AEW superstar Cody Rhodes spoke with Tony Schiavone in an exclusive interview regarding his legacy, and why he strives to become the first TNT champion. Highlights are below.
On being the best wrestler he can be:
So, when you’re a second-generation, third-generation, whatever, and you join this, you’re almost always set with the standards that were laid before you. Well, my standards are pretty lofty. You know, Dusty was a three-time world champion and he started everybody and their mother when it comes to giving them their debuts and their breaks. He really had a significant chunk of wrestling’s total legacy. I don’t do this to be anything other than the greatest, anything other than the absolute best. That sounds ridiculous, but I really still believe in dreams and you get better every day. Every day since I started–which is really 15 years old– since I started. I’ve tried to be a better wrestler the next day.
Wanting to retire at 40 and take care of his family:
So I’m gonna be 35 in June and I said, I’m only going to do this till 40-years-old. I don’t know if that’s accurate. Rarely ever [is] in wrestling, but that’s what I said. I want to make sure that two people in particular never have to work a day in their life. That’s my wife, who will choose to work every day because that’s who she is, and my mother, who refuses to acknowledge that I’m still trying to do everything I can to take care of her. I want to make sure they know that I did it and I did it with wrestling.
Rhodes faces Lance Archer at the May 23rd Double or Nothing pay per view to crown the first champion. Full interview below. (H/T and transcribed by Fightful)