Cody Rhodes, one of the company’s four executive vice presidents, will participate in a mixed match with Red Velvet partner against NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal and Jade Cargill in the March 3 episode of “AEW Dynamite” (20.00), TNT). Before entering the ring, Rhodes had time for some questions and answers with The Post’s professional wrestling writer, Joseph Staszewski.
(Edited for clarity and length)
Q: What kind of impact do you think Shaq can have for AEW when you have someone of his notoriety and just people’s curiosity about what Shaq could be as a fighter?
A: Shaq’s power, when you have one of these as very, very iconic brands around the world, cannot be underestimated. The only thing I know about penetration (the public) and only the absolute sphere of influence, the closest thing I could think of is Snoop Dogg himself. For me, it’s very, very interesting. In fact, it’s an important part – not my job as a fighter – it’s an important part of the other job (EVP), because if we build this and come for this dynamite, March 3 with Shaq, I hope they like it all what he does and they like everything we do, but maybe we find someone they wouldn’t know if this is their first foray into fighting they also fall in love with who isn’t in our match. This is one of the beautiful things about rubbing and powering someone like Shaq.
Q: How did this come about? Was it something he approached you or was it something you approached?
A: What happened is what the fans saw. He wrote on Twitter about me (in August 2020) and I don’t think, in particular, that he knows me. All he knew was that he had a show on TNT and we saw each other on the front lines and “Dynamite” was kicking his ass and I think he chose a professional internal fighter to choose from. And I haven’t thought much about it other than, you know, we fighters, we like it when we see blue checks (Twitter), we like it when we see people talking about our world.
Then the next one you know, QT (Marshall) calls me like half a year ago, so some time ago. He called me and said, “Hey, I just want to make you aware of something.” When it comes down to it, I know there will be something about the Nightmare Factory. He said: “I just want to make you aware that Shaq came in and started training. I said, okay, send me a video, I need to see it. He did a lot of QT workouts with a few bodies there that he can throw and stuff like that.
Right then, I knew we were in an area where this could really happen. I really jumped at him in the best way I could. QT is really technically responsible for that. He and (AEW President) Tony Khan, because he and Tony have an excellent relationship. It was meant to be like many other things in AEW.
Q: How long has Shaq been training?
A: I don’t have much interaction with him. I know that when he trains he is very long. They put in two hours. They go from the weight room to the ring and two to three of our best boys hit, train and want to be there. I’m there most of the night. I never trained with him. He was highly trained by QT. He trains pretty regularly and I’m thrilled.
When you’re that size. If you went in, not Shaq, if you were that big, I would like you to train and learn to do as much as you can, but most fighters and fighters and companies won’t make you do as much. There is very much a less-is-more guide for a legitimate giant. Not many get into fights.
The only thing I thought about was that I struggled with the Big Show so many times. He was just one of the most valuable teachers for me. He was everything. He was a real opponent when it came to how he managed to go to WrestleMania. He was my first taste of good politics, bad politics and he was an angel in the ring to fight with. He taught me some valuable lessons. So, thinking about the Show, the way I thought about Shaq, I’m kind of similar.
Q: You and Shaq are the headliners, but how big is this opportunity for Jade and Red Velvet?
A: Red Velvet, this is the golden ticket. Everyone likes Red Velvet and she went on and said, “I won’t just be a replacement.” She and Arn (Anderson) talked about doing that interview (in the “Waiting Room” segment), where I practically sat there like a pud, which was great. I don’t have to make a seven-minute manifesto. If I have one ready, I’m ready.
I was really impressed at this point and I thought he had fallen in love with the audience. I felt that she was not trying to be my patron or a sip of anything of that nature. He even kind of froze his point and left and made us think about it. And quite frankly, if there was any doubt about who should play that role, she made everything clear, because there were a lot of names that were thrown away when (my wife) Brandi got pregnant. And he made it clear that it would be Red Velvet. I was very proud of her and I don’t even know her that well.
