Given that the song was written specifically for him, it makes sense that Cody Rhodes has used “Kingdom” constantly since its 2016 debut. The song was synchronous with the “American Nightmare” as he blazed through TNA, NJPW, and ROH alongside Bullet Club and The Elite. When Rhodes left those companies behind to co-found AEW with Tony Khan and The Elite, “Kingdom” followed, and became a weekly feature on “AEW Dynamite” until his 2022 departure. But there was a question over whether he would continue to use the song that had become a defining feature of his entrance. Not only is WWE historically known for tweaking and adapting its imported talents’ character and presentation, but Rhodes had spent a significant time as an active fixture of WWE with “Smoke and Mirrors” as his theme. 

By all accounts, Rhodes insisted “Kingdom” would remain his entrance theme upon his return to WWE. But Downstait’s lead singer Zack Call previously revealed it wasn’t a smooth transition by any means, a legal battle breaking out between WWE and Downstait after the band “just wanted its cut of the pie” for the song’s usage. Back-and-forth proceeded before talks hit a standstill and it was suggested to Rhodes that he may have to use another song. 

“We held our silence for a little bit and I said my piece and my heart is in my throat and I’m not ready to give up the song. Cody just basically breaks the silence and he goes, ‘Well you don’t get me without Kingdom on this conference call,’ I was like, ‘All right!'”