Cody Rhodes was interviewed by the Phoenix New Times this week to promote Sunday’s Royal Rumble pay-per-view. Here are some highlights of what he said about:
Tag Teams In WWE: “When you talk about the overall, the renewal, I don’t know, I still want to see something from a lot of guys,” Rhodes said. “I think Damien (Sandow) and I stick out like sore thumbs because we’re very good at what we do. But we also have guys like The Usos, that’s a true tag team, they’re brothers, and I keep wondering when are they going to give themselves the kick in the ass to show us all what they can do because I know for a fact they’re extremely talented.”
Damien Sandow’s Secret Travel Schedule: “I tried to ride with him two weeks ago and he has this secret road agenda he’s up to that I’m like now curious about spying on to see what he’s doing. I have no clue,” Rhodes said. “But he basically ignored me for the first time in our long friendship because I’ve known him since OVW. So now I will never ask him again because now he offers every week, but I will never ride with him again because he’s up to something so I’ll let him get it out of the way.”
Messing With Damien Sandow: “I always try to use my little bit of seniority I have here to get under his skin. But that’s it, I really don’t rib anybody. I dress alone, I keep to myself. I’ve been there long enough I pretty much don’t like anybody,” Rhodes said. I say, ‘Such and such really hates that,’ like if he’s coming up with some sort of thought he’s going to go run by one of our producers or one of our bosses, I just try to get under his skin with a little inside politics stuff, but it’s never true.”
His Mustache: “I cannot shave it, because now it’s to the point of – I came back after 25 days from two very serious injuries. I had the foolish thought in my mind that I thought the crowd was going to maybe even react to me in a positive manner from this Rocky-like montage I had put together to get back, but instead they chanted ‘Cody’s mustache.’ So at this point I just am angry enough at everybody enough to continue to keep it,” Rhodes said.
Paying Homage To Rick Rude: “Bret Hart texted me and said, ‘Are you paying homage to Rick Rude?’ and I felt bad that it was such a long, stupid explanation for the mustache that I just said, ‘Yes.’ And now he’s really into it. I love Rick Rude. I’ve paid homage to Rick Rude in other ways.”
2nd Generation Wrestlers: “Honestly, when I hear, ‘Hey we signed such and such’s kid.’ I get a little trepidatious, because it’s so hard. It’s so difficult. It’s easy as can be when you have that legacy to get in the door, but my gosh, you have to do everything great.”
Michael McGuillicutty: “He’s like a hot button issue because he’s obviously really talented and he has his legacy and Mr. Perfect was who he was. I always looked at it and I think I’m wrong cause I don’t know anything other than what anyone else would know in this situation… It is such a bad name. But there is, certain guys have certain magic and I don’t mean to bring myself up on here but this crowd today is chanting Cody’s mustache. I feel like if my mustache is getting a certain reaction then I’m doing something right. And this type of thing when I think about Joe, if I had put together a stable of young second generations it would be Joe. I don’t, at this point, I don’t know if it will ever be Joe Hennig.”