Cody Rhodes believes professional wrestling is enjoying its strongest era yet, and he wants fans to appreciate how far the business has come.

Speaking with Denise Salcedo during the press tour for Street Fighter, Rhodes said the arguments that dominate social media do not reflect the wider picture. In his view, wrestling has already earned its place in mainstream entertainment.

“I think wrestling right now, it’s fun because you’re on a [social media] platform that everyone argues on all the time, right? You’re on all the platforms, but one where everyone argues all the time. And I wish they knew those arguments only take place on that platform. We are in the best place the business has ever been.”

Rhodes pointed to what he described as growth across almost every relevant measure, while acknowledging that some figures associated with the late 1990s tell a different story. His message to fans was to enjoy the moment, particularly those who remember when sharing their love of wrestling was not so easy.

“Every metric, minus metrics that mattered in the late ’90s, is up. And I’m not knocking any of that. I’m just saying, enjoy it. Because if you were a wrestling fan, a wrestler, someone who was casually in it or as hardcore as you and I, you’ll remember the days when it wasn’t a thing that we could all share.”

He also credited WWE president Nick Khan and Triple H for helping put the company in a position where it belongs alongside other major entertainment names.

“Nick Khan as a president and Triple H as an executive and a creative leader, we’ve put ourselves in the right place. I don’t think we’re in the rooms anymore where we feel like we shouldn’t be. We’re supposed to be in them.”

For Rhodes, continuing to deliver is the key to opening even more doors. He drew on advice from John Cena to explain what comes next.

“And at the end of the day, if we execute and continue to do, as John Cena would say, good work, we’ll be in more rooms like this.”

Do you agree with Cody Rhodes that wrestling is in its best position ever? Share your thoughts in the comments.