Responding to Cody Rhodes

[@StevieRichardsShow]

Exclusive content available on Patreon: www.patreon.com/c/stevierichards

[@georgeDeming]

did you mention steve blackmen?

[@ChrisVanVliet]

Love you Stevie, I could listen to you talk for hours about wrestling. Keep up the great work! Thanks for checking out my episode with Cody. Also your 75 minute workout sounds insane 😅

[@oj397]

W CVV

[@KL005]

KOO VOO VOOT

[@ComicBookGuy420]

75 minute workout My knees say that is not happening😂

[@HeroS_DionysuS]

I echo that. I love listening to this wrestling podcasts. Maven, Taker, Stevie, the old austin/jericho ones, yours. All good stuff.

[@garyslackjaw]

​@@ComicBookGuy420worst... comment... ever...

[@mattmorgan2534]

Let me vouch for Stevie because it’s important. When Stevie got the Tna, I was wrestling semi Main to main events most of my time with that organization. And I would be an absolute moron, not to take Stevie’s advice for every single one of those main event matches, or semi-main event matches! Just how somebody gets booked does not make them less of a talent or less knowledgeable on how to get over. I firmly disagree with that actually. Stevie was one of the smartest guys in our business. And he was a godsend to our locker room for those of us that would actually, seek his advice when we were lucky enough to have him there with us. I promise you guys he knows what he’s talking about. And I don’t say that about everybody that today has a podcast and was a former pro wrestler.

[@vicenzor9699]

Kevin Nash... paging Kevin Nash...

[@scottishnarrator1776]

Stevie was well appreciated by the fans for his work. Good character from you to back up one of your peers. Respec.

[@MrXabungle]

No way, Beast?!

[@SpinosaurusTheProudSocialist]

Oh wow, didn't know you had your own channel. I was a big fan of you as a kid and I always thought you should have had a run as TNA world champion. Also, you're run when you had both tag belts was hilarious. 🤣

[@kimblandino]

WWE really dropped the ball with you. Had the look, the size, the athleticism, could talk and they give you a stutter gimmick and had nothing else for you? Idiots.

[@JoKiR90]

I’m with Stevie on this one. I love Stevie and Cody both. When I watched the interview with Cody and CVV, I laughed. I didn’t take it as Cody being salty or mean or anything like that. I think the fact that Cody watches tells you a lot as well.

[@duncandownham4726]

Word

[@LordZaayl]

Its also worth considering that Cody may have only seen one or two videos and its very easy to lump Stevie in with a lot of retired wrestlers who go on podcasts and youtube and just shit on the product because a LOT of them do it. (Also a lot of the interviewers out there very deliberately bait them into this. I've seen a lot of hack fraud podcast interviewers who constantly try to shift the conversation into how current wrestlers are terrible and trying to get the veteran wrestler to back them up.) Theres a lot of wrestlers now who sit on an armchair and go "Back in my day!" and I can imagine its very tiring for younger talent to constantly hear that. Social media is a terrible platform for criticism and its exposed a lot of wrestlers, young and old, of having thin skin because it just grates on you.

[@philwill0123]

​@@LordZaaylthis. I like Stevies Analysis because he looks at the process with the optics of the time and today. Rather than with rose tinted glasses. This is why I can't deal with listening to Jim cornett, as it's become a "let's crap on AEW", rather than a constructive criticism.

[@killergrooves2438]

To be fair to Stevie, he was a main eventer in the story mode for WWF No Mercy on N64.

[@MichealJacksonLegend]

noice

[@tankboi8249]

Stevie is the most level headed, polite, intelligent wrestling KZbinr. I fucking love this dude, mega over

[@davidloftus3771]

Well written and accurate.

[@heatherwright3981]

I agree 100%!

[@orangesilver4568]

Right to Censor was one of the most hated groups in the Attitude era Stevie was the head of that and he deserves credit for being a top heel.

[@alienicecream]

maven is really good too!

[@MrXabungle]

​@alienicecream he does play very safe to maintain a positive relationship with his former employer but I don't see him as a veteran as he frequently claims to be.

[@j.g.michael3229]

I assume most will consider this the most boring request ever: but I'd be really interested to hear Stevie Richards discuss how a wrestler should navigate the profession socially. It's very obvious Richards has very good social skills and knows how to navigate a world full of politics where it's easy to take things personally. I notice Stevie doesn't and seems to want to get along with everyone. He's very socially astute and I suspect it helped him a great deal in his career.

[@j.g.michael3229]

Also, I'd REALLY like to hear Richards talk about having MENTAL TOUGHNESS in regards to navigating and working in the business. As someone else who recently listens to your show said to me, "Richards seems to have a real strong sense of self-preservation and mental toughness to be able to survive in the industry in the way he has."

[@nolansyers]

This comment! 🤞I’d like to hear that too

[@danlc95]

Seconded!

[@danlc95]

​@@j.g.michael3229- Another excellent point!

I'll do my best to answer for him - it is a rare thing to be both in the entertainment industry and have an ego that is undamaged by what other people think. Stevie has both. I have both. There are many who have both, and we are always successful. There's no specific strategy other than having genuine self esteem and value in what you do, because then you can have all your focus in what you are doing, you can know and promote exactly what you are doing, and completely ignore any drama and politics. The only drama and politics that will come is from people jealous you have the inner focus to do so - at which point you just keep trucking.

[@tullyDT]

He has to know that you put him over plenty. You always give credit where credit is due and you only call out things that are legitimately bad/dangerous. You're also a lot kinder than other critics out there

[@brainman1337]

Yeah I watch a few other wrestling podcasts. Stevie is a lot nicer than the majority if not all of them.

