Insight with Chris Van Vliet - Cody Rhodes: How much has AEW changed since the first show - Interview from May 2019

Episode Date: December 24, 2020

Cody Rhodes sits down with Chris Van Vliet in Miami, FL in this interview that was recorded on May 22, 2019, just three days before AEW's inaugural event, Double or Nothing. We are taking a few days off for the holidays, so I thought it would be interesting to take a look back at this interview which released on YouTube only. Cody talks about a lot of topics for the first time like the fact that Dynamite would be a 2-hour show, how wins and losses will matter in AEW, whether or not they will have pyro, what the AEW World Championship would look like (because at this point it had not been revealed). It is fascinating to listen to this a year and a half later knowing what we know now. I hope you enjoy it!   Support the show by subscribing and supporting our sponsors!INDEED- Try it today with a $75 credit to boost your job post by going to http://indeed.com/BlueWire BETONLINE- Get a FREE welcome bonus by using the promo code BLUEWIRE at http://betonline.ag Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Hey, everyone, it's Lindsay Rhodes, and I've got a new podcast. The NFL Road Show, fun and kind of nerdy conversation about the NFL every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I've got some amazing guests that are joining me. I'll be breaking the huddle with the top stories, previewing games, We'll get you set for the weekend fantasy with our Fantasy Friday episodes, and we'll answer some of your questions as well. So subscribe to the NFL Road Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. It's Chrysomania, brother. That's a great question. Look at you, man.

With the powerful questions. This is the Chris Van Vlead Show. Chris Van Vleet Show. Ladies and gentlemen, Chris Van Bann. Hello, my friends, and welcome to the Chris Van Bleach Show. And as the year comes to an end here, it's so impressive seeing how far AEW has come in a relatively short period of time. And if you couldn't tell from the title of this interview, this is the chat that I had with Cody Rhodes, three days before AEW's inaugural show, Double or Nothing. That was on May 25th, 2019 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

I'm honored to say I was there. It was electric. It was historic. And it really set the tone for what we could come to expect from all elite wrestling. And this was an interview that was done before I had a podcast. So this was only posted on YouTube. So I figured while we take a few days off for the holidays, now is the perfect time to post this.

And we can kind of look back at, you know, what we talked about in this conversation over the last, you know, year and a half since AWs existed. and also just how much AEW is shifted just over 2020. So if you're listening to this right now, could I just ask you to take a second to subscribe or follow on whatever app that you're listening on? And if you have a few seconds after that and you're listening on Apple Podcasts, please just take a few seconds to leave a review.

It's so, so helpful in helping to grow the show. FM Nation 87 titles this review, CVVe, a man after my own heart. I work overnight and listen to, five podcasts all shift long. I've listened to every one of your pods, and I love them. I also listen to Sam Roberts, who you had on, Ariel Hwani, who you had on,

Conrad Thompson, who you just had on. If you have Chale Sunnan, you will complete my whole list and my heart. Oh my gosh, I'll complete your heart. Keep up the great work and the great guest, CVV, is the man. Well, come on, thank you. Thank you for that, but how could I possibly be the man when you're the man? I appreciate you taking the time out of your day. to leave that review. And you're right. I think we need to have the bad guy, Chale Sunning,

on the show next year. So let's put that on the world. Let's make that happen. Just like that, poof, it's happening. Okay. And as I record this right now, it's been almost two years to the day that AEW was announced. That was, of course, January 1st, 2019, and a lot has happened since them, not just in the world of wrestling, but a lot's happened, you know, just in the world. Who would have predicted that we'd be sitting here right now, talking about COVID-19 and everything it's, you know, all the different ways it's impacted us. But it's just so fascinating to look back at this interview now because we only knew a few details about all-leat wrestling when we did this interview. I mean, we were talking about, is there

going to be pyro? What's the belt going to look like? How many hours would Dynamite be? So we got a lot of those questions answered for the very first time during this interview in Cody's hotel room in Miami. So here you go. Enjoy this chat with Cody Rhodes. All right. Just hanging out in Cody Rhodes hotel room. Yeah. Thank you for making this happen. No, thank you. And we, if you can't tell, there's a great view. Yeah. But we had to turn the couch around, but it's magnificent. Miami. You're living the gimmick, though. You are in the best hotel in Miami. With the center view, too. Yeah. You do. You have the best view that maybe we'll show you after, but yeah, you do have the best view here. Good view. Roger Goodell is next door, I think.

