WZ’s Bill Pritchard recently spoke with Cody Rhodes at this year’s WrestleCade event, and you can watch the entire interview in the video player above. Below are some interview highlights:
On Facing Jay Lethal at Final Battle:
He’s the Franchise. I was already nervous about doing Final Battle. It’s no hyperbole, no exaggeration, I have walked out of a couple of Wrestlemanias, but nothing has made me feel like this “build,” this preparation to Final Battle against Jay Lethal; who is ROH, who is the Honor, it’s my honor, so I’m very much looking forward to it. It’s where all fans of mine who have been on the bandwagon, to salivate, to enjoy, to riot, whatever they want to do. It’s the moment for all those critics, there is no greater revenge in the world than pleasing your fans and silencing those few critics so I’m very much looking forward to it, looking forward to Hammerstein for the soul of that building. I don’t know if you can, but I’m really excited.
On Whether He Had a Say in Facing Jay Lethal:
Occasionally when I go to a few places I get to pick and choose some of the best, but Ring of Honor is much bigger than Cody Rhodes. They picked my opponent, and how apropos that my debut in Ring of Honor is against the Franchise, he’s Jay Lethal. I didn’t have any say in it, but they couldn’t have picked a better opponent.
On His Extravagant Ring Gear:
So, my wife and my manager both kind of chewed me out because I was really going deep on the gear, expensing some great gear and will continue to do so adamantly against their wishes. I do have something special in mind; I wore a special pair of boots in PWG and will wear a special pair of boots in the biggest match of my career for sure.
On Going with Long Tights As His New Ring Gear:
It’s kind of a boring answer, but when I was going to come back as Cody Rhodes in the WWE, this was the design that creative services gave me, the Austin Hall Eagle that was on my dad’s boots. People think it’s something else, but it’s an Austin Hall Eagle, it was just time to switch it up. Fresh coat of paint. I still shave my legs. I know that’s a really weird thing to throw out there, but I want people to know that so I still shave them.
On Any Final Thoughts Before Final Battle:
You know, before Final Battle I got the opportunity to be here at WrestleCade kicking off. My dad would always say that you want to be the first match, or the last match, to set the table, or tear the tablecloth off, but actually, on Wednesday, I’m wrestling for the Internet Title on What Culture Wrestling in Nottingham, and I’m hoping that we can continue to trend upwards, and Final Battle, if you’re not on board, if you’re a WWE-only fan, let this be the opportunity where you break away from tradition, you give it a shot. If you just look at the Marriott of talent; Dalton Castle, Adam Cole, the Bucks, you put that roster up against anyone in the world, and you can bet that they are going to exceed and I’m just happy to be part of it and show where I rank, and I believe that’s going to surprise a lot of people. I’m excited.