[@JoKiR90]

I think he was just joking around tbh

[@brainman1337]

@@JoKiR90 Yeah he was probably being facetious. He's got a dry wit like that.

[@LimaKiloRomeo]

Much kinder than Corny, for example.

[@tullyDT]

@LimaKiloRomeo even when Corny's trying to be nice, he can be very backhanded

[@mattcaporuscio6956]

I started watching WWE during the ruthless aggression era when I was a kid. I thought characters like Steve Richard’s, Al Snow, and Goldust were nobody’s because of their record but 20 plus years later I have greater appreciation for the mid card guys back then especially compared to today’s mid card roster.

[@MrXabungle]

Midcarders are underappreciated and the ones you want to meet the more you learn about them beneath the exterior.

[@velikanovesuze764]

Stevie looks like Adam Coles dad

[@davidblank420]

Dad'am Cole? I love that guy!

[@Bale4Bond]

Stevie is probably still in better shape than stickman Cole

[@G.H.E.T.T.O.G.O.D.]

I came to the comments to write this

[@louio]

​@@davidblank420people still mash up names? 😂

[@josephbutler4950]

Love Cole but even Stevie look like he would snap him in half.

[@kennyc7260]

If Cody were to say, "Stevie is cool" nobody would have paid attention. But Cody said things in a way to bring attention to Stevie.

[@lamelame1779]

lmao sure

[@antonycuff4512]

it draws attention when he puts people over like ddp and mjf . he could do a show and debate these guys instead of burying them fro a far .

[@_Mista_X]

@@antonycuff4512 He doesn’t have to debate them. He’s bigger than they’ll ever be and THEY are the ones steadily bringing him up. Be real.

[@jimsheppard3166]

I think you mean...Big Stevie Cool 💪🕶️

[@antonycuff4512]

@@_Mista_X of course he is bigger than they will ever be because they are retired but he lowers himself by attacking them . if weren't for these past 3 years stardust would be at the level of a disco inferno and aew will never make the same impact as ecw .

[@mattw6993]

"Scrub, jobber, lower card..." Arn Anderson prefers the term "carpenter" becaus they're building a talent, a brand, a card, a feud, etc. And he counts himself as a "carpenter."

[@jamelwright7524]

That carpenter is the only wrestler who ever pinned Hogan and Flair in back to back weeks.

[@dildonius]

​@@jamelwright7524But there was also a time before then as well.

[@ianfitton9400]

Got to respect codys path as he turned himself from a wwe mid carder into a wwe champion and main event player,being part of the aew startup and early growth is also something to be commended

[@stanleykendallsinvertednipple]

Even though it was the bucks, omega and Khan who were the starters and draw for other wrestlers, Cody's wrestling is mediocre at best.

[@jersamuelson5181]

Cody in AEW was so over. Then he said he would never go after the AEW championship when he lost to Jericho. The fan base wanted him to turn heel so he would go after the title.

[@jamesplaysgames3574]

I love it! Cody's gimmick in AEW was "The WWE Guy" lol That makes total sense.

[@VinnyKW]

​@Bigboxlittlebox471 He is a strange cat isn't he? Something odd...

[@louio]

​@@fatukchickenhi Tony Khan! How are you doing with your 4 pilars that are going to drive your company into the future.

[@1KQ_]

​@@louiohey leave him alone! Everything over there is "GREAT" 😉

[@walterreed5849]

@@fatukchicken and wwe fans are eating it up and i cant understand why, hes not good on the mic, hes not impressive in the ring, his moveset relies more on his opponents to sell it rather than the move being impressive in itself. his finish has no impact, he is all look no substance. he has a great look and in inring/entrance gear though

[@JustinTheGreat]

​@@fatukchickenyeah but you forget... He's a nightmare. And American.

[@johndoe-yw7eb]

Cody's promos in the Ogogo feud cemented him as "the heel is thinks he's a face", and nothing he did afterwards contradicted this. It's as simple as that.

[@MrThesupremeking]

That was when the fanbase started to sour on him plus the complete separation of him from the bucks, kenny, and hangman

[@starshipfame1]

I remember that mixed baby promo being the tipping point as well

[@secularbelt]

Agreed

[@secularbelt]

And he tried to be too cute in his promos “my wife’s doing her weird thing…” “Am I even in the elite anymore?” He was the only one in the ring… “I was the first phone call, or the second, or the third (holds up 4 fingers)”

[@MrThesupremeking]

@secularbelt my favorite was when he backed out a golden shovel in his match with andrade and yelled, "I leaning into it"

[@greer504]

I just feel that Cody comes off as a natural heel. The handsome blonde guy that wears suits and sounds condescending. He has an heir of “I’m perfect”. That’s what made his heel run so perfect for him on the independents. I think it began to wear on AEW fans. He was John Cena 2.0.

[@coachvictor_game]

Yes! But in WEE Cena was very needed and here we are enjoying!

[@Ahmed-og2jm]

Very true

AEW fans, being the good leftists that they are, have such a strong desire to be counter cultural hipsters that it means any clean cut no frills all american good guy can NOT be over with them.