Like in the room next door? Yeah, I think so. Wow. I mean, I kind of created that, you know, I heard a voice on the balcony and it sounded a lot like him, and I saw him last night, so I'm going to say it was him. Was he yelling about some teams? No. What a friendly guy. Oh. Yeah. I kept saying I'm a big fan, and I don't think he meant, like, understood what I was saying. Like, I'm an NFL huge fan and this freaking Roger Grisdell. It's cool. It's obviously very timely that we're talking, not just because double or nothing is on Saturday, but yesterday was three years to the day that you were asked for your release from WWA. Oh, wow. Yeah. Did you ever imagine when you asked for that release that any of the stuff that you've done in the last three years would have happened? No. And you know

how like you have like an idea as to like what your goals are and things you want, places you want to go? Yeah. I probably had 10. different things in mind. And none of them included this situation we're in now. And that's how unprecedented this situation is now. And it really is. Like the more people, you know, like yourself who know about wrestling, this is crazy. It's only going to happen here and now.

So trying to kind of soak it in and enjoy it and just be in the zone from the Turner up front and that T&T announcement, ITV. in the freaking UK, like, man, it's good. It's good time, man. Are you able to step back from it and kind of realize the magnitude of what this is? So it's not missed on me in terms of how big this is, but I just want to ride the high until obviously, like, there's an epic, I'm due for an epic crash. I don't know what it is, some sort of scandal, something.

Who knows? But it keeps going. And me and DDP has been a real good mentor to me. And he is that every day is like, I cannot believe this is happening. And he was on TNT and millions of viewers with WCW and seeing it happen. Because I told him, you know, like, hey, it's a real thing. You just stay tuned. I don't think anyone believed us until actually TNT put out that first tweet with the fire.

The very nitro-esque fire. So we're all in the van and we're getting pumped up to go to this media. And I was tying Matt Jackson's tie. And then Brandy just randomly goes, oh, TNT tweeted. Like, we never had, we never got to control it. They just did it. And it was such a good, cool thing to see that they supported it. I was excited, yeah.

Well, they should. This is going to be the biggest show on their network, I think, this fall. I hope so. I hope so. I'm really looking forward to, you know, You know, because one of the things sitting there at the Warner Media upfronts, it's actually really educational because they're talking about the multi-platform use of not only your, your viewers directly on the network, but your viewers on the streaming service, your viewers

with Bleacher Report, like, and driving them to kind of keep the wheel going was really exciting. And up our, like, in line with what we already do, like, as disruptors. We went from disruptors to kind of being in the system ourselves, and it's perfect. I'm excited about it. How long do you think until we find out the date of your launch, how long your show is, if you guys are going to be live, all that good stuff? It's really likely the show is going to be two hours. Okay.

Yeah, that's the sweet spot. In terms of the schedule, we'll find out probably in the next few months for sure. And it'll be in a great spot to be in prime time on TNT. we're, man, they've really set us up. Yeah. And now you've got to go. And the big thing we want to deliver is the bell, the bell and the sports-centric. And is that my phone?

It's okay. Oh, son of that. Who is it? Tony, come on, text. I'm in the middle of the center. Freaking out. Don't do the interview. What did you do?

