10 Things You Learn Re-Watching AEW Dynamite’s First Episode

9. Cody Rhodes Entrance Feels So Weird

Chris Jericho AEW Best In The World
AEW

Ring announcer Justin Roberts stopped short of yelling the Rhodes surname. Back then, Cody was just...Cody. He had the 'American Nightmare' nickname, sure, but it sounds off in retrospect to hear him come out as "American Nightmare Cody". Then, something else stood out as Rhodes marched to the ring for a match vs. Sammy Guevara.

The fans didn't do the, "WOOOOOOAH-OOOOOH" bit along with his music!

That might sound like a strange thing to pick out, but anyone tuning into WWE programming has grown so accustomed to waiting on it. Though true the atmosphere at that first Dynamite was top tier, there was just something missing from the total package with Cody. Physically, he even looks slightly smaller.

Look, this isn't some commentary on muscle in modern wrestling, but Rhodes definitely didn't have that larger-than-life aura in 2019. At least not compared to 2024. It's a good thing he was still bloody great between the ropes then, eh? The match vs. Guevara is worth seeing again if you can't remember much about it.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.