit Wilson, talked about their opinions on Wind Waker, Twilight Princess and even a mention of Breath of the Wild.
Despite still actively competing in WWE, Rhodes has also begun exploring more projects tied to his interests outside wrestling. He is set to portray Guile in the upcoming live-action Street Fighter film, which is scheduled for release in October 2026.