You said, oh, my God. He can hear it all, man. He can. No, yeah, we should find out in the next few, probably the next few months. Another thing that's really cool is you'll be able to be able to be able to, you'll be able to find out, you know, per market where we're going to be because we're going to go all around. This isn't going to be something that's just stationed. So you won't have a home base like Impact had the Impact Zone. Oh, no, man. This is a touring. This is a touring brand.

Wow. I mean, we're really no pun intended going all in on the concept of it. And each, it's so special because we're not doing a live event system. So when we come, we're bringing our absolute best from match quality to star quality. Boom. And is it going to be live on those? When you those shows? I feel like I'm giving away a lot of information. There is a lot of info. Did Tony already say two hours live? There we go.

Yeah. And are we going to see a belt maybe on Saturday? They're not belts, a championship? So in a weird way, I always understood what Vince like meant when he was like, oh, they're not, you know, belts hold your pants up. Like, I got it. But I've said title. I've said championship a few times in our little circle now. everyone's really adamant that we say belt.

So it's like now we're pushing back against it. Okay, cool. Yeah, I think on Saturday there is the chance, there is the chance that you might see the greatest world championship title that's ever been created. And there's also a chance I might have showed him a picture of it before this interview. He might have got a sneak peek. I saw it.

Who knows? How much can I say about how awesome it is? Just how awesome it is. Yeah. Just how it's really. great. Every day they kind of, you know, the progress shots have been cool and I'll be able to see it.

I'm not guaranteeing it will be there Saturday. That was a wing. I saw that. But I'm excited about it and we're actually the Battle Royal, the stakes of the Battle Royal, getting that opportunity to potentially wrestle for the World Championship to wrestle for the World Championship.

It's just every match has, you know, high stakes placed on it. Good stuff. This seems like kind of coincidentally, the perfect week for you guys to be launching. Wrestling fans are very upset with the products. Let's find out who's texting. Let's find out who's texting.

Okay. It just keeps dinging. Who is so disrespectful. Yeah. Where is that, sucker? It's over here somewhere. Let's find out who did it. And then read them out loud.

Let's see what, let's see who this is. Well, that could be important. Now we don't know where your phone is. Now we don't know where the phone is, gang. Wow. Hang in there, guys. Okay. Stay tuned.

Stay tuned. bed sheets. We're going to show all this, too. It's over here. It's over here. It's over here. Is it in the trash? No way.

That would be a clear sign I've lost my mind. It is over here, though. It's over here. Or is it outside? Guys, we're so close. Geez, wow. We're close. Is it behind the curtains, maybe?

Is it in this couch? Yes. Oh, we found it, guys. We found it. Oh, wow. All right. That's a lot of times. Yeah, we're going to read them all.

Okay. Let's see who we got here. We're going to read them all. Okay. All right. Wow, that's a lot. A guy who makes my boots. They've been delivered.

They've been delivered, which means pay me. Great. Mandy said that you got about 20 minutes. Okay, that's me, yeah. Nick Jackson. I've heard of him. Can you film just like five seconds of you traveling to Vegas? I'm going to get everyone to do it, and it'll be cool.

hold open for Monday's BT. Now you know. Wow. Nick's furious. Okay. Yeah. And then Jeff, the team to road to double or nothing. Are we doing noon Eastern or noon? Oh, man. You know what I'm going to tell all these people? What? Just go with your heart. You know, there's the answer. Let me ask questions. That's my new answer to questions that I, that seem like is just, what does your heart tell you? The best thing about that is you just read those texts and didn't respond to any of them. Well, I'm going to, get back to him where I was I rudely had to interrupt the interview you know I haven't got back to

Zach Ryder sent me a text like three months ago I still haven't got back to watch this yeah I love him I just yeah doesn't have a question mark like if it's not really pertinent we're good and I'm gonna film that stuff for Nick yeah for sure sure you will yeah but it is like the coincidentally the best week because the wrestling fans are like they're fed up and with what happened at money in the bank with Brock and this 24-7 title it's like you have the best timing for this I only saw a picture of the 24-7 title, and then this isn't meant to be facetious anyway. I'm curious because I didn't watch. Did Brock climb the ladder?

