Cody Rhodes talked to the media after Double Or Nothing. Chris Van Vliet filmed the media conference. Here are some notes and quotes:
The guy Cody wanted to sign the most was Jon Moxley.
Regarding the Triple H sledgehammer and throne segment:
“I had a literal dream about this type of entrance. I loved when Triple H came out at WrestleMania 30 and it was like Shao Kahn. It was really cool and the throne kinda symbolized his reign. I want to play ball. I know we don’t say competition, but, it stands for itself. I also want people to know this role, this Executive Vice President role, which I love and I’m excited about. I want to be a wrestler first. And that’s great. We were able to do that tonight. Tony Khan sat in gorilla and timed the show. That takes years how to learn. Gerald Briscoe was like the only guy that could do it for a long time. Tony did it tonight on his first try. So they don’t always need us there in those executive roles. We were able to go out there and be wrestlers. That more than anything. Not so much a shot at Triple H. But more a shot that I’m not ready to dive into that role and lean into it. I want to be a wrestler first and foremost.”
“I literally burned the bridge tonight. I can’t go back. And I’m fine with that. I want us to play . I thought the whole show needed to be a step up from All In.”
Cody says the Young Bucks got screwed at All In because of the time shortage and were not able to have the match they wanted. At Double or Nothing they were able to show the world tag team wrestling.
Cody says he designed Chris Jericho’s entrance at the PPV.
Mark Henry asked Cody about diversity in AEW:
“I’m in an inter-racial marriage and I’ve learned a lot. But I would have never known…One time I told Brandi ‘I don’t have a racist bone. I don’t see color.’ She said, ‘Well you don’t see my experience.’ And I thought, ‘Oh. You’re right.’ I can’t just say that. You need to be able to see that experience and at least understand it. And the old territory system of just one, that’s out. The best wrestlers are going to feel the game. And that’s a very diverse profile. I’m really proud of it. But I know we’re not gonna make that. We’re gonna promote them as wrestlers. Thats all the elements of diversity. We’re not gonna make it a PR element.”
Chris Van Vliet mentioned the middle fingers and the blood that was shown on the PPV and asked Cody if this is a sign of what’s to come on their weekly TV show this fall:
“When you look at TV, our PPV’s will take it a step up if that makes any sense. The other wrestling company, they almost run a TV G rated show. Theres a huge part of the audience that still wants sports and violence. In the NBA when guys curse on the court they move the camera away from them. Its treated as a live sporting event and that will help our TV and drive how we want to do TV. But I think at the PPV’s you’ll see a step up. And even Tony [Khan] and I’m not trying to spoil it but we’ve even talked about a PPV that’s even another step up. Wrestling is violent. Its part of combat sports.”
Cody said that All Out and Double Or Nothing will be looked at as their bigger PPV’s. They will not be doing monthly PPV’s. Cody realizes the PPV price point was high so to ask people to part with their money they need to make sure the shows are worth it. Not every show will be 4 or 5 hours either.
Watch the entire Cody press conference below:
