All Elite Wrestling Executive Vice President and talent Cody Rhodes took part in a media conference call today to promote this Sunday’s AEW Double or Nothing pay-per-view.

The first question asked about AEW Rampage. Cody said that he is excited and looking forward to the debut as they have a large roster and are looking to expand, noting that they want to get people “off the bench” and give them opportunities and that this show will compliment AEW Dynamite, while they want to re-establish TBS as the number one destination for professional wrestling in the world. Cody said that he was really excited upon seeing the digital assets and the logos for the show.

The next question asked about his match against Anthony Ogogo this Sunday. Cody said that he looks at each pay-per-view under a different light for the story that he wants to tell and that being as it is Memorial Day weekend and given that each competitor is living The American Dream, he felt that it was appropriate to pick up the “sword and shield” of The American Dream, which is too heavy for him to regularly carry, even if himself and Dustin have that right to use. In regards to Anthony Ogogo, Cody said that he would consider him All Elite Wrestling’s first developmental wrestler and that Diamond Dallas Page was the one who introduced Anthony to him, joking that DDP told him about ten people who are going to change his life, but Anthony was true. Cody noted that QT Marshall trained Anthony and that he hopes that Anthony has a great showing, but that they want to know that they are creating and repleneshing with new stars to keep the industry going.

The next question asked about the reported “in-fighting” among AEW’s Executive Vice Presidents. Cody said that in response to the story that they are not on speaking terms, he chalks that story up to AEW being successful as with WWE NXT losing the Wednesday night wars, people now needed something to cling to and that was why stories like that popped up. Cody said that Tony Khan is the man and the boss, but that they would not be able to put the show on the air if they were not functioning as a team, revealing that he talks with The Young Bucks every day, while he talks to Kenny Omega regularly. The next question asked about The American Dream promo. Cody said that he did not use a focus group for it, but that he worked on it very hard and his promo process is voice-memo and said that there is no AEW focus group listening to his promos. Cody said that he saw the relationship with The Rock and Brian Gewirtz and that is the type of relationship you should shoot to have, noting that he wants to have the best potential promos when he puts a mic to his lips.

The next question asked about him mentoring talents at The Nightmare Factory. Cody said that it has honed his patience and revealed that he teaches the beginner camps at the facility and said that you have to remember what that was like for yourself when you were a rookie, but that coaching has been one of the most-rewarding experiences. Cody then joked that he hopes no one tells Brandi, but that coaching has helped him to prepare for fatherhood. The next question asked about the energy in the locker room as everyone prepares for bigger crowds again. Cody said that he would not be shocked to see tears from some of them and noted that pandemic-era wrestling has had some high spots, but that it is time to get back in front of crowds and he can’t wait. Cody said that the company are going to have to hold him back from hopping in to the crowd and stated that he has been texting with members of the roster and everyone backstage is ready to come back to a full house at the pay-per-view and beyond that.

The next question asked for additional details on AEW Rampage when they go back on the road. Cody said that the show will be treated with the same care as AEW Dynamite and is not intended to be a second show, while AEW Dark and AEW Dark: Elevation are going to continue to be produced. Cody said that he is excited about having talents on the independent scene featured as they go to different markets and said that AEW Rampage and AEW Dynamite are not competing with one another, but that the roster will be split and that they will start to lean-in to the specials on TNT, which will be treated similarly to Clash of Champions or Saturday Night’s Main Event. The next question asked about AEW’s expansion. Cody said that he is the internal pessimist because he grew up in a wrestling family and heard so many stories, but that it was not until Tony Khan that wrestling was able to return to a comparable network and said that his vision has intersected with Tony, Kenny and The Young Bucks’ vision which creates a fluid identity for the show itself and that Tony Khan has fearless endeavoring to keep expanding and keep growing and that he is not surprised, but he is not taking it for granted. The next question jokingly asked about whether Tim Tebow would pop up in AEW. Cody joked that he better be All Elite.

The next question asked for additional details on the company resuming touring. Cody said that they will do everything by the books and will comply with each State’s guidelines and that if they can only have a percentage of the fans in the venue, then they will only have that percentage, but that if they can go full capacity, then they will do so. Cody said that if there are holes or markets that they can’t hit yet, then they can go back to Daily’s Place in Jacksonville if needed from time to time and that there are some major touring announcements coming. The next question asked about Britt Baker and AEW’s action figures. Cody said that he wanted to make it clear that he is not the one in charge of the action figures and said that he is sure that she has a figure coming and said that he is in fear every time that there are new figures announced because he may be listed.

The next question asked what Cody is looking forward to this Sunday beyond his own match. Cody said that he is looking forward to seeing The Young Bucks face off against Jon Moxley & Eddie Kingston, while he gets to be a kid again sitting in the go position watching Sting inside the ring, noting that Sting is incredibly motivated and is taking the match very seriously. The next question asked about the potential of a TBS Championship due to the move. Cody said that has not been discussed, but that there has been another title that has been talked about more in the future and said that WarnerMedia were the ones who suggested and pushed for the AEW TNT Championship, wanting All Elite Wrestling to represent them. The next question asked about how Cody sees his role in AEW. Cody said that he is aware of his numbers and reach and is humbled by the level of fans that he has as he chased those fans for a decade before he felt that there was noise made and that in terms of going up the card, he is keeping the promise that he won’t chase the AEW World Championship. Cody said that as a brand and a person, he wants to keep his promise and that he tries to make everything he produces valuable to the show, noting that there has been challenges in doing that with freshman talent, but at the same time, no risk, no reward. Cody put over Darby Allin as an example of someone who’s close to breaking out as a household name and said that he tries to keep up with the talents up and down the card and is happy with his direction currently on camera.

The next question asked about fans making the decision to pick sides between himself and Anthony Ogogo. Cody said that he is shocked at how much attention the promo is still getting and said that he is proud to be an American and feels that hope outweighs everything else. Cody said that he was trying to say how proud he is of his wife and of the daughter that he has on the way and was not trying to mansplain racism. Cody said that Anthony has said the things that he has said about America and that the country has its messy spots, but that everyone has a role in hoping and cleaning it up. Cody said that what Anthony did to him was crass, but that as a fan, you are allowed to feel and do anything that you want within reason and that if people want to think that he is the bad guy here, that’s fine, because it gives you more interest in the match. Cody said that he is proud of Anthony Ogogo, even if he is not happy with him. The final question asked how Cody balances all the content and originality. Cody said that the AEW roster all tick and work great and that competition creates a great product and that they are competitive among each other. Cody said that it is up to the roster and management in order to diversify and that Tony Khan has siad that not everyone has to be on every show. Cody said that the ticket to avoiding over-saturation and dumbing the product down is putting the freshest wrestlers out there and letting them fly and that the roster’s motivaton will be the ticket.