As for Jade, this might upset some people and tell you only optically, but Jade trains incredibly hard. I know she’s incredibly disciplined. She’s not so nice to me, but it reminds me so much of Chyna’s early stages and her unique way. I found out in the little interaction I had with her before she snatched me at the microphone, Chyna is her favorite fighter. I have not yet had this experience with an intern and someone entering the industry. For me, to have Red Velvet and to have Jade and everything that happens and with what (the female champion) put together Hikaru Shida together with the women’s tournament, we try to do all the steps we can in a real rhythm , without heat – shotting just to strengthen our presence on our women in the show.
Q: In your mind, where is AEW’s relationship with New Japan Pro-Wrestling, is the door open for those dream matches after travel restrictions are lifted?
A: They are all AEW, but I am not blind to the potential of these crossovers. I think that when travel restrictions are lifted, there may be crossover matches, dream matches available to us. I know in my heart that there is someone I would love to fight in New Japan. I did not have the opportunity and time ends with this opportunity.
I’m a big fan of Ace (Hiroshi Tanahashi). I like to challenge myself and they have a great list regarding (Kazuchika) Okada, Jay White and, of course (Kota) Ibushi, which I have come to fight so many times. (Tomohiro) Ishii, God. There is good potential for crossovers and good friendships, but I want to never forget that we have a locker room full of men and women struggling to get into this two-hour time frame and I always look at AEW first . Just respectable than any other company, I’m probably the most guarded when it comes to crossovers.
Q: The dynamite two weeks ago had fighters from the NWA, Impact and New Japan. Is there a final goal in your boys’ minds about how you want this talent-sharing idea to affect the fight? It feels like a return to the territory of today.
A: I’m thinking of “All In” itself. “All In” is a show for which ROH (Ring of Honor) helped us with Matt (Jackson), Nick (Jackson), I did all the work outside of that initial production element and why it was important that the three of us did that, we were able to let go of all these old rules. This is a very dangerous and powerful precedent if you put literally all the bridges and put all the doors. Again, everything is hypothetical, but there is no reason why AEW could not work with New Japan. We are aware of the outside world. Bullet Club is a big part of our blood in AEW. So there’s no reason we can’t work with New Japan. There’s no reason why Jacob Fatu couldn’t leave MLW and stand in front of me.
There’s no reason why there couldn’t be a potential WWE crossover in a day. And I don’t mean that this is something that has been discussed or is happening, but none of those rules that exist for other places exist for us. The struggle is indeed this universal industry. The territory reference you made is quite accurate, but the most accurate part was that there was genuine trust.
Eddie Graham and Vince (McMahon) Sr. traded people all the time and did prolific things out of it and they did it in a way that introduced these characters to New York and then the next thing you know they introduce these characters in Florida and kept things fresh because above all, Wednesday Night War or not the main thing we have to do to the fans for the rest of this race – and I want this company to be around forever – is to we keep it fresh. It can never be lost.
Our doors are open if the business is right, if the time is right, if the time is right. Our bridges are down. I’ll be the only AEW curmudgeon guy to make sure everything’s okay.
Q: What is the greatest thing you have learned about being a professional fighter that you can take as a father as a professional fighter?
A: My father was very old and it was because he was a fighter, to be faithful to who you are. He told me around 4 or 5, he told me that if the teacher asks you, “What is your father doing to live?” You can tell him I’m a salesman. You can tell I’m a mechanic. I said, “I don’t want to tell them this, I want to tell them you’re a fighter.” He said, “And that’s what I want. You never feel the pressure to do it. “It simply came to my notice then. I wore a leather jacket in 3rd note, everyone made fun of me. The next day I wore the leather jacket again and the next day. It was a way to grow up with such a fatherly character and a personality bigger than life.
And where we grew up, people even looked at our family because we were like a circus. He was determined to be faithful to who you were to the point where I said at that funeral and they asked me what you wanted to put on. It’s like a flashback. The guy said I could say he had a college degree, and I stopped him and said, “Just write a professional fighter.” This was. So, for me, it was a great lesson that I hope I can pass on to my own child.