Cody Rhodes: AEW The First Dance Was The Most Important Event Since WCW Bash At The Beach 1996

AEW sent shockwaves through the wrestling industry when CM Punk made his return to the business at AEW: Rampage The First Dance, and now AEW EVP Cody Rhodes has said the event was the most important in wrestling since WCW Bash at the Beach 1996.

Speaking with popculture.com, Rhodes hailed the impact of AEW’s recent moves:

"I think you're looking at really a flashpoint in wrestling history, the day that Punk returned in the United Center," started Rhodes "I had texted one of the guys who format the show, and I said, you should be proud of yourself. You're formatting the most important show since Bash at the Beach, and everyone should know the Bash at the Beach I'm referring to, and really that was so special.

“Every wrestler wants to be in that spot. To hear that crowd that way, and seven years his audience had waited, and to be in his home and the ice cream and just the synergy and the love. I really enjoyed the steam, the look in his eyes; we walked out and saw not just his fans, but what the AEW fans look like. It's changed our business; he's broke every record there was.”

Rhodes’ claims are indeed lofty ones, with Bash at the Beach memorably being the start point of the New World Order, and kickstarting the hottest period in wrestling history.