Cody Rhodes On Not Using The Rhodes Name, ROH Final Battle Being "Biggest Thing He's Done To Date"
Cody Rhodes was interview by USA Today ahead of his Ring of Honor debut this Friday at Final Battle. Here are the highlights:
His father's passing:
"I don't know if it's true, but it feels true to me, there is just this really strong connection when I'm in the ring. If I was to go where we scattered my dad's ashes, I would feel him less than I do when I'm in a wrestling ring. I lay my face into the mat and stay there for a while. It's emotional to me. I know some fans are probably saying, 'Dude, get over it,' but it's not their dad, I know you can't make an entire career out of this story. But for me, now, it's still the grieving process. It's been 17 months. It was a complete surprise. I wasn't ready for it ? I don't think anybody is ready for it ? but I really wasn't. It fell into my lap and came along."
Wrestling for Ring of Honor:
"I've talked to Kevin Owens, Daniel Bryan, Cesaro ? my friends who are Honor alumni about what to expect. I'm very, very excited. People don't understand: I've been to Wrestlemania; I've had a few singles matches at Wrestlemania, but this is a whole new thing for me. This is the biggest thing I've done to date. There's a lot of new eyes for Ring of Honor and a lot of eyes from Ring of Honor that don't know what to expect from me. This is my opportunity to stand out."
Not using the "Rhodes" name:
"It's an ongoing situation. I like going by my first name sometimes because it's so silly. They know what last name is. They know where I came from, It's silly that in the same period that (WWE will) promote a tag team tournament in honor of my dad, that you disallow me to use my last name. But please, please let me say, I'm not mad at anybody and it will work itself out without any type of lawsuit. It will take some time. But in the meantime, I'll use the one thing they can't take from me and that's Cody."
Cody also talks about working with his wife, Brandi, and when fans come up to him doing an impression his father's voice. You can read the full interview by clicking here.
Source: USA Today