Cody Rhodes: 10 Legacy Moments In AEW
As Cody looks to be at WrestleMania, John Isherwood looks at the American Nightmare's legacy in AEW.
As the Cody Rhodes ‘will he, won’t he’ sign saga seems to have finally come to a conclusion, it appears that the American Nightmare is once again going to step between the ropes for WWE after agreeing on a huge deal.
Having been the subject of much speculation since the announcement of his and Brandi’s departure from AEW, the internet has been abuzz with thoughts on just what the son of the son of a plumber is going to do if he’s going back to work with Vince McMahon, and, indeed, why.
With a potential WrestleMania date with Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins being the most likely first destination for Rhodes back in WWE, there is no doubt that his signing will be one of the biggest news stories of the Spring.
Cody was front and centre of AEW in its initial inception and a huge part of the promotion's early successes. Make no mistake - Rhodes going back to WWE is a huge blow for AEW.
Whatever the future for Cody, his contribution to AEW has seen some of the promotion's most iconic moments...
10. No Go Ogogo
Not everything Cody did with AEW was a home run. Cody himself admits that this was a feud that didn’t exactly work out as intended, so much so that he claims that he regrets everything about how it went.
Former Olympic boxer Anthony Ogogo had decided on a career switch after eye injuries took him away from boxing. Wanting to stay in a squared circle, Ogogo signed up with AEW and went to train with the Nightmare Factory.
Sold as a story of betrayal at the beginning, Cody was assaulted by his trainee - backed by several of the Nightmare Factory team and QT Marshall. What followed was a series of missteps resulting in a match that the fans cared less about the closer it got. Ogogo’s past as a boxer was utilised in the build, especially with his gut-punch finisher, laying Cody out before draping the Union Flag over his body - setting the match down the path of UK vs. USA.
As the road to Double or Nothing 2021 unfolded, Cody cut one of the most infamous promos seen on AEW television. Giving Ogogo a ‘history’ lesson, Rhodes praised some of the great British talents of the past and present before going down a less comfortable alley. Talking race relations, Rhodes seemed to lose the crowd and hit the wrong notes ahead of selling the importance of this match.
A boxing style weight in, (with added flag-waving) followed ahead of the rather underwhelming match. Ogogo is by no means the finished article and Rhodes did his best, yet this is one legacy moment that will live long in the memory for all the wrong reasons.