WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes has responded to CM Punk’s recent criticism of AEW. Punk, who appeared on the MMA Hour, shared his views on AEW, causing controversy in the wrestling world. Cody Rhodes, a founding EVP of AEW, had a different take on Punk’s views.
During his appearance on the MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Cody Rhodes addressed Punk’s comments on AEW. He stated, “That’s his assessment, it is not my assessment. It’s always important for me to remind people that I am so proud of what me, Matt, Nick, Kenny, Tony, Bernie, Brandi, Dana and Chris, and I name all these people, because I was in all those meetings, as much as the internet will try and spin a narrative one way, if one of those people had not been at that start up level, the company would not have happened.”
He continued by saying, “I am so proud of what was created, I am so insanely proud of what it does for the industry overall, for wrestlers and their wellbeing, and I have an unbelievable love for so many people in that locker room, including the Bucks and Kenny, who we bonded forever over this thing that we did. So it’s not my assessment, in my time there, the infrastructure was just being built up, we were trying new things, it was a start up company, and I wish them nothing but the best.”
CM Punk was critical of the AEW experience and called AEW President Tony Khan a clown for not being a boss. However, it appears that Cody Rhodes does not share the same sentiments.
Cody Rhodes on CM Punk’s altercation in AEW
In the summer of 2022, CM Punk was involved in a backstage brawl with The Elite. This led to all stars being suspended from the promotion. This altercation stemmed from Punk’s outburst in the media scrum after the AEW All Out show. Punk criticized The Elite, called them irresponsible EVPs, and accused them of spreading lies.
During the same interview, Rhodes commented on the issues between CM Punk and Matt & Nick Jackson & Kenny Omega of The Elite. He stated, “I just think what happened there was a ton of misunderstanding, a ton of miscommunication. I love Matt, Nick, and Kenny, and I love CM Punk. I don’t know how, but I do. I’m just happy for everyone involved. I just think it was a ships in the night thing. I wasn’t there, though.”
At the time of the backstage brawl involving CM Punk and The Elite in the summer of 2022, Cody Rhodes had already left AEW and returned to WWE.