[@reeseangle9621]

I agree with that 2

[@Fatkidstable]

Yeah, I like Cody, and wasn’t as bothered by his AEW face run as others, but it just felt like it was so perfectly set up for him to go heel and do a very interesting “heel who thinks he is the hero” gimmick. I still hope he pulls that off in WWE and doesn’t go the Cena route of wearing out his welcome as a face

[@xxAAJxx]

Hey Stevie, I just want to tell you that I’m glad that you didn’t give up on this KZbin thing. I remember that you used to review electronics around 2016-2019 with two other dudes. I don’t really remember everything I used to watch before the pandemic but I know you wouldn’t get enough views. I think you used to get 1k views or less and I don’t know why I used to watch your 1 hour+ videos because I only saw you perform on smackdown in 2004 or 2005 but I was still entertained. I didn’t watch wcw or ecw because they were gone by the time I started watching wrestling. Well, anyways I’m glad you didn’t give up, it was tough to get views or go viral before the pandemic and I think you used to have a different channel too, but again I’m glad things are working out now.

[@tntt3chreviews803]

Stevie forgot Kurt Angle and Shelton Benjamin and Bret Hart. Those guys had very great wrestling background

[@TheRayvolution]

Stu Hart would’ve stretched anybody. That grizzled old codger and his sons would cripple guys.

[@MR.__G]

Yeah how did he forget Kurt ? The guy won a gold medal with a freaking broken neck !

[@KasumiRINA]

If WWE was shoot fighting you'd have very boring boxers and kickboxers beat everyone up, it wouldn't be wrestling anymore. Unless you ban punches there's no way even the best wrestler would stand against someone who just hits hard.

[@dildonius]

​@@MR.__GHe actually starts to say Kurt then stops and clarifies what he had said before then forgot to say Kurt again when going through the list. Kurt was definitely at the front of his mind when it comes to those types of pro rasslers.

[@shelceygusek427]

Wrestlers are more dangerous than strikers. There's a reason there are more jiujitsu fighters and wrestlers than boxers in MMA.

[@jmanthedualblade8411]

Hi, Stevie, I'm currently going through wrestling training, had my day 1 training last week where I practiced bumps and rolls. I passed the bumps with flying colors first try and my trainers were impressed and I owe it to you, Maven, and other former WWE wrestlers for showing how to work in the business. Please keep up the analysis and information and God bless you, brother.

[@robineir]

That’s awesome dude! I had my day one a few years ago and damn near gave myself a concussion because I can’t keep my chin tucked. I can’t wait to see your first match one day. Good luck to you brother.

[@sentientcardboarddumpster7900]

You're welcome

[@sstrykert]

How's your bumping & feeding?

[@dildonius]

Don't let your head get too big. It was only 1 single day. I only say this because the less hyped up on yourself you get right now the less devastating it will feel when they inevitably grind your ass into the dirt, and they will literally no matter how good you are or aren't. Cuz part of the process is grinding your ass into dirt THEN building you back up. Basically assume you're the worst pro wrestler ever until you get to the end or get towards the end of your training. You'll be much more of a sponge that way.

[@murkwell17]

Stevie, you were always more than a jobber to anyone who paid attention. You were an amazing worker!

[@Abioticwinter]

Dusty was a multiple time NWA champion. But it's criminal Vince never gave him a run. Dustin should have an ROH run. The guy is so good.

[@chikowashere]

I remember exactly when Cody started getting booed. 1) Cody had a match that had a stipulation where if he lost, Cody would never compete for the World Title again. He lost and honored that but when AEW finally created a midcard title, immediately Cody was the first person to hold it. Fans saw this as a loophole to get a championship on him. 2) Next Brodie Lee puts Cody on the shelf, and the Dark Order were beating up every friend and family member that Cody had in AEW. They did this every week while Cody was out. Cody's family was fighting for him while he was gone and losing the battle every week. And then finally AEW announced that Cody was back and that he was finally going to address where he's been the whole time. And when AEW finally air the anticipated vignette...It's Cody, promoting some game show that he was away doing. Everyone realized that while Cody's friends and family were fighting for him, Cody wasn't there solely because he was away filming a tv show. So AEW admitted that he wasn't on the shelf, he wasn't mentally defeated and trying to overcome it, he was written off to film another tv show. And that rubbed everyone the wrong way. 3) I remember why the boo's lasted long after this. He would wear expensive watches and suits, and let the crowd know they were expensive. He would use big words and acknowledge that the crowd might not know what they meant. His cadence of speaking even seemed heelish. And then he did the one thing that fans feared. 4) He became John Cena 2.0, expect not in the good way. The good way, that's what he's doing in WWE right now. The 'not good' way is what he was doing in AEW, acknowledging the negative crowd reaction in interviews but flat out refusing to turn heel and ignoring the negative crowd reactions in the live arenas every week. He even cut a promo, while being booed, saying that despite what anyone thinks of him, he would never turn heel. Because Cena never turned, during a decade of fans thinking that WWE didn't listen to them, that's what AEW fans feared was going to happen to them. They feared that this meant that AEW were going to ignore the fans, just like WWE and that Cody was turning into Super Cena 2.0

[@whoistherealmonster4939]

This comment should get pinned tbh , I started watching AEW in 2021 and quickly understood why the fans are booing Cody.

[@pearcemark2]

@@chikowashere I will say this comment has a fairly accurate recounting of history, and is put together extremely well. Though to be sure we’re giving full context, Cody has since claimed that part of the Super Cena 2.0 thing he was doing was purposeful. The whole thing of him cutting a promo about not turning heel, was his attempt at being “meta” and effectively announcing that he is a heel by saying he will never be a heel. Trying to blur the lines and lean into his divisive status by NOT allowing the fans to alter his presentation. Cody has basically acknowledged that this was an ambitious concept that didn’t work out very well in execution. In my opinion, I can see it and I actually like the idea, but AEW simply isn’t a place that can pull off a high concept story like that. They don’t have anyone who knows how to polish ideas and present them in a way that’s mostly digestible for the audience though still slick enough to slide it past you if you’re not fully engaged.

