Cody Rhodes

Cody Rhodes has spent the past decade rewriting the family business on his own terms, first by leaving WWE to help launch All Elite Wrestling and then by returning to the company that once released him. That arc — indie gambler, executive vice president, prodigal son — is exactly the storyline the media cite when they rank him among the hottest athletes, landing him at No. 21 on the list. Wikipedia page views hover around nine thousand a day, a steady hum that spikes every time he steps through the curtain or onto a red carpet. CNN en Español noted Rhodes sharing a Mexico City premiere stage with Jason Momoa and the Street Fighter cast, while MARCA described the same red carpet as pure pandemonium. USA Today caught him reflecting on Roman Reigns' turn in the film and on how the project fulfills a wish his father, Dusty, once held. Fox News reported his confirmation that he has re-signed with WWE and intends to finish his career there, then later chronicled his crossroads moment after a loss to Randy Orton at Sunday Night's Main Event. The combination of main-event credibility, crossover buzz and a narrative that feels both planned and improvised keeps Rhodes lodged in the conversation. He owns the ring, the boardroom and now the multiplex carpet, and each appearance adds another layer to the myth he's building. As long as the story keeps twisting — new contract, new film, new chapter — the heat around him stays self-sustaining.

Cody Rhodes is in place 21 on our list trending athletes in the world. Hot means named by trusted media and looked up most, not a judgement of anyone.