THIS Is The Most Complete Pro Wrestler In The World Right Now

by Michael Sidgwick
Cody Eddie Kingston
AEW

Encouraged the spectacular Marq Quen to show more depth; worked an excellent flexing handsome battle with Ricky Starks, earning him a contract; worked a full-on, fiery, nasty war with Eddie Kingston, earning him a contract; got something out of Hager nobody else in AEW has; told a fabulous and believable story of tense sportsmanship with real-life friend Scorpio Sky.

He's done it all with a sense of aggression only a champion possesses. There's character development, and there's this. Cody since May has worked with a different energy and pace, stripping away the big match theatrics that were maybe bordering on formula, and replacing it with a more pronounced, legitimate-feeling mat game informed by his amateur background to get over as more of a purist. An athlete. An Ace.

Can you think of any other wrestler capable of wearing that since-replaced bit of metal, and not looking as tinpot as it? He got the ugliest belt over because that belt was him. The old TNT Championship and the more beautiful redesign are emblematic of the performer Cody has matured into. Undesirable to undeniable isn't just a catchy, alliterative gimmick.

'Three Star Cody' is dead.

Long live Five Stardust.

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!