50 Worst Wrestling Moments Of The 2020s (So Far)

39. The Cody Rhodes Vs. Anthony Ogogo Feud

This was a shame.

Ogogo showed huge promise in his first pre-tapes. A genuinely funny and menacing guy, his body shot finish was believable, too, given his hugely impressive background as an Olympic medallist in boxing.

In an astonishingly misguided shift in direction, the sort of overthought reach that defined the end of Cody’s AEW run, the feud evolved into a Britain Vs. America deal. Was there a worse time than 2021 to relaunch patriotism as a narrative device?

And, while fans did return in full at Double Or Nothing 2021, who was going to chant “USA! USA! USA!” during the TV promos?

Austin Gunn?

The programme was defined by one awful angle and one awful promo. Cody willingly put himself forward as the public face of AEW, and was received as a savior figure who could no wrong for a while. What he could not do was solve the problem of systemic racism. That, and get a pop for a Bullet Club reference on WWE TV. Cody’s Messiah complex was a turn-off.

Then there was the endless farce of a weigh-in segment. Paul Wight was in charge of it. The scale didn’t work. He just stood there trying to get it to work as if he was asked to defuse a bomb.

It’s wrestling, mate. Just make up a number. They’d been doing that with you for your entire career!