AEW
News

Cody Rhodes: No AEW Plans Were Changed To Accommodate Malakai Black's Signing

Nothing had to change

All Elite Wrestling didn't have to modify any of their creative plans following Malakai Black's signing, according to Cody Rhodes.

Black was released by WWE in June and he debuted in All Elite Wrestling one month later at Road Rager, taking out Arn Anderson and Cody Rhodes with two Spinning Heel Kicks. 

Cody took part in a media call ahead of his match against the former NXT Champion and The American Nightmare revealed AEW didn't have to modify any of their plans. 

"From my understanding, no plans have been changed. Whenever there's a free agent of that caliber, male or female, you have to jump on it. And that's not an area where I was the one who contacted or facilitated it, this is the same guy who kicked me square in the jaw on his very first night to make a statement," Rhodes said.

"Tony Khan is responsible for bringing in Tommy End or Malakai Black, whatever he’d like to go by. But no plans were changed. If anything we were presented with something incredibly special. Dynamite is the heart and soul of the company and what we do. And being able to put these matches on television, this is huge.

"Today I watched Jason Isbell and various other celebrities, Paul Walter Hauser, comment on who they think is going to win. And that's so special because this is about our weekly television show. And it is not the classic old school 'let's save it for the PPV, let's stretch it out' when really we only do four PPV's a year. Again, TV is where our bread is butter and this a massive, massive match for Homecoming. In addition to that, it's a massive card," he continued.

"So him not having the traditional 90 days, but having 30 days really worked in our favour. But again, we'll all find out together, everyone on this call and myself, if the magic is there and if the passion is there. Because as AEW fans can attest, you can tell right away with a free agent, with someone new coming in, it's all about the passion."

Black went one on one with Rhodes last night and The Harbinger Of Fury picked up a dominant victory, pinning Cody with one foot. 

H/T to Wrestling Inc.

Share this post

Mickie James 'Would Love' To Face IMPACT Wrestling's Deonna Purrazzo

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomohiro Ishii To Wrestle At NJPW Strong Tapings

Aidan Gibbons

Written by Aidan Gibbons

Editor-in-Chief of Cultaholic.com Twitter: @theaidangibbons