Cody Rhodes praises Vidyut Jammwal on Flagrant podcast while promoting The Street Fighter

Recently in Mexico, WWE star Cody Rhodes praised Indian actor Vidyut Jammwal while discussing their shared film The Street Fighter on comedian Andrew Schulz’s Flagrant podcast. The comments came during promotion for the multi-starrer project featuring Rhodes and other performers from WWE.

Rhodes has been balancing film promotion with his wrestling schedule; “The Viper” Randy Orton might have cost Cody Rhodes a place in the Money in the Bank ladder match, and the former champion already had a lot on his plate. Vidyut Jammwal is part of the multi-starrer film Rhodes was promoting in Mexico, and the podcast conversation centered on Jammwal’s background and screen work.

On the show Rhodes praised Jammwal’s appearance, describing him as extremely attractive and noting his lean, muscular physique. Rhodes said he was so struck by Jammwal after their first meeting that he called his wife, Brandi Rhodes, immediately. “I think I met the most handsome man that’s ever been seen,” Rhodes reportedly told her, describing the Indian actor as someone who left a lasting impression on everyone who met him.

The discussion explored Jammwal’s martial arts roots, with Rhodes referencing the actor’s training in Kalaripayattu. Rhodes also commended Jammwal’s stunt work and compared his abilities to those of Jackie Chan, calling him “the Jackie Chan of India.” Those remarks framed Jammwal as a performer bringing a traditional Indian fighting art to an action film audience.

Rhodes recounted personal gestures that he said demonstrated Jammwal’s thoughtfulness during the shoot. Jammwal reportedly gifted Rhodes a skull necklace, left a handwritten scroll on Rhodes’s bus on the final day of filming, and gave him two shawls after learning Rhodes’s daughter had been born while production was underway.

Andrew Schulz responded to the conversation by focusing on Jammwal’s physique, lifestyle and martial-arts background. The pair discussed how Jammwal maintains his muscular build while following a vegetarian diet, and both recalled the actor’s surprising line that “protein’s a myth,” which became a notable moment in the exchange; the segment included a caveat that the remark should not be interpreted as medical or nutritional advice.

Both Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns appear in the live-action Street Fighter movie. Cody Rhodes will not compete in the Men’s Money in the Bank ladder match at the 2026 PLE after failing to qualify on the October 2, 2026, episode of SmackDown.