The Young Bucks share their thoughts on Cody Rhodes‘ success in WWE.
Cody Rhodes was arguably the face of AEW, as he helped launch the company. He was an Executive Vice President, and he won the TNT Championship three times. Rhodes left AEW in February 2022 and returned to WWE. There, he has become one of their hottest stars. He is set to headline WrestleMania for the second year in a row.
In an interview with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, AEW EVPs Matthew and Nicholas Jackson commented on Rhodes’ success.
“AEW will always be our baby,” said Matthew Jackson. “It’s our life’s work. We sought out to change the world, and we did just that. We created a new workplace for so many deserving people. Tons of talented individuals received a spotlight that they may have not gotten otherwise. And several people’s careers were taken to new heights because of the sole existence of AEW. We’re proud of the things we accomplished with Cody and happy to see him rising to the occasion. We’re all rooting for each other.”
Nicholas Jackson: It’s Cool To See Cody Rhodes As The Face Of WWE
Nicholas Jackson chimed in by saying that they always knew how much of a star Cody Rhodes was. He stated that the founders of AEW had a life-long bond. Nicholas noted that Rhodes’ exit helped them grow as friends.
“Cody is the face of the WWE now, and it’s cool to see because we always knew how much of a star he was,” Nicholas Jackson said. “The founders of AEW will always have a lifetime bond with each other because we all know what we did for wrestling. We talk every week and in a weird way him leaving made us grow more as friends.”
The Young Bucks On CM Punk References
During the interview, the Young Bucks also discussed their new characters, which have tied in their real-life roles as EVPs. The duo have also made the backstage issues they had with CM Punk part of the storyline, as they have referenced it on AEW programming. Matthew explained that they believe they are the good guys who are trying to keep AEW on course.
“In our eyes, we’re the good guys–trying to keep AEW on course with the mission statement of changing the world,” Matthew Jackson said. “We sparked the movement that created a revolution that birthed AEW. We were the fresh, young, disruptors who thought outside of the box and spat in the face of tradition. AEW is now a much different place than it was five years ago, but I think that same disruptive attitude is still there.
“So who better to lead the charge than the company’s own EVPs who sought out for that change originally, anyway? Sometimes you have to protect the thing you love the most, from people who don’t fit the image of what this is supposed to be. I thought the $25 Amazon gift card to Tony Schiavone was a great way to extend the olive branch. My brother, who can be a bit of a hot head, had a quick quibble about something trivial, but we circled back and deescalated the situation.”
The Young Bucks will challenge Sting and Darby Allin for the AEW World Tag Team Championship at AEW Revolution. WrestleZone will have coverage of the show as it airs.
