Cody Rhodes: AEW First Dance Was The Most Important Show Since WCW Bash At The Beach 96

Cody Rhodes can’t understate the importance of CM Punk and Bryan Danielson in AEW.

After a seven year hiatus from wrestling, Punk joined AEW on August 20 at AEW The First Dance. Though Punk wasn’t advertised, there was enough speculation and hype to sell out the United Center.

Speaking to Brian Jones of Pop Culture, Cody discussed the acquisition of Punk.

“I think you’re looking at really a flashpoint in wrestling history, the day that Punk returned in the United Center,” he said. “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.”

A few weeks later at AEW All Out, Bryan Danielson, fresh off main eventing WrestleMania 37, made his AEW debut.

Cody said about Bryan, “It was a flashpoint to have Bryan, the last star who organically kind of got over on his own, culminating at WrestleMania 30, when that happened to have them, but having them is one thing, holding them and their passions manifesting on the screen will be the ticket. I’m confident that both of them will just continue to be massive, massive pieces of our business and great examples for the locker room, because they’re top guys, they’re top guys in reality, in presentation, in work ethic. That is only going to bring up everybody who surrounds them. And that is the job now for anyone who has any modicum of fame, is to reach your hand down and bring up. And, I look forward to what they do with us and helping them in any way I can.”

Cody is currently entangled in a feud with Malakai Black on AEW television. He also stars in “Rhodes to the Top” alongside his wife Brandi.

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