Cody Rhodes says All Elite Wrestling’s expanding roster is a good way to keep things fresh and it creates a far better show.
Cody Rhodes appeared on Rasslin’ with Brandon Walker and spoke about All Elite Wrestling’s recent record of free agent signings as well as the perception that a bloated roster could lead to issues with getting TV time for all of them. Cody initially said that the move from TNT to TBS won’t affect much since business has already been good, then noted that Tony Khan has gone out and signed several notable names and it’s a net positive.
“I feel like with the movement from TNT to TBS, everyone’s asking what will be different. ‘Will the show be different? How will this look?’ And ultimately what I keep telling people is that it’s business as usual because business has been incredibly good. The matches, bell-to-bell wise, are what we try to offer on the highest of levels and then ‘The Khan’ as we referred to him earlier—I referred to him as ‘The Khan’ and not ‘TK’ — has hired every good and great free agent that you could possibly get,” Rhodes stated. “That creates maybe a tense locker room, but a far better show, and that’s a good thing.”
Walker followed up by asking how AEW keeps a locker room at peace when there are so many more names coming in, and Cody said it’s all about balance and the collective attitude the roster shares.
“I’m pretty nervous. [laughs] I think the mission of what AEW is doing, to be an alternative wrestling promotion, and it’s been 20 years without an alternative, I think the mission appeals to everyone in a way that if you’re somebody that’s solely out for yourself,” Rhodes noted, “it’s quick for everyone to find out. [People know] ‘Oh, this person? It’s all about them.’ And they don’t tend to do well at AEW. It is the most — and having worked at WWE, Ring Of Honor, New Japan, all wonderful places — but the most team effort I’ve ever seen is the one at the AEW backstage area. It’s the best I’ve ever seen with the most genuine, ‘let’s have the best possible show, let’s look out for one another,’ this actual concern and this do-it-yourself attitude that AEW has that other places I’ve worked didn’t.
“So those five starters [in basketball terms that Walker used as a reference], and in this case, we really did have that, the exact number of the big free agents [to start], it’s our job to open that door wide and do what we were already doing. And also, it creates a different — Tony’s able to book a Dynamite in a way, and this is what I love — you don’t have to have your guy or your girl every week,” Rhodes stated. “One week Chris Jericho can be in the main event and the next week maybe I’m in the main event. CM Punk, Bryan Danielson, Kenny Omega, Hangman Adam Page, that’s not a bad thing at all, it keeps it fresh.”
