Cody Rhodes is making one Brooklyn classroom’s WrestleMania dreams come true!
KIPP AMP Middle School teacher Victor Taylor Perry’s “Wrestling Club” students have been running a fundraiser selling popcorn to make enough money to travel to WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia later this spring.
And when the extracurricular group’s fundraiser caught the attention of Rhodes, 38, the WWE superstar sent out a tweet informing the students that he’d pay for the kids’ tickets and their hotel rooms – a message that sent the students into a frenzy when they found out.
“Seeing their reaction was priceless,” Rhodes tells PEOPLE. “Good things happening to good people. This is what I really, I like about social media, bright spots like these amazing kids.”
Perry shared Rhodes’ tweet with his class and took a video of their response, erupting in cheers as the reality set in.
Rhodes told the class: “I could buy a bunch of popcorn or I could just tell ya’ I’ve got your tickets and hotels. You’re going to WrestleMania 40!”
Perry tweeted that the extracurricular club’s “joy is absolutely incredible” after finding out the news.
“They’re so happy for each other and that speaks directly to the community that is TWC,” the teacher wrote.
In recent years, Perry has become well-known within the professional wrestling community through his work with “The Wrestling Club,” which he runs at the KIPP AMP Middle School in Brooklyn, New York.
Perry has used pro wrestling as a tool to teach students, often going viral with videos of his lessons and collaborations with wrestling companies and performers themselves. The teacher has primarily focused on pro wrestling’s storytelling formats, using it to teach students about story arcs and character development.
“Victor has brought together a group of kids where he shows the matches from all of over the world,” reads a Change.org petition that aims to earn Perry recognition by WWE for his work. “The assignments he gives them teaches them all about different wrestlers and companies which in turn has taught the kids to be their best selves no matter who they are.”
Rhodes tells PEOPLE he was “blown away” when he first found out about the club through his sister, Teil.
“I never had anything like that growing up and wish I did,” the WWE star said. “What I like most about TWC is the sense of community. Wrestling is more popular than ever, but when it wasn’t it was difficult to find and connect with people as passionate about wrestling as you were. They have got a place to discuss the highs and lows of it all, support each other and have fun.”
WrestleMania 40 will take place over two nights in Philadelphia on April 1 and 2. Last year, Rhodes was featured in the main event matchup against WWE Champion Roman Reigns and has been widely expected to challenge Reigns for a rematch at this year’s event.
