Wrestling is built on lies. Well, kayfabe lies, mostly. But when Cody Rhodes stepped onto the AEW stage and that booming voice-over declared that wrestling has more than one royal family, it wasn't just a catchy intro for a theme song. It was a shot across the bow of a century-old industry that had spent decades pretending only one name mattered.
You know the name. McMahon.
For a long time, the narrative was narrow. If you weren't a McMahon, or perhaps an Anoa’i by extension of their corporate loyalty, you were just a guest in the house that Vinnie built. But Cody's return to the spotlight—and his eventual, logic-defying climb back to the top of WWE—proved that bloodlines aren't just a gimmick. They are the literal DNA of the business.
Honestly, it’s kind of wild when you think about it. Most industries move away from nepotism. In wrestling? We lean into it until the wheels fall off.
The Rhodes Dynasty and the American Dream
Cody didn’t just pick that phrase because it sounded cool in a stadium. He was carrying the weight of Dusty Rhodes, the "American Dream." Dusty wasn't just a wrestler; he was a creative force who booked some of the most iconic moments in NWA and WCW history. When Cody says wrestling has more than one royal family, he is reminding the world that the Rhodes name carries a legacy of struggle and creative brilliance that often stood in direct opposition to the polished, northeastern machine of the WWE.
Dusty's influence is everywhere. You see it in the way NXT was built. You see it in the "Dusty Finish."
Then you have Dustin Rhodes. Goldust. A man who took a character that should have ended a career and turned it into a Hall of Fame-worthy run through sheer grit. The Rhodes family represents the blue-collar royalty of the ring. They are the kings of the "common man." It’s a different kind of crown than the one worn by the corporate giants, but it’s no less heavy.
The Anoa’i Bloodline: A Global Empire
We can’t talk about royalty without looking at the Samoan Dynasty. It’s unavoidable. Right now, Roman Reigns and The Bloodline dominate the screen, but this isn't a new trend. This tree has roots that wrap around the entire globe.
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It started with Amituanai Anoa’i and Peter Maivia. They became blood brothers, a bond that linked the families forever. From there, you get a list of names that looks like a "Who's Who" of wrestling history. The Wild Samoans. Yokozuna. Rikishi. Umaga. The Usos. Solo Sikoa. And, of course, the most famous man on the planet, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
Basically, if you see a terrifyingly athletic person of Samoan descent in a ring, there is a 90% chance they are part of this family. Their dominance isn't just about winning titles; it’s about a cultural grip on the industry. They have a specific style—stiff, powerful, and deeply rooted in tradition—that has become a cornerstone of what fans expect from "big man" wrestling.
The Hart Family: The Excellence of Execution
If the Anoa’is are the empire, the Harts are the academy.
Down in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, there was a place called the Dungeon. It was a basement. It smelled like sweat, old mats, and probably tears. Stu Hart, the patriarch, trained everyone from his own sons to future legends like Edge and Chris Jericho.
The Hart family represents the technical soul of the sport. Bret "The Hitman" Hart didn't just wrestle; he performed surgery in the ring. He called himself the "best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be," and for a long time, it wasn't just a catchphrase. It was a fact.
The tragedy of the Hart family—the premature deaths, the bitter legal battles with WWE, the Montreal Screwjob—only adds to their "royal" mystique. They are the tragic heroes of the wrestling world. They gave everything to the business, and the business didn't always give back. But you cannot tell the history of professional wrestling without the Hart Foundation. You just can't.
The Von Erichs and the Curse of Texas
Wrestling royalty isn't always about glitz and glamour. Sometimes it’s about a heavy, heartbreaking legacy. In the 1980s, the Von Erichs were the Beatles of Texas. Fritz Von Erich built World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) around his sons: Kevin, David, Kerry, Mike, and Chris.
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They were beautiful, athletic, and beloved. They were also haunted.
The "Von Erich Curse" is a dark chapter that most modern fans know through the movie The Iron Claw. But beyond the tragedy, they changed how wrestling was produced. They used rock music, high-end camera work, and fast-paced editing before WWE made it the standard. They were pioneers. Even now, with Marshall and Ross Von Erich (Kevin’s sons) carrying on the name, the family remains a symbol of the immense highs and devastating lows that come with the territory.
The Guerreros: Lucha Libre’s Greatest Gift
We have to talk about the Guerreros. Gory Guerrero was one of the pioneers of Lucha Libre in Mexico, inventing moves like the Gory Special that are still used today. He passed that brilliance down to his sons: Chavo, Mando, Hector, and the legendary Eddie Guerrero.
Eddie was a different breed. He had a connection with the crowd that felt spiritual. Whether he was "lying, cheating, and stealing" or brawling in a bloody ladder match, Eddie represented the heart of the Guerrero legacy. They brought the flair and technical precision of Mexico to the global stage.
When people say wrestling has more than one royal family, they are talking about the fact that wrestling is a language spoken in many dialects. The Guerreros spoke the dialect of passion and perseverance.
Why the "Royal Family" Concept Matters for SEO and Fans
Why do we care so much about who someone’s dad was?
In a scripted sport, lineage provides instant stakes. You don't need a twenty-minute promo to explain why a new wrestler matters if their last name is Flair, Orton, or Hennig. It creates an immediate narrative of "living up to the name" or "carving your own path."
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Charlotte Flair is perhaps the best example of this in the modern era. She didn't just rely on her father, Ric Flair, but she leaned into the "Queen" persona. She took the royal trope and ran with it, becoming arguably the most decorated female performer in history. She proved that being part of a royal family is a double-edged sword: you get the golden ticket, but you also get the highest expectations.
The New Blood: Breaking the Cycle?
We are seeing a new wave of names. The Gunns (Colten and Austin, sons of Billy Gunn). Bron Breakker (son of Rick Steiner). Hook (son of Taz).
The industry is currently obsessed with its own history. This is partly due to nostalgia, but it’s also because these "legacy" athletes are often better prepared for the rigors of the road. They grew up in locker rooms. They know the unwritten rules.
However, the real shift is occurring where these families intersect. When Cody Rhodes won the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship, it wasn't just a win for him. It was a symbolic victory for the "other" royal families. It signaled that the McMahon monopoly on the "main event" story was finally, truly over.
How to Follow the Legacies Yourself
If you’re trying to dive deeper into these histories, don't just stick to the WWE Network’s curated documentaries. They tend to lean heavily into the "WWE version" of events.
- Watch the "Dark Side of the Ring" series for a raw look at the Von Erichs and the Harts. It’s heavy, but necessary.
- Look up old NWA footage of Dusty Rhodes to understand why he was the king of the promos. The "Hard Times" promo is mandatory viewing.
- Track the indies. Many members of these royal families—like the next generation of the Anoa'is—start in small gyms in Florida or California.
- Read "The Solace of Quantum" or Bret Hart's autobiography. These books give you the internal perspective of what it’s like to be born into a wrestling dynasty.
The phrase wrestling has more than one royal family is a mission statement. It’s a reminder that the ring is a place where blood matters, but sweat determines the winner. Whether it's a Rhodes, a Hart, a Guerrero, or a member of the Bloodline, the story of wrestling is a story of families trying to survive the weirdest, most beautiful business on earth.
Pay attention to the names on the marquee. Usually, the best stories are the ones that started thirty years before the wrestlers were even born.