AEW wrestler Cody Rhodes recently did an in-depth interview with ‘Busted Open Radio‘ where he discussed a plethora of topics. One of the topics that came up was running heel.
It's an interesting topic as it is an important decision in wrestling. One that can change your career in many ways. Just don't expect AEW man Cody Rhodes to go that route.
“I will not turn heel,” Rhodes said on the show (transcription via WrestlingNews.) You don’t want to drop an absolute on anybody, but I don’t have a lot left in my career. I don’t have another 10 years. It’s probably three more years, full time wrestling, and I want to get every accolade I can get my hands on. I want to be the best me I ever was as a pro wrestler, and the way I’m going to do it is as me. If we try really hard to rope me into babyface or rope me into heel, I think we’re going to miss this wonderful moment. Indianapolis was a total home game. That’s what Arn Anderson said. He said, ‘It’s either going to be a home or away game.’”
Wrestling is not quite like other sports but there are similarities in home and away games. AEW star Cody Rhodes explains the interesting comparison.
“I know walking into certain markets, it’s going to be an away game. Very likely, New York City is an away game. I walk into Atlanta, GA, that’s a home game. Indianapolis was a home game. Miami was a home game. That’s the greatest energy and the greatest gift the fans can give me is to keep doing what they’re doing, just because I’ve wanted them to watch me my whole life. It took a long time. Now we got them. I want them to take this ride and know it’s not the same ride that people have taken you on before. It doesn’t end the same way. That’s what AEW is. You can look at references from our alternative and our competitor, and always be like, ‘Well, they did this. He should do it like this, or she should do it like this.’ We’re doing something different here. For better, for worse, whatever it may be, we are our own thing, and that includes me not doing some stereotypical onscreen commissioner garbage, EVP heel turn.”
It will be interesting to see what AEW does with Cody Rhodes going forward. The man doesn't have too many years left in the game but he does have some fun matches ahead of him.