By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

WWE wrestler Cody Rhodes live-chatted on the Arizona Republic website this afternoon promoting WrestleMania 26. The following are highlights from the interview.

-- Cody was asked what he thinks about TNA and he gave the corporate-friendly response that WWE doesn't consider TNA competition because they're looking for a different audience.

"It is good for us to have competition. Unfortunately, TNA is not competition. Our competition is Dancing with the Stars and CSI. We're not just trying to put on a professional wrestling show. There's still a ring and still two guys in it, but it's very much a different show," Cody said. "I have some friends over at TNA; I hope they can generate a large TV audience. But I know the majority of the young talent in the WWE, they're motivated enough. We don't need competition to motivate us."

-- Cody talked around potential plans for Legacy at WrestleMania 26, saying Legacy will "have an impact" and Ted DiBiase vs. Randy Orton was the planned match-up at one point.

"I think at one point, maybe a year ago, that was something that was discussed. But WrestleMania is fluid. It moves and changes. You might see more than just Ted and Randy at WrestleMania," Cody said. "I would say it's probably safe to say that the Legacy will have an impact on this year's WrestleMania."

-- Cody, who is a heel and can get away with some comments playing his part, took a big shot at Shelton Benjamin, calling him the worst WWE wrestler on the roster.

"Shelton is one of the better amateur wrestlers -- he was an All-American," he said. "But in the WWE, I'd say Shelton is the worst."

-- Cody said he wants to see Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker close WrestleMania. He called Michaels "ancient," but still one of the best wrestlers in the business.

"Shawn Michaels vs. the Undertaker. Never count them out. Shawn Michaels is ancient now -- even if he was double the age he is now, he's still the absolute best. And Undertaker is the franchise of the WWE," he said. "It will be in the WWE's best interest to put that match on last because nobody could follow it." JC: Just ask Triple H and Randy Orton last year.

-- Cody said he would like to work on Smackdown eventually because WWE targets a different demographic on Smackdown compared to Raw and he'd like to see how he fares in a different setting.

"Smackdown is a challenge -- it's a different audience. The same people who watch Raw aren't the same people who watch Smackdown. It's a different demographic, and I'd like to see how I did," he said. Plus there are some interesting talents on Smackdown I wouldn't mind getting in the ring with -- C.M. Punk especially.

-- Cody took a veiled shot at Hardcore Holly, saying one of his worst WWE moments was being told he would team with Holly when he first started in WWE. Cody clarified it wasn't necessarily a shot at Holly, but being in a tag team, as he wanted to start out as a singles wrestler.

"The worst moment I had, I was in a Cargo Fitness in Arizona. I got a phone call from someone in the WWE, and he said you're going to be tagging with Hardcore Holly from now on. And that was my worst moment," Rhodes said. "The thing about Bob is that he was a talent. He always gave fans what he wanted in the ring. And he was an enforcer in the locker room. He was somebody who kept the bonds sacred back there. He was just very much his namesake -- very much hardcore."

-- Cody said another horrible night was when he was in WWE developmental. He says he took an elbow to the head from Daivari, needed stitches that has left a permanent scar on his forehead, and found out his girlfriend was cheating on him.

"A WWE talent by the name of Daivari (sic) hit me with the point of his elbow and ended up causing me 33 stitches," he said. "It was a horrible night because it was on my birthday, June 30. I hadn't debuted on WWE television. And that night I found out my girlfriend had been cheating on me. That's what we call a triple threat."

-- Cody said he's been trying to bulk up with a workout routine of more weight, fewer repetitions to gain more weight since he started in WWE.

"Since I've been with the WWE, one of the main criticisms has been my size. I've gone from a genuine 205 pounds when I started to a genuine 223 pounds now," he said. "That's a lot of work -- a lot of eating, a lot of training. I'm thinking more like a bodybuilder than I ever was before."

Other Quotes from Cody

-- "If WWE ever brought back the classic WCW War Games match, I'd wear face paint." Cody later gave his Dream Team for a War Games match.

"I'd be Ted on my team, I'd put my brother (Goldust) on my team. I'd put the legendary and still yet-to-be Hall of Famer Arn Anderson on my team. And you need someone from a managerial role -- maybe Santino Marella there."

-- On a gimmick match he'd like to work: "Out of tradition, and where my family comes from, I'd say a bull-rope match. A real bull-rope match. With a pinfall."

The Arizona Republic will also feature the Bella Twins on March 17, John Morrison on March 24, and Rey Mysterio on Thursday, March 25.

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