[@jasonbink5276]

@@pearcemark2 Good point, but it also would have taken more time to develop the "meta" tweener character to get it to work. By the time he started playing with this idea his contract was up with AEW, and once he couldn't come to new terms with TK and WWE was willing to offer him what he wanted, he was out of there.

[@nsampone3]

Nah. The Cody vs Ogogo feud did him in. The stuff you mentioned hurt his appeal, but he bounced back. Crowd was still there for him mostly. But when he had a piss poor feud with one of his own wrestling students - who was NOT tv ready (making it obvious that this was to get cody's student over). And as it was failing he kept looking for a spin it. First it was master vs student, then it was US vs UK for some reason. Then it had weord tone deaf racial undertones as Cody bragged about having a mixed race child and acted like he was this civil rights champion - leading to the ridiculoua memes of him with MLK and Rosa Parks. Or the 'Cody Raheem Rhodes' song on youtube. This was when people hated on Cody more openly. And then he gets taken out by Malakai. Films his show. Obviously repeating the Brody deal. And he cuts that dumb promo where hes about to leave his boots in the ring and Arn has a senior moment and rambles excessively about guns. Only for Cody to win the feud and move on AGAIN

[@MoviePalaceOfBlood]

Ok by similar logic LA Knight is and should 100% be a heel, yet there was this groundswell of "we like this guy" or a crowd that misses chanting yes that can now repeat YEAH out of nowhere....I've never liked him and continually baffled by the face support...he's a loudmouth egomaniacal asshole...he's about as convincing a face to me as the goddamn Miz.

[@davidslayer]

it WAS brandy. because he forced her in everything and nobody really wanted to see/hear her.

[@civenful]

leave her be

[@davidslayer]

don't spam me.

[@Tufferwear]

This is an extremely humble take from the guy who won the main event of WrestleMania XX at MSG against Shawn Michaels and Triple H for WWE World Heavyweight Championship. What about being in the main event of WrestleMania 2000 with Triple H, Rock and Mick Foley after you replaced Big Show? Doing this all AFTER you broke your neck? Simply incredible!

[@SketchBlakely]

Stevie’s such a good guy for putting over Orton for his first chip too! Anyone remember when he returned and hit Cena with 16 German suplexes?

[@rubberchix]

Unfunny

[@DavidH1]

The word you guys were looking for is "Codyverse." Cody should have been their long term champion. Instead he took himself out of that, and then booked his own stuff that was separated from everything else.

[@paulcarpenter7844]

🤔

[@miraclesage8622]

There’s something about the Rhodes family. Maybe it’s their upbringing, maybe their passion for wrestling,maybe it’s part genetic, maybe something else but these guys are built different and can work any card. Dustin managed to get a ridiculous gimmick over! ❤

[@dildonius]

I think it comes down to Dusty. Something about Dusty specifically. Cuz he had a very prominent hand in Dustin's career up to the point where he went to WWF and became Goldust. And then Cody was raised from birth by Dusty who also guided him into the business and was pretty much behind him all the way up to his death, and I don't think it was too long after that when Cody was sacked by WWE and he went on his big indie & NJPW excursion that led to the creation of AEW and then his return to WWE in his current top star form.

[@stephenrogers4537]

Mr Richards, the only thing you have to be concerned with is staying true to your beliefs. State your business, take care of your business, and mind your business. Everything else will fall into place. Believe Me, BROTHER!

[@bananarabbit3]

Stevie, not sure you read all the comments but I wanted to say that as a kid that did get to catch at least the tail end of the bwo stuff that I was always a big fan and rooted for you to get more time in the sun! Love the videos keep up the great work

[@mistergrim_official]

May your schedules always align. Because this show needs to NEVER go away.

[@jaymez316]

The starkest contrast between AEW and WWE's presentation of talent lies in their preparedness for TV. As Bubba Ray observed on his podcast, those who have thrived in WWE and are now with the other brand stand out because they know how to maximize their airtime. MJF is an exception, but even he benefited from his feud with CM Punk in learning how to conduct himself effectively on TV.

[@gunnerovergaard9646]

He didnt work in AEW because alot of the storylines were corny and he should have been AEW champion

[@Wolversquall]

Yeah one the biggest mistakes aew made early was not making legacy to their top title .

[@clintstewart5545]

many wrestler can't take criticism, Stevie Richards was just giving more of a sports channel approach to wrestling that's all

[@nsampone3]

Weird that when Stevie made that comment about "if wrestling was real it would just be Brock, Bob Holly, Ken Shamrock...." that he completely forgot Angle. Kurt was the most legitimate real wrestler to enter the business

[@MrDuckman0852]

Cap Kurt couldn’t fight lol that’s why

[@deathmauler181]

​@@MrDuckman0852 angle was actually in the Olympics tho. In wrestling

[@jimmycarpenter6612]

He was just naming a few people. Don't think he skipped him as a dig or anything. But Kurt also has less actual fighting experience as the others he named. Olympic style wrestling has a very specific set of rules that wouldn't apply.

[@KasumiRINA]

Also this list is mark's idea of tough guys, like come on, seriously Undertaker and some MMA guys? XD No, in shoot fighting you'd have bulldozers like Mike Tyson or Usyk destroy everyone. There's a reason Brawl for All was such a failure - nobody who marks thought would win did.