Yeah. He was not officially in the match. But he did climb it. He climbed it, and then, like, it was, you could tell he was kind of nervous, and he thought he was on the rung he needed to be on. It was like, oh, he could climb up one more rung? Eight foot, 10 or 12, do you know? I don't know.

Probably an eight. But, yeah. You've wrestled before. Yeah. I've never had a ladder match. An eight-foot ladder in an arena looks great. In a stadium, it's got to be 10 or 12. Otherwise, it looks super small.

Wow. Which means the bump is just terrible, yeah. Well, you saw the belt. What did you think of it? The 24-7 belt? Yeah. You know? Yep.

We're talking about such a nice one. Sometimes, what is it? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It is. Yeah. Beauty is an eye of the whole other. There it is. Well, Mick looked great.

Yeah, he does. Mick looked great. He's been doing that DDP yoga. Who hasn't been doing it? So his lifelong friend, mentor helped me considerably. Him and Dusty were tight. I was in the original DDP, our yoga for regular guys' book. I've never done the current program.

Really? Yeah, I'm just the last holdout. He just sent me a link so I can do it. I'm actually going to do in the future when I have some more time because I've been doing a lot with the actual TV show I host and these interviews. I'm going to do 90 days doing DDP yoga every single day for 90 days to see the transformation. What's your goal there? The goal is to get ripped.

That's a pretty fair. That's a pretty fair goal because you can touch my toes. Yeah. But I think I've really been able to touch my toes. Has Dallas ever done the thing where he grabs his foot and holds it? Yeah. He's not impressive. He used to do a lot of meetings and stuff.

And I thought, you know, not every crowd is for this. Some crowds are for it. But he's the best, man. Love him. When we talked last time, we talked a lot about how you were just Cody and Ring of Honor. And you're like, but I actually do own the last name, Rhodes. And you're like, but I have a good relationship with WWU and I don't want to mess things up. Do you still have a good relationship with them?

I would think I do. But it's dawning on me. I likely don't. If that makes any sense, I would think we were still, you know, I learned a lot there. I had a great time. I met my wife. I also, I got to wrestle some of the best. Taker was still pretty active.

I got to be in there with Taker. Sean was active. Got to be in there with Sean and Hunter himself. But yeah, I don't know. Maybe I'm not too well received. Well, you're the enemy now. Oh, wow. What a statement.

You know what? You made me the first person who said it like that. Damn. Damn. Is it ringing true now? We were kind of always the enemy, me and my family. We were like the kind of like bastard family of wrestling and dusty, you know, he always was an individual. He never really fit into the corporate

structure. He did great there, and they really took care of him. But I think we were always kind of the enemy. I just maybe rattled the saber a little bit more and caused a bit more disruption. But hey, that's all good. Well, now it all comes full circle at double or nothing. Yeah. With Dustin. Is there's been some talk? Is this a retirement match? I would think this is his last match. I would think it is. Nah, it's not been stated. It's not, we're not putting some sort of like element like that on it

because that's his decision and his world. And one of the big things about this match, though, is really now or never. People wanted this match at the time they wanted it, you know, three years ago, I think, three to four years ago. At WrestleMania. Yeah, they wanted this match actually a lot more than I wanted it. Oh, wow. mainly because it was time for us to go our separate ways. We're solo acts and we had a really great run as a team.

And I love all that, but it was time for us to go our separate ways. And now as we got to this event and this kind of fell into place the way it did, there's so many elements of it that are real. And that's a really great thing to bring to the screen. And it beams across. But I would think this is his last match. But by no means he has that pressure on him. I just, he is getting older and he's actually said himself he'd like to slow down.

