Cody Rhodes on what he learned wrestling on the indies

[The Intergalactic Koala]

Well, Cody didn't want to do that, so your whole point is moot.

He'd have had a much better time his last year in AEW if he hadn't been so inflexible about not wanting to turn heel. Might even still be there full stop.

Unless his goal was to become the next John Cena (which there's obviously nothing wrong with that), he should have just turned heel. AEW fans would have ate that up instead of giving him go-away heat. He's not without fault here in having the fans turn on him, well chronicled he refused to turn heel.

I mean in the focus of embracing the hate ala CeGOAT and running with it. Not on the context of being heel, but just using his stance and not backing down from the crowd being assheads.

Cody in the Dub hit so different brehs...dude made every match felt like a 80s NWA main event, despite being our favorite midcarder.

 

[Cattle Mutilation]

Cody did a lot of stupid shyt that really he has not much of anyone else to blame but himself for how AEW went for him.

• Booked himself to never be able to never compete for the AEW title - let's not forget that shortly after that he and the other EVPs lost their booking duties and Cody himself admitted it was a huge mistake after he left AEW.
• Seemingly lacked any sense of self-awareness by refusing to go heel when he was getting go-away heat and then just making things even worse by making desperate attempts to get the crowd to turn back in his favor
• Decided to start dressing like Homelander while trying to be a face as if not realizing Homelander is one of the most hateable characters in all of TV
• Did that whole cured racism shyt
• And he got that neck tattoo, a fukking NECK tattoo!

 

[Ed MOTHERFUCKING G]

He can just say Disco Inferno's name

 

[Hitman's Shades]

I will always say AEW's low key struggles of last year happened because Cody left. Yes, all of the things above about his and Brandi's on-screen flaws are with merit and well documented. BUT Cody was the link in the company from TK to the talent, much more overall than the Bucks and Kenny were, as they don't really have the personality for it. You can tell Cody is a grade A salesman/bullshytter, which will help you well in talent relations. It is not a coincidence that much of the talent issues started happening more frequently when he was on his way out and then left. I don't think the CM Punk press conference happens with him there because he would have handled the bad feelings differently way before that moment, and not ignored the whole thing for weeks like Tony the poor communicator did. AEW has Schiavone now in the talent relations role, but the jury is out on if he will help.