[@jimmycarpenter6612]

@@KasumiRINA if you think the undertaker can't actually fight all I can say is challenge him. When he laughs at you make sure to punch him as hard as you can in face.

[@xWilcoXx]

Appreciate Stevie for being a very well grounded, humble and high class individual who seems to take the high road.

[@SJ25PB]

Cody was booed in AEW because he overexposed his wife and friends on TV the point it became known as the Codyverse. He's also a natural heel especially so to non-WWE fans with his suits and whole motivation being to get over to go back, but he never has wanted to embrace that. Going back to WWE and having the finish the story angle took heat off him but he's still a perfect heel. He could still have WWE fans turn on him if he refuses to turn once the wind comes out of the sails from this run as the leaving AEW and finishing the story shine will be gone.

[@redrag0n_]

Cody and WWE are like Homelander and Vought.

[@tmage23]

I kind of disagree with Stevie here. Cody was very over for the first couple of years in AEW. It wasn't until after the Brodie Lee program where the wheels started to fall off and he had that terrible feud with Anthony Agogo.

[@pearcemark2]

Protecting america and the world’s first interracial baby

[@starshipfame1]

The Codyverse didn’t help either. It’s showed the elite wasn’t on the same page

[@Butiguessilovememore]

Cody is too woke

[@JOBdOut]

Both of the examples you used happened in year 2. That would make Rhodes over for one year max.

[@tmage23]

@@JOBdOut The Agogo thing happened in 2021. He was doing well in 2019 and 2020 so he was over for 2 out of 3 years he was with the company.

[@FFadeaway]

Always appreciate the humility from you brother. Doesn’t come off as disingenuous, just keep being you man. Do the right thing and try your damndest to be a good person. I believe if you are able to successfully do those two things, you are all set. Thanks for the content, we enjoy hearing your takes and opinions regardless of your level on the card. You made it to the dance, and are now sharing your experiences and insights. That’s what it’s about at the end of the day.

[@dougschadel8094]

Jake the snake, Rick rude, million dollar man, and Mr perfect would have been great world champs. I'm sure I'm missing some people but it would have been great

[@BajaChalupas1379]

6:49 Cody with the Batman reference regarding his AEW departure HE IS THE VILLAIN THAT GOTHAM NEEDS lol 😂 Jesus

[@chrisarctor]

Cody would've turned heel and the fans would've started cheering him. They were cheering him when he would take digs at WWE. I think it definitely goes back to the fact he was never accepted as a "BTE" guy. I think people who were riding with the Bullet Club pre-Cody felt that maybe Cody was trying to ride their coattails on the indies, just from what I had read online. BC was basically let's use everything about the nWo except for the root of the group's formation. Cody fit that mantra more than anyone in the stable but again, I think there were a lot of anti-WWE fans who looked at him as an outsider and never truly gave him his props.

[@robintst]

2:00 If the business were real it'd be Haku and a mountain of bodies.

[@AshMundo]

You missed out Steve ma fuggin Blackman 😅

[@simoncobian2816]

That’s because Blackman had to fight robot monsters and save the world

[@MrDCClassic]

You can clearly see in Stevie's eyes how proud he is of Cody! It just feels good!

[@AmateurHour1111]

When Cody said “wrestle”, you know what he was talking about. Don’t act like he was talking about ‘shooting’.

[@sstrykert]

I found Stevie to be more entertaining than Cody. So does that mean "wrestle"?

[@Mere_Puffery]

If Taker (?) is included because he’s a) retired now and b) I don’t think he had a background in amateur wrestling anyway, then where the hell was Kurt Angle (!!), the Steiner brothers and Bret and Owen Hart on that list???

[@tullyDT]

oh, I don't know, maybe it's because the show is unscripted and he was saying it off the cuff and they slipped his mind? Seriously man it's not worth getting offended over

[@sstrykert]

Taker did some boxing& bouncing, plus has reach.

[@KasumiRINA]

​@@sstrykert a non-shoot fighter would lose against a trained fighter 99% of the time, reach he damned. A lightweight boxer would generally defeat even the heaviest WWE guys in a shoot fight... This is like competing in cooking with a pro chef, you just don't

[@sstrykert]

@@KasumiRINA I can 75% agree, the dismal performance of CM Punk in UFC highlights that, if the person had no wrestling in their background. The older pro wrestlers such as Danny Hodge, Iron Sheik(Olympian), Lou Thesz, or even a Billy Robinson, with enough time to build up their striking game, might have had a chance, then factor in that reach referenced. Today most pro wrestlers even despite the rise of grappling's popularity are still from folks who barely make frosh soph or j.v. wrestling teams. If the Steiners, when younger knew how to box, look out!

[@Soldmysoulforablurayplayer]

If wrestling talent mattered in pro wrestling Dynamite Kidd would be Hulk Hogan on Mt Rushmore.

[@GardenFolklife]

Bro, first Philly is proud of you and Meanie no matter where you were on the card.

