Cody Rhodes Regrets "Almost Everything" About THIS AEW Angle
"I can see why people would use the term tone-deaf when it came to that."
Speaking to Barstool's Rasslin' show, Cody Rhodes has discussed how he regrets "almost everything" about his rivalry with Anthony Agogo last year.
When asked about his AEW Dynamite promo last May where Rhodes amped up the patriotism of USA vs. UK, the American Nightmare admitted he regrets that promo and so much of his feud with the Olympic boxer..
As Cody put it (via WrestlingInc):
"I can, on record, go ahead and say I regret that and almost everything about the Anthony Ogogo angle. Almost everything about it, absolutely."
The current TNT Champion added:
"I'm good now. I didn't hate it. I was having a good time. Anthony is a former Olympian. He's definitely someone who's a developmental talent. We're training him, we recruited him, we're bringing him up through the ranks."
On the specific promo in question, Rhodes concluded:
"I thought the content was good. I thought the intentions were good. However, a white guy talking about race relations who has an American flag tattoo on his neck, I can see why people would use the term tone-deaf when it came to that. And trying to defend it and all that, it just, again, intentions were good and sincere, and I was so excited about Brandi and the baby, that should've been one where I almost just went out and winged it."
Cody would then discuss how he "over planned" this promo, citing how he's more like Randy Savage than his father Dusty in how he likes to meticulously plan his words out ahead of time rather than partake in unscripted promos. Rhodes also added how the reason for leaning so much into the USA vs. UK element of his Ogogo feud was because there were tentative plans to do a rematch between the pair in the UK.
The Guvnor and Rhodes would face off at Double or Nothing 2021, with Cody picking up the victory. The two would be involved in a tag match the following week, where the Brit pinned his rival to get the W for his team. Unfortunately, Ogogo would then have to step away from the ring to undergo eye surgery. He returned to action this past December and has since had four further matches on AEW Dark and AEW Dark: Elevation.