Cody Rhodes had just finished his story by defeating Roman Reigns to become the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion on Night 2 of WrestleMania 40.
But the newly-crowned champ, title in tow, had another story to tell during the post-WrestleMania 40 press conference within the confines of Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Sunday night. And it was about a touching gesture that WWE made for him involving his late dad, wrestling legend Dusty Rhodes.
"I came to the back and Bruce Prichard and Triple H and Nick Khan handed me this," he told a pool of reporters, flicking out his left wrist, "which is the same watch that my dad had pawned so that I could go to acting school."
He added, fighting back tears: "So the level of investment and responsibility that the company just put in my hands, I hope I can pay it back, pay it forward a 100 times over."
Later, during the same press conference, Rhodes was asked what he'd tell Dusty if he could speak with him today.
To that, Rhodes replied: "If I'm being honest, I think I'd want to say to him that I hope I've lived up to your name and thank you for that name ... and then I'd say sorry about the tattoo."