Cody Rhodes on “Pen and Paper Nerd” Critics, Possibly Winning the IWGP Heavyweight Title, Why He Was Worried Joining Bullet Club, More

July 1, 2017

Cody Rhodes spoke with ESPN before his match at NJPW’s G1 Special. Be sure to join us for complete G1 Special coverage tonight beginning at 8pm EST!

Below are some interview highlights:

Winning the IWGP Heavyweight Championship:

“I thought I was enthused about Long Beach, but now I’m more than that. If I’m able to win the IWGP title, from the most pure, sport-like organization left, New Japan Pro Wrestling — the last sanctuary for these pen and paper nerds who don’t do anything positive for our business, but instead just criticize it. If I can win out there, nothing would excite me more. Nothing would excite me more.”

Adjusting with the changing wrestling landscape:

“To not adjust and to not change with the times, that’s a death sentence, unless you happen to be doing a character that’s stuck in history. I know I didn’t want to be part of that death sentence. I love pro wrestling. If pro wrestling’s gonna change, I’m gonna change with it.”

Joining The Bullet Club:

“I think initially, I was worried. I was like, ‘Oh, the Bullet Club.’ You’ve had Finn Balor, and you’ve had AJ Styles, and you have Kenny Omega. I was kind of worried. I wanted to trend upwards. All good things must come to an end, and I didn’t know what the shelf life for the Bullet Club was. It’s trending upward still. We just had a conference call with a certain toy manufacturer, that does toys for the biggest company in the world, who wants to do Bullet Club stuff. Not ROH. Not New Japan Pro Wrestling. Bullet Club. Just Bullet Club. It blows my mind.”

Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.

Nick attended New York University and graduated in 2001 with a degree in Drama.

Nick first entered the internet wrestling community back in 2004 when he became the co-host of The Voice of Wrestling Radio Show. From there, Nick made the transition from radio personality to editor when he began working with WrestleZone in 2008.

Nick is a member of two Off-Broadway theatre companies, Another Urban Riff, and the Drama Desk Award winning Godlight Theatre Company. Nick has appeared in over a dozen Off-Broadway plays since he moved to New York City, and has shot several short and feature length films. In 2010, he completed principle photography on a film titled "How to Score Your Life," which also features TNA Knockout ODB.

Inspiration in his life has come from many people including his family, Woody Allen, Steven Spielberg, Jack Nicholson, The Beatles, and of course, Lassie.