So we'll see. I think it's safe to say a lot of things have changed in 2020, including how we work. Businesses across the globe now are challenged to be their most efficient, which means every hire is critical. Indeed is here to help. Indeed is the number one job site in the world with more visits than any other job site. Indeed helps you find quality candidates quickly so you can focus on hiring the person you need to keep your business going. Unlike other job sites, Indeed gives you full control and payment flexibility over your hiring.

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truth though, man. I like that. Man, I check. You go to that verified followers who's who's following. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. You got to get your friends. A lot of people were asking about Hangman. Is he still going to be part of double or nothing in some way? He's still full gear ready for sure. He had it in him all along. You know, it was in there. He's still full gear ready. He won't be weighing in at Starcast.

Instead, at Starcast, we're going to have Sammy Guevara and Kip Sabian weigh in. But I think Hangman's, I know for a fact he'll be in Vegas. He is doing Starcast and he'll be at Double or Nothing. What he does there is mystery. Well, as we look ahead, how much TV have you guys planned out written now? Like, are we talking six months, a year? You know? None. No, no.

Actually, we got a pretty good bearing on, on, I'd say, six months through a year, exactly that, because long-form storytelling is good in every medium, whether it be the film, TV, whatever it may be, it's to know and to work backwards. We've got a good, what would I call it, like a syllabus? outline. I want to say syllabus, though. You're like a college professor. Yeah, there's like a syllabus to what we're going to do. But one thing that Matt Jackson's really good about pointing out is some stuff just catches fire. And one thing we want to do differently than any other wrestling that's out there is you can't deny something when it catches. So if something catches, we're going to push that. We're going to

promote that. If an individual catches, we're going to push that, we're going to promote that. And that all starts a double or nothing. So, I mean, there's, this is a, there's a lot. of guys on this show who are so, so talented. And if you cover the indie scene, you've been around it, you've probably seen some of them. But for people who are just jumping on board, maybe they heard Jim Ross is going to be part of the show or Chris Jericho and they're just jumping on board, who I think they're going to really take away with some new favorites, men and women. I think a lot of people are really hanging on to when you said there's no heels or faces anymore. What a dumb thing to tweet. Wow. What a dumb thing to tweet. I like, I like fixed it.

like three times, too, and no one, those tweets don't matter. The one matters. Oof. I didn't mean the constructs of bad guys and good guys goes away. They exist in every form of storytelling. What I meant was there's this date, you almost have to be a wrestler to understand, and that's the worst thing to tell somebody, but there's this dated outlook on heels, not even baby faces, just heels, where we, we, can't turn the clock back. Bullie Ray is a great example of someone who, you know, really tries to be a heel, but also if I Google Bullie Ray, there's a image of him holding a cat at the Humane Society because he's a great person and likes animals. And he's also a radio

host on Busted Open. So it was more of a like a play on some of these young idiot wrestlers that or, oh, I don't sign autographs because I'm a heel. Like, it's just, you don't even know what a heel is. You're not really a heel or a baby face until you're into your run, if that makes any sense. Yeah. Should I have tweeted that? Absolutely not, because even my explanation now doesn't make sense to people. Good guys, bad guys will have all that.

I just don't use the terms. And believe me, everyone around me, they use the terms. So I still get it. I get it. I know what it is. I know what they're supposed to be. Nobody likes good guy. bad guy. Or I say protagonist and antagonist. I can see everyone. Very Spielberg-esque.

You can hear you literally, when I say it, you can feel people rolling their eyes. Like, oh, fuck, here he is. I don't know how much you can talk about the wins and loss is mattering. But it's obviously a lot of question marks around that. Does that mean that we're going to see a win-loss record? Will that, you know, go into whether someone's the number one contender? How is that going to work? Well, so one of the things that Tony really brought on board was kind of the analytical outlook on wrestling, and he's covered it. He's been such a fan, such a hardcore fan of the business. Wins and losses matter in any competitive sport.

