Cody Rhodes recently spoke with Rolling Stone’s Kenny Herzog, talking about his Ring of Honor Final Battle appearance, joining Bullet Club, and much more. You can read a few excerpts below:
Cody on the whether or not him being teased for Bullet Club was supposed to be clear, the inspiration behind his new ‘American Nightmare’ moniker:
Crystal clear. The “American Nightmare” rides with the Bullet Club.
I think it’s just a name that fits me. I believe in the cream rising. I believe in hard work. But I believe in vindication as well. You have a few nightmares I imagine before you reach your dream.
Related: Watch Cody Rhodes’ NJPW Bullet Club Vignette, Cody, Kenny Omega, Adam Cole & More Comment
Cody Rhodes comments on professional wrestlers finding success in more promotions in today’s wrestling landscape than just WWE:
The part that shocks me the most is that professional wrestlers today do not need WWE. WWE is the biggest, most wonderful company, and they have WrestleMania, so almost any professional wrestler is going to seek that goal. However, it’s no longer needed, because in the era of social media and streaming, wrestling fans have more options than they’ve ever had. So instead of feeling backwards to me, it’s almost feels linear. It feels like, “OK, I’m no longer just a WWE guy, but you can catch me with Evolve, Ring of Honor, TNA.” Originally, I had the same thought process you did, especially coming from second or third generation. There used to be a rule in the business that you would go to Japan when you were a youngster, even if you only went for a month, when you were second or third generation. And then you would be able to say, “Oh, well I’ve wrestled in Japan,” so there was this cred. But it was kind of a lie when second and third-generations’ fathers would kind of put their kids up to it.
Cody talks about reconnecting with wrestling and his father, and rediscovering himself on the indies after previously committing to character roles:
Oh, 100 percent. There can be a headstone and flowers, but I don’t feel his presence there as much as I feel it in the buildings I’ve been in lately. I’m one of those weird Millennials; I don’t really have faith, I’m not a religious person, I don’t know what happens when we die. But I know if I can get people to make enough noise, maybe he’s watching. I feel a connection with him more on this independent tour. I also feel more of a connection with the business. Territory wrestling was what I was obsessed with, especially as I got older. In this modern era, there are territories again, they’re just not called territories.
