Cody Reacts To N.Y. Post Headline, Talks ROH/NJPW WM35 Weekend Show

Cody Rhodes recently spoke with the Sports Illustrated “Extra Mustard” section to react to the recent unfavorable New York Post headline about him, the Ring Of Honor (ROH) World Championship and if he would work the ROH and New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) co-promoted G1 Supercard event at Madison Square Garden in New York City during WrestleMania 35 Weekend next year. Featured below are some of the highlights from the interview.

On the New York Post headline with the Jay Lethal interview that read, “The Man Trying To Save ROH From Cody Rhodes’ Mess”: “The ‘mess’ I created was a 40 percent net gross increase for Ring of Honor that I feel had a great deal to do with the Bullet Club and their success this past year. Sounds silly, but there are plenty of people at ROH, and I think Jay is one of them, that are afraid of their own success. They don’t want to leave the bubble. They think I’m genuinely insane for attempting to do the things I dream of.”

The man trying to save Ring of Honor from Cody Rhodes mess https://t.co/jxAPJWofie pic.twitter.com/JFIQqpVG7I

— New York Post (@nypost) December 11, 2018

What a headline… https://t.co/T71W6UBYzl

— Cody Rhodes (@CodyRhodes) December 11, 2018

On whether or not title reigns define him as a wrestler and the ROH World Championship: “I don’t know what defines me as a wrestler. It would be rather pretentious to define myself this early in my career. What I pride myself on, however, is not taking ‘no’ for an answer. And for believing that wrestling can change. The world we live in can change. And it’s even more possible with teammates like I have in The Elite. … I’ve been around wrestling since I opened my eyes for the first time. I know the difference between a title that matters and one that we have to pretend matters. The ROH title is validated by the soldiers who’ve carried it. It will be an honor to wear it a second time. And of course, I will break all the rules just as I have done the past two years. It’ll go everywhere.”

On whether or not he will wrestle at the ROH/NJPW “G1 Supercard” show at MSG on April 6: “It would take a lot for me to be part of the Garden show. I’ve had some special moments in the Garden. Survivor Series was a highlight of my career, my first Rumble, moonsaulting off the cage onto Cesaro. I have a massive amount of respect for Joe Koff and [GM] Greg Gilleland. My exclusivity with Ring of Honor ended a while back and they’ve maintained everything on a handshake deal. I think Greg is a revolutionary in how he allows talent to play with without overproducing. But I can’t imagine me being on that particular show. After two ‘supercards’ and breaking my back essentially against Kenny last year, it still can’t change the fact that people are in town for WWE. ROH and NJPW sold that building out and that is massive and special and I love that they did it, but had they did it on another weekend, I’d be more likely to be featured on it. After 10 years with WWE doing ‘Mania weekend and two more with ROH, I am leaving that weekend for the boys and girls of the WWE.”

Check out the complete Cody Rhodes interview at SI.com.

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