If that makes, I think that makes perfect sense. They matter in any competitive sport. Now, what we are isn't just sports. It's also entertainment. It's this whole other thing. It's pro wrestling. But the concept of guys wanting to win matches and women wanting to win matches because that's who gets paid more, and that is actually real, isn't,

that confusing. So when you look at the fact that wins and losses will matter and you ask about, like, you know, records, we really want to take a deep dive. And Tony has, I mean, he does it for baseball. He does it for football. He does it for all these sports with his outlook on analytics and buy the numbers. I think that's a really cool concept. When I read the press release that we put out for Warner Media coming to TNT, I felt like it was almost like Trek, like, Trek babble. It came across to something that I think people got hung up on. Really, it's just wins and losses will matter. There's not going to be 50-50 booking. And it's when you commit to something or somebody, we're going to go forward with that. I'm only more vague. I'm getting more vague as we have it. I appreciate that, though. How are you going to be able to balance being an executive in the company? I'm not. But also being a worker in the ring. I'm not. One of the things is going to take over. Right. So I have just my wrestling ego is really gotten in check. I feel like I have a real good open mind. I'm 100% aware of like, oh, that's a self-serving. I'm aware of it. The other side of things,

I'm enjoying the executive side so much. It sounds so strange, but like the idea that I have an office and my poor assistant, he. And you have an assistant. Oh, yeah, yeah. This is, what's his name? That's a real deal. Oh, he would be terrified. His name is Michael Quilari. He's not technically my assistant. He's an associate producer. Oh, there you go.

Okay. But he's my assistant. But he's the best. And to be able to have somebody like that with you and be able to talk and plan and then get with Tony and talk and plan. And I don't know what it is, but I'm just obsessed with writing emails and the organizational aspect of this. Maybe because I never had a job. was just always a wrestler, and now I have a job. And to be able to talk with Keith Mitchell, you know, executive producer, Keith Mitchell, and go back and forth there, that stuff really excites me.

And it scares me how much it excites me because at the end of the day, what I'll be judged by is actually my bell to bell in ring. So right now I've balanced it, but we've had six months to prepare for one show. When we go to week to week, that will really be the challenge. But I'm young. We don't have children yet. We just have the dogs. I think I can do it. You could have been the best executive for the last six months.

No one would know this, though, because all they see... Of course you have been. But all they would see, though, is what we're going to see on Saturday. Yeah, and that's... I totally... My mom, you know, who's just like really mean, but beautiful, wonderful woman, but she's, like, really stern about the industry. She's actually always like, oh, you're only as good as your last match. And that is the truth.

Like you, that's what they remember, the last outing you had. And she'll be watching on Saturday. And I can't screw it up because she'll let me know. Have you popped your mom yet? I know it's very hard to get her to. I got her it all in. Okay. She hasn't watched anything since.

Send her every link to, oh, Culture City. Brandy got this, they got a partnership with Culture City, which Double or Nothing is the first sensory inclusive show ever. So autism, PTA. people with sensory, you know, ailments to be able to provide them a cheat sheet and headphones and glasses. They get their bags from Culture City, which is the people of Culture City are unbelievable. And they do this for concerts and different sporting events and now to be able to do it for wrestling. And they have a room that people can go to. I just visited the one in

the State Farm Arena in Atlanta. Just awesome. But that was something my mom was really, I think, proud of the fact that her daughter-in-law and had accrued that partnership. And that's the last pop I think we got from her. Since you, since you were part of the announcement on January 1st, what's been the one question that people keep asking or tweeting you? Oh, since the first part? Like, since we realize AEW is a company, what's been the biggest thing? It goes back and forth. It's usually talent-based. Oh, yes. Because now every talent ever, you're recommended them.

You can't because then you would be in another situation like another wrestling company is now where they have all the talent in the world and they don't have the time, even though they should. But you know if that makes any sense? Yeah. There's so much. What name do you get asked about the most?

