Cody Rhodes, the reigning WWE Universal Champion, has expressed his inability to comprehend the mentality of colleagues who don’t strive to become a World Champion, given his previous experiences at AEW.
During his attendance on an episode of the ‘Insight’ podcast, Rhodes discussed the point of view of some athletes who show no desire to claim the top accolade in their respective organisations, stating:
“This is going to sound abrasive and it’s acceptable if people perceive it as such. During my stint at AEW, numerous talents would disclose to me, ‘I don’t aspire to become the World Champion.’ I would simply respond courteously and shift forward. Internally, though, I felt like telling them to scram; without ambition, their value is negligible. That might seem harsh, but this is a fiercely competitive industry, perhaps not in the ways it’s typically seen, yet you ought to yearn for supremacy. At least, that resonates with my thinking.”
Despite these strong feelings, Rhodes was unsuccessful in his bid for the AEW World Championship, losing a title contest to the then-Champion, Chris Jericho.
Rhodes set this rule himself while at AEW as a demonstration of his commitment to not exploiting his EVP position. However, he has since acknowledged his regret over the implementation of this clause.
Presently, Rhodes is experiencing his inaugural term as WWE Universal Champion, following the termination of Roman Reigns’ commanding 1,316-day streak at WWE WrestleMania 40 (Night Two).