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LILANA RHODES. 30. FEMALE. SHE/HER. June 5th 1994. GEMINI. Atlanta.*** Wrestler. baby rhodes.

BACKSTORY.

the youngest member of the famed Rhodes wrestling family, was always in the shadow of her older brother, Cody, and their legendary father, Dusty Rhodes. Born into a world where wrestling was more than just a career—it was a legacy—Liliana found herself both privileged and burdened by expectations that she didn't fully understand until she was older.

Growing up in the Rhodes household, she was given everything she could have wanted. Cody, her older brother by a few years, was already showing signs of following their father’s path, becoming a prodigy in his own right. Dusty, the charismatic "American Dream," was a household name, known for his passion and dedication to the business. But Liliana, being the baby of the family, always seemed to get the extra attention. Her father, ever the soft spot for his youngest, would spoil her with affection, something that caused tension at times between her and Cody, who often felt overlooked by comparison.

✱     <3.         Despite Dusty’s best efforts to shield her from the brutal world of professional wrestling, Liliana’s passion for the business was undeniable. Dusty tried to dissuade her, telling her that wrestling wasn't a place for a young woman with a family name as heavy as hers. He didn’t want her to be defined by the Rhodes legacy, but Liliana wasn’t the kind of person who took "no" for an answer. It became clear early on that her stubbornness would lead her straight to the ring.Her rebellious spirit was a reflection of her growing frustration with being the “protected” youngest sibling. Cody, who had already started carving out his own niche in the industry, was often away, training and traveling, while Liliana stayed at home, absorbing everything about the business she could. She would sit in on her father’s training sessions, secretly working on her skills whenever Dusty wasn’t looking. Wrestling was in her blood, and though her father couldn’t bear to watch her take those first steps into the ring, he knew he couldn’t stop her.In 2014, at the age of 20, Liliana made her professional debut in WWE’s NXT developmental territory. While Cody was already on his own journey through WWE and elsewhere, Liliana was starting from the ground up. There was a palpable sense of needing to prove herself—not just to the world, but to her father and her brother as well.

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NXT, Impact, and the Early Struggles

Liliana’s time in NXT was a whirlwind of ups and downs. On one hand, she was part of a historic era in WWE’s developmental system, working with some of the best up-and-coming talent, including Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks, and Bayley. On the other hand, she struggled with expectations. Being a Rhodes in NXT meant that comparisons to her father and brother were inevitable. She had the charisma and the athleticism, but her character was often criticized for being too much like her father and not enough like herself.After several years of mixed success in NXT, Liliana made a decision that would change the course of her career: she left WWE’s developmental system in 2017 and took a leap to Impact Wrestling. There, she reinvented herself. No longer the "daughter of Dusty Rhodes," she became just "Liliana" a fierce, no-nonsense competitor who didn’t rely on the family name. Her time in Impact was crucial for her development as both a performer and a character. She found her voice, establishing herself as a legitimate star in the women’s division. Her brash, take-no-prisoners attitude earned her both fans and detractors.

Personality and Growth

Liliana’s journey to the top of WWE wasn’t just about wrestling. It was about growing into the person she was always meant to be, shedding the weight of family expectations, and learning to stand proudly on her own. While she once used her status as the youngest Rhodes to get what she wanted, she soon learned that true success in wrestling, and in life, came from hard work, sacrifice, and integrity. No longer the spoiled younger sibling, Liliana became a leader in the locker room—tough, unapologetically ambitious, and never afraid to call out the status quo.Her relationship with Cody had also evolved. Where once there had been rivalry, there was now mutual respect. They’d both walked different paths but shared the same ultimate goal: to honor their father’s legacy while creating their own. Cody, ever the big brother, had always been protective, but Liliana had learned to hold her own.

The Return to WWE

In 2020, after a few years of establishing herself in other promotions, Liliana returned to WWE, this time with a much stronger sense of self and a renewed determination. The wrestling landscape had changed since her departure, and she was no longer just the "baby Rhodes." She was Liliana, a woman who had fought for her place in the spotlight.Her return was not without challenges. Her older brother Cody had made a name for himself in AEW, and Dusty was no longer around to offer advice or protection. Liliana had to stand on her own, and this time, she was ready. She quickly established herself as a force to be reckoned with, her in-ring skills refined and her character more complex than ever. Her comeback story was one of resilience, overcoming family pressure, and embracing her own identity in a business that often wanted to define her by her last name.Despite the spotlight she now found herself in, Liliana never lost the fire that had driven her all these years. She was no longer just the youngest Rhodes. She was Liliana Rhodes, a trailblazer in her own right, carving out a legacy of her own.

more.

Today, Liliana Rhodes is more than just the daughter of Dusty Rhodes or the sister of Cody Rhodes. She’s a star in her own right—someone who fought not only for her place in the ring but for her identity as a Rhodes in a world where the past is always lurking behind you. And with every match she competes in, she proves that the Rhodes legacy isn't just about the men who came before her; it’s about the woman who carved her own path.