Cody Rhodes announces passing of dog Pharaoh

WWE star Cody Rhodes and his family are dealing with a difficult loss, with Rhodes announcing that his dog Pharaoh has passed away. Rhodes made an Instagram post today sharing the news and reflecting on how much Pharaoh meant to him. Over the last decade-plus, Pharaoh was by his side through triumph and tragedy and so many changes in his wrestling career, becoming part of Rhodes' presentation in WWE, AEW, and beyond. Pharaoh even played a part in Rhodes' ongoing WWE feud with Randy Orton, where Orton brought up Pharaoh's name as a way to get heat. In his post, Rhodes remembered Pharaoh as a 'crisis' dog who was good under pressure and found his purpose through protecting Rhodes' daughters: Huskies need a job. P howled at the moon. When we thought he would be afraid of the older dogs we had, but instead ran into the living room and belly flopd' on them. He patrolled the pool. He always tore up a plant when a stranger came into the backyard to let them know – 'I'm crazy' – and don't come closer. He got the best training and retained most of it-I'd call him a crisis dog. Whenever there was a crisis, there he was. He put his nose under my arm in the truck…everytime. He was always with us, and when my world got turned upside down [when Dusty Rhodes passed away]…he sat outside with me looking at the Texas stars until the sky started to shift and he pressed his head against me firmly in a way that let me know he understood. It goes without saying, he was a good boy. My best man. At the first 'all in' when Starrcast did its first convention, I'll never forget him walking into the Hyatt in Schaumburg and us seeing the lobby overtaken by fans & wrestling shirts from front door to the back. We walked by the lobby bar and they had a special menu posted with 'Pharaoh's fries'; but the thing I remember most is how the fans kinda' parted the sea for him as he walked through…they snapped selfies and chanted his name like he was making an entrance on tv or something ha. He'd go on to do multiple charity meet/greets for some of the best shelters in the country. He was a Chewy' champion. Mattel fig! Opponent of the Rock. I knew he was a true alpha when he would just let Yeti bite his face. He was part of the Rhodes' wrestling family. 'The Siberian Nightmare' ha. I've gotten off track though…I said huskies needed a job, and I don't think Pharaoh ever truly knew his. That is until Liberty was born. I scrolled back through my old pictures and there he is with her…almost every early photo…he's just peeking into frame, or right beside her, or sternly looking through the lens. His job was to be with her. Maybe he wanted to protect her. As I said, he needed a job. When you watch GOT [Game of Thrones] one night late on tv and decide you want a little wolf pup, it would be fitting to say 'your watch has ended', but I'd rather say the last thing I told you before you went to forever sleep, you did your job. We love you. Pharaoh's role in Cody Rhodes-Randy Orton feud — On the August 28 episode of SmackDown, there was an angle where Orton — trying to get into Rhodes' head — asked where Pharaoh was and questioned whether the dog had died. Orton then insulted Rhodes' wife Brandi and mother Michelle as he tried to get Rhodes to snap. Later, Orton said Pharaoh was not dead but only had a little bit of time left. This led to Orton defeating Rhodes at Sunday Night's Main Event this past weekend. Orton won with a low blow and RKO after Rhodes hesitated to punt him.