Cody really should be a heel and inverse of Dusty in the 80s. He should be using his life as "Dusty's Kid" as something to use as a point of privilege, he's never had hard times, etc. You can't tell me when you see him always in expensive suits just burying his own talent on the reg that he doesn't come off as the opposite as at least what the idea of what Dusty was. Not that Dusty didn't do that himself, and I'm pretty sure the original incarnation of the American Dream gimmick was actually a heel gimmick flaunting his wealth to the Florida fans. I think Cody is at a point where it would make a lot of sense and be the best for his character and performances to do that with a smark twist of HEY I'M DUSTY'S KID stuff. But they probably should wait until they're back around real crowds. Cody is better as a heel in general, but the last time around in his ROH/NJPW runs it still kind of felt like he was playing the part of a heel wrestler. I think he's gained enough experience out of the WWE system and of himself to be able to nail the American Nightmare as the inverse of American Dream gimmick at this stage in his career. Especially in his own company.
cody just ethered all the haters and naysayers
- Thread starter K.Y.R.I.E
- Start date
He can't son anybody with that shytty neck tattoo 
You really think there’s no storyline already planned to reverse that?
They only did that because of how obvious it was AEW was created to give Cody the world title he was not ever gone get in WWE.
The Rainmaker
Mr. Money in the Bank
Dunk on 'em, Cody, make them mad. More action figures, more pyro, more neck tattoos 
I remember reading/hearing that Cody is planning on retiring in a few years as an in-ring competitor. Whether or not that's true, we'll see. But it's been a chore seeing his feuds/matches on TV the last year. He is completely stale as a character.
Reality Check
Keepin' it 100
To add on, I think he's more focused on the behind the scenes stuff and other projects (reality show, the Starz show with Stephen Amell, the show on TBS with Snoop) than trying to hog every major storyline. People will complain one way or the other in regards to his storylines but IMO I'd rather him be in a feud with QT Marshall's bum-ass than being the one battling Omega.
Wife calls me a hater when I shyt on Cawdy, but dude really rubs me off the wrong way. Like the entire AEW just seems like this huge ass vanity project to "stick it" to Trips and McMahon. In reality, dude is showing why he will forever be a midcarder to the third degree. At least Dustin knew his stance with the business and Dusty had a method of madness with his weird tirade in the game. Cody just trying to be more than "smoke and mirrors", but people seeing through that shyt.
Toe Jay Simpson
Searchin’
I’m actually starting to feel the same way about this company and I really want it to succeed.
But it really looks like a smart mark circle jerk
Breh once the layers come together, you will start seeing the flaws beyond the botching:
- Omega not being "the best in the world" as Meltz and em claim he was
- Bucks are struggle on the mic and one trick ponies in the ring
- I already covered Cody
- Khan doing his best COO cosplay, but the grim reality is that he's more of a mark than the ride or die marks on Twitter
- Exposes the bias Journalism of Meltz and em
- Notice how most of the frail looking wrestlers get over on the legit wrestlers that look larger than life
Trust, I want to LOVE AEW but holy hell, they have a roster that can benefit from growth, training, and focus but LETS STICK IT TO VINCE
Bryan Danielson
Jmare007 x Bryan Danielson x JLova = King Ghidorah
I agree, but the argument can be made that his time on TV can be better spent than feuding with QT Marshall. His entire thing with Penta lasted two weeks and ended with Penta losing & messing up Cody's shoulder. Nothing else happened & both men just moved on. That's probably because of Pac being stranded in the UK and Fenix needed Penta to step back in for his stuff with Kenny Omega, but still. At the end of the day, Cody always wins.
Reality Check
Keepin' it 100
I'm guessing this leads to feuding with the students of The Nightmare Factory who will put him out of action in time for him to be there for the birth of his kid. Could be a Double or Nothing Match with Cody, Dustin, Lee Johnson, and someone else vs QT, former Mr. Bayley, Anthony Ogogo, and Nick Comorato.
Peter Popoff
Baba Yega in black uptowns
He isn't good at either.
I still cringe hard at his struggle version of "Hard Times"
Dude was better as a gaijin troll in NJPW and not so much a "boss".
