• MJF Reveals The Backstage Reaction In AEW To Cody Rhodes Leaving & Returning To WWE
During an interview on The MMA Hour, AEW wrestler MJF was asked about Cody Rhodes leaving All Elite Wrestling earlier this year and returning to WWE.
Below are the highlights:
On Cody Rhodes leaving AEW and going to WWE:
“The American Roller Coaster did what he had to do. He’s a businessperson, just like MJF.
I cannot speak on Cody Rhodes’ behalf, but I will say this. A lot of people are very into tribalism these days in the world of professional wrestling. And it’s cute. I dig it. It’s the same as having a favorite MMA star or a favorite football team, or a favorite baseball team.
But if you look historically at our industry — I’ll give you a prime example. Terry Funk. Massive, major star in professional wrestling. Did Terry Funk only wrestle for one company in the entirety of his career? No. He was travelling. He travelled.
He would go to a territory, he would pop the territory huge. And when he felt it was time to hang his hat there, he would go onto the next one. And he did that multiple times in his career. And he wrestled for pretty much every premiere wrestling promotion in the world. Because Terry Funk, like me, was a massive draw.
So I do not blame Cody Rhodes for his decision. Cody Rhodes did what was best for Cody Rhodes. And MJF always does what’s best for MJF. So kudos to him.”
On backstage reaction in AEW to Cody’s departure:
“I think, honestly favorably — not favorably in the sense that ‘Yay, Cody’s gone.’ But favorably in the sense that we’re all professional wrestlers. And what happens when somebody leaves is, it opens room for opportunity for another person to step up to the plate. And you know, that’s wrestling.
Wrestling is cyclical, it’s like a wheel. And as somebody who has the highest wrestling IQ in the history of the business, I can tell you when big names leave, big names step up. That’s just how this business works, and that’s a fact.
So I again, I think people who were friends with Cody were sad to see him go on a personal level, but this is a very competitive sport. People want that spotlight. And people stepped up to the plate.”
Also Read: MJF Gets Asked About The Backstage Fight At All Out & If AEW Needs CM Punk
WATCH: Revealing Shots Of Brandi Rhodes (Cody Rhodes’ Wife):
• Old School WWF Legend Celebrates His Birthday
Old School WWF Legend Greg “The Hammer” Valentine (Real name: Jonathan Wisniski) turns 71 today.
After the famous dog collar match versus “Rowdy” Roddy Piper at the first ever Starrcade event (1983), Valentine returned to the World Wrestling Federation in 1984 and won the WWF Intercontinental Championship from Tito Santana later that year.
He wrestled for the company for 8 years, before leaving 1 week after the ‘WWF Royal Rumble 1992’ PPV.
Greg then wrestled in WCW for most of 1992 and from 1996 till 1998. In between his WCW stints, he wrestled as The Blue Knight at Survivor Series 1993 and entered the 1994 Royal Rumble match as himself.
In 2004, The Hammer was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by his former manager Jimmy “Mouth of the South” Hart.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GREG VALENTINE!