[@BuddyDude0112]

You guys getting upset Stevie left off a name of legit fighters in wrestling is ridiculous. Did you really want him to sit there for hours going through every wrestler that was legit? 😂

[@justinashley9529]

Bro idc that you lost alot , or whatever, you're a good man. Anytime you start thinking bout that, remember.. "What does it benefit a man to gain the world and lose his soul"

[@AndyouareWrong]

Cody loves ya brother lol gotta love the new 75 minute workout plug. Love the content Big Stevie Cool

[@sergiomt48]

You did what 99% of us can’t do, don’t stress the 1% that made it further. Stevie is an absolute beast in this format and that’s why you’re mentioned. Lift your head legend

[@japwin]

I have to say. I always rated Stevie as a worker and he should've been given a push. Love his analysis video and his breakdowns are brilliant. Also, totally agree Dustin for me is the most underrated wrestler of the 90s and should've gotten the gold

[@josevillarreal5955]

Early 90s WCW Dustin was 🔥🔥🔥 Of course, Goldust was incredible. I agree with ya 100

[@lexingtonlee]

Haku would have been champ if it were real street fights. Seriously though, at the time AEW was much closer in ratings. I never thought Cody wasn’t going to have the rocket put on him. To show the younger wrestlers what WWE could do for them. And it gave them a feel for what’s going on in AEW at that time.

[@josephbutler4950]

Cody just comes off as the perfect villian. Good looking, clever, well spoken and a strong frame. He's too clean cut to be the underdog like his pop was. Thats why they needed to put him up against beasts like brock and roman. Now he's primed to be the arrogant "I'm better than you" character. Even taker on his podcast thinks he would make a good heel.

[@chriswillis1585]

Best active Wrestler, best active booker - DUSTY RHODES!!! and COWBOY BILL WATTS IN MID SOUTH. Flair's best paydays were in Mid-South, especially the Louisiana Superdome.

[@tornadowarrior4534]

1. Lance Storm 2. Shawn Michaels 3. Stevie Richards Top 3 Super Kicks ever.

[@doubles7533]

Chris Adams says hello. He laterally named it the Superkick. Even Michaels said his was the best.

[@pearcemark2]

@@doubles7533 Can the man have his opinion?

[@AYouTubeUser1]

@@pearcemark2In the year 2024, no. That’s not allowed

[@FernPrado-y8w]

Stevie I'm loving this show format. You guys are doing great work.

[@BostoTeapants616]

Mr. Richards I just have to say how much respect and love I have for you. When I first became a wrestling fan you were the first person in the industry I ever loathed (on screen only of course). The Right to Censor were the first heel faction I experienced and holy heckins did you accomplish your goal with that character. That entrance music (if you can call it music) was pure rubbish but I’d be a liar if I said it didn’t still pop into my head every time I see that red circle with a line through it. I know I’m just a random KZbin commenter but I just want you to know you hold a special spot in this marks heart.

[@AaronLesterMedia]

Ok this combo is going to work. I'm really digging this podcast... Great job guys.

[@kmel3588]

Stevie vs cody at mania is about to go hard and we can look back to this video was the start of the feud lol

[@vileluca]

What's Cody's beef with Stevie?

[@danewoods4712]

Didn’t like any sort of criticism it seems.

[@theboxingboy7422]

He said on his podcast with Chris van vliet that Stevie is one of these wrestlers online who talks about how wrestlers don't wrestle properly anymore.

[@vileluca]

​@@theboxingboy7422 lol that's it? From Cody's tone I assumed something happened backstage between them.

[@anthonylucero6650]

@@vileluca You’re a Godless weirdo mook😒

[@anthonylucero6650]

@@vileluca You’re a Godless weirdo mook😒

[@reginaldcaine6161]

This is what you do best, when you speak positivly. I've really not vibed with the negative videos you've titled lately. I don't watch them, but I did watch your break downs. You were positive in almost all of them, even botches. Please, you're a better babyface than a heel.

[@tntt3chreviews803]

Stevie I always felt was underrated. He had a great look and positive look on wrestling even being used the way he was. He had a lot of potential and was overlooked alot.

[@Stevenwnash]

You guys don't get it either. It's not about aew being indirific like so many e-fans think, We did not want to see Cody, Roman Reigns himself after all those years of Roman just running through everybody. If you go back and watch that Cody Rhodes and Dustin Rhodes match, he was loved. We wanted a Cody and Dustin tag team run and Cody spoke out against it in multiple press conferences and then proceeds to send himself on an undefeated streak only losing to drop the tnt title just to pick it back up two more times. One bring Brodie Lee and then continues said undefeated streak after Brodie until Sammie then he's out. Like what in the actual fuck...? We wanted him to hold tag team gold with his brother and do something in his career with his brother like they talked about back in WWE but Cody was too focused on himself and was beating newer talent in aew like Malaika. The boos slowly started as he just racked up wins one after another over EVERYONE. We were tired of seeing it with Roman for years and not Cody. Point of the story was you had to watch aew to understand and most people that I hear talk about this with a microphone on KZbin or tiktok obviously didn't watch the program very much or at all.

[@hezekiahthomas837]

The crazy part is that the aew audience loves cody he is known as the founding farther of the company. The only people who have a problem is a small section of twitter marks. And why would you take there opinion of all people

[@MidnightLightMusic]

That Disco/Cody twitter feud is honestly one of the most brutal shoots I've ever seen.

[@ericgilbert56]

Steve has always done great jobs. I've seen and have been impressed by the bumps he took and his approach to doing the job he was put to. He does deserve some credit and has contributed.

[@AlfredFJones1776]

Cody Rhodes probably reveres Stevie Richards as the legend he is. Cody is very much a “respect the legends” guy.

[@petebagwell6666]

I'm a fan of stevie's stuff but I wouldn't call him a legend

[@AlfredFJones1776]

@@petebagwell6666Quiet down.

[@unknowniam121]

​@@AlfredFJones1776 Delusional AF lmao.

