AEW Executive Vice President Cody Rhodes has been speaking to the media ahead of AEW Double or Nothing. With the event set to take place on Sunday May 30th at a packed-out Daily’s Place Rhodes opened up about not only the highly anticipated show but all things AEW.
The following is a list of six things that we learned from the call.
AEW Rampage To Complement Dynamite, Be Used To Expand The AEW Roster
Ever since AEW Rampage was announced there has been much speculation about the form that the show would take. Responding to a question from Louis Dangoor Cody Rhodes said that Rampage will serve to compliment Dynamite and that as a result AEW are looking to expand the roster even further.
“I’m really excited for Rampage. On a personal note, one of the things I’m looking forward to seeing with Rampage is we have a very large roster, we’re looking to expand our roster even further. So to be able to get people off the bench, some very, very talented people to spread the wealth. It’s incredibly exciting. August 13 TNT. We’re going to be on at 10pm Eastern, and then rampage is going to move to the to the mothership, to the superstation TBS, starting January 1 2022. Rampage is definitely going to complement dynamite and it will serve as a third hour of programming where we can further our storyline and showcase this roster. A big part of this is establishing our better yet re-establishing TBS as the world’s undisputed destination for wrestling. And with the three best hours of wrestling on the planet joining their network early next year. I think we’re on track to do just that. I am very excited.”
The ‘American Dream’ Is For One Night Only
On a recent episode of Dynamite Rhodes called out Anthony Ogogo, declaring that he was going to assume the ‘American Dream’ moniker of his late, great father Dusty Rhodes. The younger Rhodes who normally performs under the ‘American Nightmare’ guise has however, confirmed that the new name is a one-night deal. Speaking to Hot Tag With Izzy Rhodes explained why the ‘American Dream’ fits so perfectly for Double or Nothing.
“This just fits so well being Memorial Day weekend and being that both men in the match really truly are living the American dream and and the beauty of that. And again, this weekend in Jacksonville Florida just felt like a great time to pick up that sword and shield that I referred to as too heavy for me it is but again, it’s mine and Dustin to pick up. It’s a one night only thing on the American nightmare.”
“QT Marshall Is The Best Trainer In The World”
Looking ahead to his clash with Anthony Ogogo, Rhodes revealed that he played a central part in signing the Brit to AEW. He went on to tell Stephanie Franchomme that QT Marshall has been charged with training Ogogo before praising him as the best trainer in the world.
“I can’t take credit for training him. That is definitely going to go to Qt Marshall, who is if not the best trainer in the entire world”
NXT Lost The Wednesday Night Wars
There has been speculation in recent weeks suggesting that there is tension between Cody Rhodes and AEW’s other EVP’s. Something which Rhodes and the Young Bucks have played up to on Twitter. However, speaking to Sean Ross Sapp, Rhodes played down the suggestion, throwing a jab at NXT along the way.
“Well, when I heard that that story was floating around, it is one of the things I chopped up as we’ve been very successful, AEW. With NXT, losing the Wednesday night wars that created a lot of anger. And I understand that there’s a lot of hardcore NXT and WWE fans out there. And that’s why those stories, stories like that, don’t surprise me, I think people need to cling to something. And as sexy as that story is, I talked to Matt and Nick. Every day, I talk to Kenny, very often, I support their projects fully. They’ve been supportive of all my projects.”
Cody Denies Using Focus Groups For His Promos
After Rhodes’ much talked about ‘American Dream’ promo, the former TNT Champion suggested that he had used a focus group to help put together the monologue. However, in response to a question from Chris Mueller, Cody cleared up any confusion, explaining that he misunderstood the term ‘focus group.’
“I’m so excited you asked it because I’m going to chalk this up to me not knowing what the term focus group means because I woke up this morning to a very large amount of people in my mentions almost all of them with a Roman or a Sasha Banks avatar, making fun of me for using the term focus group. I did not focus group this promo. What I intended to say and I did not say correctly so chalk this up to me being a dummy I work on my promos very hard. And a lot of the old timers who said ‘oh, I was just doing it on the fly,’ I would say they worked on theirs very hard, whether it be in the gym, whether it be in the car looking in the rear view. So, when it comes to my promos, the process is usually I voice memo it out to the people, I trust the most the legends, in our industry, some coaches, and some members of management, and I like to see what they think.
“But absolutely not. There is no AEW focus group that is listening to my interviews, I would just chalk up my passion and love for promos, I got to see a really great working relationship first-hand between Brian who works and the rock. And I know that’s an incredibly lofty comparison. But it’s one to shoot for because him being such an exceptional entertainer and promo.”
The Match Cody Rhodes Is Most Looking Forward To At Double or Nothing
AEW Double or Nothing will feature another stacked card with all of the company’s major titles on the line. Looking ahead to the big night Rhodes told George McKay that he is looking forward to a couple of matches in particular.
“I think I’m looking forward to seeing how Jon Moxley mixes it up with Eddie and the Bucks. The Bucks provide a type of wrestling that is always so different from everything else on the card. It’s one of the reasons I’m a fan of their their work and I’ve bonded over their work is it isn’t the type of wrestling I grew up on. It’s a whole new thing. It’s a whole new evolution of what we do and to see Mox in there and see Eddie hard hitting gritty guys who like to play like to taste to their own blood. That’s a match I’m absolutely looking forward to.”
“Of course, I get to be a little kid again and be sitting and go position to watch Sting wrestle in front of a live audience in a true match for the first time. And what is it six years? That special Sting thing and Darby Allin together in this odd mentor student relationship new are that they have going on…”
“But I Know Sting’s incredibly motivated, taking it incredibly seriously and I think he’s gonna have the crowd in the palm of his hands.”