It just depends on the day. Yeah. So like the last few weeks, Sasha Banks has been a lot of Sasha Banks. In the early stages, a lot of CM Punk. If Randy ever likes a tweet of mine, a lot of Randy. Randy's the best, man. They don't realize that. I think Randy just likes that stuff just to stir stuff up, which is great because he's the best,

dude. He's earned that. They don't realize that you guys could be friends, possibly. Well, that's the other thing. That's like the coolest part about this is the element of recruitment isn't like recruitment anywhere else. The boys in the industry, and that includes the women. And so we'll just say the girls, the boys, the girls, the locker room has now banded together more than ever.

They've banded together because it's not just this, I hate saying this, but there's, it's okay to have corporate individuals involved with wrestling. I totally understand. They bring an acumen and skill set to the business that the wrestlers and the cowboys and pirates that we don't have. But when you have too many and it becomes overwhelming, when they're sitting up in first class and the, You know, Cesaros walking to the back of the plane. That stuff's unacceptable. And I forget, what was his name, George Barrios, who shows up at like two WW events a year and he shakes your hand. You ain't taking a single bump. How are you getting paid millions of dollars?

It's just, you know, this is a terrible thing that I'm bringing up. And I don't mean anything. I'm just saying that it's great to see the locker room come together. Matt Jackson always was really big on the locker room. And that was something I learned from him and I like. And, you know, there is no recruitment anymore. We're all friends. We know each other, just like they did in the late 90s when they knew each other.

And the rising tide and the competitive nature of this, it should be good for everybody in wrestling. I want to be respectful of your time. I'm sorry, George, by the way. We never had any heat. I just didn't see out the live events a lot. People are very interested whether there's going to be pyro or not at double or nothing. Yeah, there is. There we go.

Yeah. But so you say that and I don't run a pyro company. So I haven't seen their rehearsals. Well, any pyro is better than no pyro. Honestly, it's got to be big pyro because if you do like sparklers, which are cool, but if you do those, it's like, you want rockets. You want like the big mortar bang that scares you to death. If you want the big stuff.

So we'll find out. I'll probably this evening because I'm going to go over there this evening and I'll see if they can blow something up for me. So we've seen the card. I'm excited. I'm going to be there. Yeah. Are we in store for some surprises too?

I think what we have ready to go is the best wrestling show ever. I really do. It's a wrestling show by wrestlers for the fans. It's 100% fan service. it wouldn't be that if there weren't surprises. There you go. Cody Rhodes. Hell yeah, man.

Thank you so much. Thank you. Sorry, George. Well, there you have it, my friend. And listening back to this interview again, I love how he kept in the part about him looking for his phone and then us reading the text messages. It's amazing to see how much has changed in a year and a half since we did this interview,

but also how much has stayed the same. And as good as Cody is in the ring, and you know he is very good. He's actually that much better behind the scenes. And he's a big reason why AEW has been as successful as it has been. Dynamite is Wednesday night, but think of all the hard work that you don't see from Thursday to Tuesday that makes all of that possible.

More like, you know, what happens from Wednesday at 10.01 Eastern Time to like the following Wednesday at like 759. So, so much work goes into that. And as Frederick Wilcox said, progress always involves risk. You can't steal second base and keep your foot on first. I hope that resonates with you as we wrap up 2020 and head in to 2021. I mean, it can only get better from here, right? Be great. Be grateful. Happy holidays, my friends.

And we'll see on the next one. The Hammer Alley podcast, an 80s flashback mock Back in the 80s, there were a thousand bands trying to make it in the world of rock, but there was one band that had it all. Hammer Alley. Whatever happened to Hammer Alley? How did they go from top of the rock? I'm looking for a music video.

They're a band from 1987. Hammer Alley. Ever heard of then? To Rock Bottom. Dude, I was born in 1987. I can't believe he's doing this. Hammer Alley. Follow and listen on your favorite platform.