[@pearcemark2]

@@AlfredFJones1776 Define “legend”? Stevie seems to be a great guy, work was always solid, was involved in some really good stuff at different times in wrestling……but legend? It’s kind of like saying “The legendary Tristan Thompson”. I mean yeah he was on a championship team once but he was scoring 6 points a game. He played a role.

[@Edyime]

Stevie is not a legend, stop watering that word down

[@theboxingboy7422]

If La knight and Cody was to Feud right now LA knight would be more over than he is.. if Roman comes back as a face its a wrap for cody as the top babyface on smackdown... Unless him and Orton can tell a better story.

[@shaunmauldin871]

It'd be so awesome if you and Maven collaborated on a show. I'd watch that!!! Great show!!!!!

[@freew0rrld]

It's refreshing to listen to Stevie

[@jesterr7133]

I commented on Chris's channel when I heard Cody make that comment. I have never heard Stevie be disrespectful toward anyone. Stevie is probably the most respectful of any of the retired wrestlers that have podcasts. Stevie simply points out the obvious mistakes, but he also points out when something is done right. I was surprised when Cody said that.

[@IAEMThatIAEM]

10:00 Cody admitted on another podcast that his last run is AEW was a heel run. He kept doing babyface despite being booed on purpose. Sort of reminiscent of Hulk Hogan before he joined the NWO or when John Cena got the mega push and all the older male fans hated him. I personally believe Cody left AEW because he felt CM Punk was going to be toxic. There is a reason they never worked together in AEW. I dont think that cody would ever admit that publically; and i know marky WWE fans will point out the goofy, clearly staged, backstage handshake hug between them after the Royal Rumble. It was supposed to look like a backstage shoot moment, but even the way speak to eachother in it seems like two guys who have/had heat, sucking it up to work together, since they are both getting big pushes and massive money. Meltzer and Alvarez are friends with Cody, moreso than Omega and the Bucks. So when Meltzer and Alvarez talked about the backstage vibe and tension with Punk, they claimed the reason those two never shared any airtime was because Cody wanted nothing to do with Punk. You have to remember too, they openly had heat publicly at the founding of AEW. Punk specifically had heat with Cody in particular, because of all of them, Cody was the only one he had ever worked with. The nature of it was unusual too, because Cody giving him the offers via text messages instead of calls is odd. Punk clearly took that as a sign of heat and disrespect. But the decision to make him the offer via text is weird. Anyway. Thats my two cents. WWF fans will be triggered by that, I am positive

[@shuban]

I really enjoy Stevie...he is always very respectful...

[@Jake38nine]

Vince proved you wrong with AJ Styles. AJ was a TNA guy, Vince signed him, and then proceeded to push AJ to the moon as a World Champion. Now that may've been an exception, but still an exception that proves you wrong. WAY BEFORE Cody was ever back in the WWE too.

[@coachvictor_game]

He just talks about his experience. He believes it too much. Kurt Angle came from other fucking world and he was straight to the top. Paul Heyman then? RVD? Dean Ambrose? Come on, if it worked for the bussiness, the pervert guy was making the push.

[@jjalkman1999]

Styles didn't quit and form a rival company. He was just an acclaimed wrestler who'd been everywhere except WWE by 2016. This was more like if Jeff Jarrett tried to come back in 2005.

[@that8bitgamer82]

I never seen Stevie Richards as a Jobber, I wish he did win more matches and held the belt more. Stevie Richards matches was fun to watch and him being the leader of Right to Censored shown how good of a promo he can do.

[@jseipp]

Speaking of the disconnect between you IRL and Right to Censor, I didn't realise you were the RtC ringleader until I'd watched like 10 episodes of yours (I'm a new fan, great stuff)! I HATED you!!! You were awesome.

[@ShinyHubCaps]

I watched AEW from the beginning up until 2021 or so when it was clear Tony Khan lost focus and became too interested in making himself the de facto GM. Look at interviews (coincidentally, the Chris Van Vliet one comes to mind) from Tony Khan in 2019. He said he would remain behind the scenes and never appear on-screen. The original plan for AEW was to have a competition committee. I could be misremembering, but I think Dean Malenko and Jerry Lynn were confirmed to be on it. Matt and Nick were EVPs of tag teams and marketing; Cody was EVP in charge of the men’s singles division; and Kenny was the EVP in charge of the women’s division. Sometime in 2020, Tony Khan started making the announcers say his name, e.g. “Tony Khan confirmed this match” or “big announcement from General Manager Tony Khan.” Also look at how Tony Khan’s signature evolved in AEW press releases. It went from being “President” to “President and General Manager” to “President, General Manager, and Head of Creative” and sometimes “Owner” (even though Shad Khan, Tony’s dad, is the actual owner). He demoted Matt and Nick to just being in charge of BTE and Kenny to being in charge of the video game. Cody left because Khan was drinking his own Kool-aid and putting himself over, as wrestling fans say, while Cody willingly took himself out of the title picture. Cody was selfless, and that clashed with Tony Khan’s personality more than the other EVPs.

[@ShinyHubCaps]

As for why the fans turned on Cody, I was involved in the fan base at the time and don’t quite remember… I was at All Out 2019 and remember Cody getting the biggest pop and addressing the crowd after the show, and I wasn’t really a fan of his because I didn’t know him from NJPW or ROH or even WWE as I had not watched wrestling for like 16 years. At the time, I didn’t get the appeal. Now I see, after AEW’s precipitous drop in quality since he left, that Cody was the heart and soul of AEW. I say all this to say that maybe there was a reaction from the fans that Cody seemed like a gatekeeper. He was the first opponent for Malakai Black, Andrade, and the TNT title open challenge guys like Eddie Kingston. Britt Baker made a joke that Cody’s baby would get an action figure before her. I think the reality shows hurt though, making him feel like The Miz. Like that was the kind of aura that he had, which was that he needed to be most involved in the marketing. I think it was true to some extent because he was the most recognizable and best at carrying out his business, but also maybe unfair to assassinate his character, because he was great at telling stories. Cody didn’t need the championship and in fact was better without one because he could make good stories with anyone (except QT Marshall… I nearly fell asleep during their big feud blow-off match).

