WWE champion Cody Rhodes welcomes surprise daughter with Brandi
The wrestling world was caught off guard when Cody Rhodes and his wife Brandi announced they had quietly welcomed their second child. The couple revealed on Friday that their daughter, Leilani Ella Runnels, had been born, marking a surprise moment for fans who had no idea Brandi was expecting.
Brandi shared the news herself on social media, posting a photo of the baby’s hand alongside a heartfelt caption. “Welcome to the world Leilani Ella Runnels. We are in love. Thank you God for answered prayers. Cody + Brandi + Libby + Lani = ❤️,” she wrote. The update left fans reeling, as Brandi had managed to keep her pregnancy completely private, even during her appearances earlier this year.
Welcome to the world Leilani Ella Runnels. We are in love. Thank you God for answered prayers. Cody + Brandi + Libby + Lani = ❤️ pic.twitter.com/z0kFJcLM0c
For Cody, the announcement comes at a curious point in his WWE career. The Undisputed WWE Champion has been absent from television since Drew McIntyre delivered a Claymore to him on SmackDown following SummerSlam. Many assumed his time away was linked to filming commitments for the upcoming Street Fighter movie, but it now appears his absence also involved preparing for fatherhood.
The couple already share a daughter, Liberty, who was born in June 2021. Their growing family is a full-circle story for wrestling fans who remember their time together in WWE, AEW and even on reality TV in Rhodes to the Top. The two met when Brandi was a WWE ring announcer and married in 2013, later helping launch AEW before returning to WWE in 2022.
Cody’s next in-ring plans remain unclear, though speculation suggests he will appear at WrestlePalooza in Indianapolis on September 20. For now, however, the champion seems focused on family, with fans flooding the couple’s posts with messages of congratulations and excitement for their expanding household.