During a recent appearance on “The MMA Hour” podcast, WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes addressed the scathing remarks made by former AEW World Champion CM Punk regarding Tony Khan’s company and his invocation of backstage issues.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On CM Punk’s assessment of AEW: “That’s his assessment. It’s not my assessment. It’s important for me to remind people that I am so proud of what me, Matt, Nick, Kenny, Tony, Bernie, Brandi, Dana, and Chris. I name all these people because I was in those meetings. As much as the internet will try to spin a narrative one way. If one of those people had not been at that start-up level, the company would not have happened. I am so proud of what was created. I am so insanely proud of what it does for the industry overall, for wrestlers and their well-being, and their ability to feed their families. I have an unbelievable love for so many people in that locker room, including the Bucks and Kenny. We’re bonded forever over this thing that we did. It’s not my assessment. In my time there, the infrastructure was just being built up. We were trying new things and doing new things. It was a start-up company. A big-time start-up company, but a start-up company. I wish them nothing but the best.”
On not foreseeing the issues with Punk, but expecting issues between newer stars: “I don’t think I foresaw any of those issues. I did kind of predict, it was unrelated to those guys, but I do remember predicting that there were going to be certain guys who had been there, who wanted to wave the banner, ‘Hey, you’ve not been here,’ and then brand new guys, you always need fresh blood, like Punk coming back to WWE is a great call. I think those always would mesh.”
On what happened in AEW being the result of misunderstandings and miscommunications: I just think what happened there is a ton of misunderstanding, a ton of miscommunication. You will see on indies and wrestlers that aren’t properly trained. I’m not talking about bullying etiquette, but you do need to have a little old school in you to know the collaborativeness of what this is. I think they were ships in the night. I love Matt, Nick, and Kenny, and I love CM Punk. I don’t know how, but I do. I’m happy for everyone involved. I think it was a ship in the night thing. I wasn’t there though.”
In a recent interview on “The MMA Hour” podcast, WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes addressed the controversial comments made by former AEW World Champion CM Punk about Tony Khan’s company and the backstage issues. Rhodes expressed his pride in the work done by himself, Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson, Kenny Omega, Tony Khan, Bernie, Brandi, Dana, and Chris, emphasizing that they were all involved in the early stages of AEW’s creation.
Rhodes acknowledged that while CM Punk had his own assessment of AEW, it was not necessarily shared by everyone involved. He highlighted the importance of recognizing the efforts and contributions of those who were part of the company from the beginning. Rhodes expressed his immense pride in what AEW has achieved for the industry as a whole, including providing opportunities for wrestlers to support their families and improving their overall well-being.
Regarding CM Punk’s criticism of AEW, Rhodes explained that during his time there, the company was still in its early stages of development. He described it as a start-up company that was constantly trying new things and building its infrastructure. Despite any issues that may have arisen, Rhodes wished AEW nothing but the best.
Rhodes also discussed his expectations for potential issues between newer stars in AEW. While he did not foresee the specific problems raised by CM Punk, he did anticipate clashes between established wrestlers and newcomers. He believed that fresh blood was necessary in any wrestling promotion and mentioned that Punk’s return to WWE was a smart move.
In addressing what happened in AEW, Rhodes attributed it to a combination of misunderstandings and miscommunications. He compared it to situations seen on independent wrestling circuits where wrestlers who may not have received proper training sometimes lack the collaborative mindset required in the industry. Rhodes expressed his love for both Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson, Kenny Omega, and CM Punk, acknowledging that he may not fully understand the dynamics of what occurred since he was not present during those incidents.
The interview with Cody Rhodes on “The MMA Hour” podcast provides insight into his perspective on CM Punk’s criticisms of AEW and sheds light on the collaborative efforts made by the individuals involved in the company’s creation. Rhodes’ comments emphasize his pride in AEW’s accomplishments and his support for everyone involved, despite any differences or misunderstandings that may have occurred.