Cody Rhodes Announces Death of Beloved Dog Pharaoh

Cody Rhodes and his family are mourning the loss of their beloved Siberian husky, Pharaoh.

Rhodes announced Pharaoh’s passing in an emotional Instagram tribute on Tuesday, September 8. A cause of death was not disclosed.

Pharaoh was more than the family dog. He became a familiar presence throughout Cody’s wrestling journey, appearing at events, participating in charity activities and developing his own following among fans.

The loss was reported by Sports Illustrated, while Cody’s full remembrance was also documented by Cageside Seats.

Pharaoh Became Part of the Rhodes Wrestling Family

Wrestling fans watched Pharaoh accompany Cody through several different stages of his career.

The white husky became closely associated with the Nightmare Family and appeared alongside Cody and Brandi Rhodes during events, promotional appearances and personal updates.

Pharaoh even developed the nickname “The Siberian Nightmare,” connecting him directly to the Rhodes family’s wrestling presentation.

Fans regularly approached Pharaoh for pictures and sometimes chanted his name as if he were making his own entrance. Cody recalled one hotel creating a special menu item called “Pharaoh’s Fries,” demonstrating how recognizable the dog had become within the wrestling community.

Pharaoh also appeared in wrestling video games and received his own Mattel figure alongside Cody.

Few pets have ever become such recognizable parts of a professional wrestler’s public journey.

Pharaoh Helped Raise Money for Animal Shelters

Pharaoh’s impact extended beyond television and wrestling merchandise.

Cody said the husky participated in multiple charitable meet-and-greet events supporting animal shelters around the country. His popularity gave the family an opportunity to encourage adoption and raise money for animals in need.

Pharaoh also became a Chewy champion and continued appearing in family photos as Cody’s career moved from the independent circuit to AEW and eventually back to WWE.

Those appearances allowed fans to watch Pharaoh grow alongside the Rhodes family.

Cody Remembers Pharaoh’s Personality

In his tribute, Cody remembered Pharaoh as a fearless and protective companion.

He described how Pharaoh patrolled the family’s property, interacted with strangers and howled at the moon. Cody also recalled the husky’s patience with the family’s other dog, Yeti.

Despite Pharaoh’s many public appearances, Cody believed the husky did not discover his most important purpose until the birth of his daughter, Liberty.

When Cody looked back through older family photographs, he noticed that Pharaoh was consistently positioned near Liberty. Sometimes he was directly beside her. Other times, he could be seen watching quietly from the edge of the frame.

Cody came to believe Pharaoh had assigned himself the responsibility of protecting her.

That role ultimately became the most important part of Cody’s farewell.

Instead of simply telling Pharaoh that his watch had ended, Cody shared the final message he delivered to his longtime companion:

“You did your job. We love you.”

Wrestling Fans Mourn Alongside the Rhodes Family

The relationship between wrestling fans and performers often extends beyond what happens inside the ring.

Fans follow wrestlers through career changes, marriages, parenthood and other important personal moments. Pharaoh became part of that connection because he remained beside Cody throughout so many chapters of his life.

He was there during Cody’s transformation from a WWE Superstar into one of independent wrestling’s biggest attractions. He became part of the Nightmare Family during the creation of AEW and remained present as Cody returned to WWE and completed his story.

To Cody, Brandi and their children, Pharaoh was family.

To wrestling fans, he was one of the sport’s most recognizable and beloved animal companions.

Grapple News extends its condolences to Cody Rhodes, Brandi Rhodes, Liberty and the entire Rhodes family.

Rest peacefully, Pharaoh. You did your job.