[@Green_3111]

Cody is always working and he never lets the truth get in the way of humour.

[@kriegpowers7746]

Enjoy listening to your opinions. Keep doing what you’re doing.

[@VazzVegas]

Cody's promo's in AEW during his final year were really preachy and super cringy. That's why people hated him. The one where he talks about his daughter being born and how it somehow ended racism was the biggest culprit.

[@blitzofchaosgaming6737]

Stevie, you say perception is reality, but you are assuming what fans perception is about you. Maybe ask us what our perception is instead of telling us. To me you were always one of the great workers. You made everyone who worked with you look better. A Dolph Ziggler type. Dolph might have never really gotten over with management, but like you, the fans saw his worth. Stop selling yourself so short.

[@nbaldwin45]

The fans turned on Cody because he came across as a bit smug and pompous and because of all the blatant Hollywood stuff ... the reality show, the talk of workshopping and acting classes and such, plus Brandi is a heel through and through. Cody does seem a little salty about criticism - I don't think the DI stuff is a complete work and there was a whiff of the 'ROCKY! ROCKY! ROCKY! era with the way the announcers constantly kissed his arse and had him pushed as a superhero. Cody's a good all-round talent though and I think he's found his real home in WWE. I agree about him seeming bigger than AEW in his all-round presentation; my first experience of AEW was Cody's entrance at the beginning of Dynamite and everything seemed like a step-down after that, particularly Moxley doing a one-eye gimmick and making everything look super sloppy and the Bucks' intolerable gurning during their entrance, trying to look badass and failing miserably

[@Abigail_Wyatt]

Oh hell no!! Who the hell would call Stevie Richards a jobber?!?! SAY THAT TO MY FACE!!!🥊👊🏼🥊👊🏼

[@iancap2088]

In my opinion, Cody was too generous. I get he didn't want to open up himself to criticisms about booking himself as the champion, but him booking himself to never challenge for the world title was a big misstep. After that, he wanted to be the star maker, which is an awesome role, but he really needed to assert himself as a force within the ring. The final mail, as I see it, was the melodramatic presentation. From the "Cody-vator" entrance to leaving his boots in the ring, etc, and it got to be just too saccharine.

[@DJ_V_squared]

7:43 it’s not that he left it’s when he left. When he left fans were not behind him I don’t think his heart was in it after that. He booked himself into a corner.

[@moondogspot5442]

Absolutely 💯...that whole I'll never go for the World Championship was dumb.

[@mramos1126]

Cody Rhodes vs Stevie Richards. Book it Triple H

[@lyndonjohnson1992]

Paul Heyman booked Smackdown in the 2000s when it was the hottest and booked the tribal chief storyline which brought back WWEs momentum so the Vince McMahon dickriding is pretty stupid

[@Firebert]

Yeah, Cody is a massive smart ass. WWE just put out a video where he interviews R-Truth and he's just tearing into him the whole time. You gave a good take here, Stevie.

[@FirebrandAL]

It's weird though - like in sports there are certain guys who weren't very GOOD per se; but they really know the game well and it's precisely because they weren't very good. They have to pay attention to things like fundamentals, mechanics, diet, all of it - just to kind of survive. Whereas a lot of these superstars/prodigy types - like they don't know anything about anything - they can just go out there and do things without thinking. Like I remember watching an MLB network piece on Pete Rose talking about busting slumps and it was the biggest bunch of nonsense i'd ever seen. Like here's how Pete Rose busted out of slumps: Because he's Pete Rose! He just is wired physically and mentally in a way the rest of us are not. There's not a lot of breaking down to do with guys like that. Not a lot of coaching to do. You meet them where they're at, step in when asked but mostly just stay the heck out of the way and let them be great. Stevie reminds me a lot of that kind of guy where look - he's obviously very good to get to the highest level, but had a hard ceiling ability wise, but really understands the business at a far more acute level than most do. And he's a fabulous communicator to boot, so this all works. Alex Cora, Dave Roberts, Aaron Boone like look at all the bench for life guys who are great managers now. Same kind of thing.

[@jacktheripper8817]

You aren't wrong you made ur opinion based on vince being in charge and u were right the year everybody thought cody would win title at wrestlemania vince said no. He didnt win it until vince left and HHH was in charge

[@DocFranke]

So if you are in touch with Dustin Rhodes and you read the comments, Stevie. Please send him what we thought of him.

[@alpacagangaffiliated]

Bro, we LOVED Cody we just didn’t want him to be this beacon of light. And WWE fans are realizing that too. He’s just a better heal

[@MrMikeMalandra]

I dont think you give yourself enough credit Stevie ❤

[@QCS_AdamCole]

15:10 wasn't Cody Show's opponent the night, it was a table match, & Show stepped off the apron, thru the table, losing the match?

[@megostryder]

The best example of a wrestler/Booker is Johnny Powers who owned and booked the NWF which ran the Cleveland/Akron area. I grew up watching him battle Bulldog Brower, and as well saw Dusty Rhoades while in the Outlaws, the Mighty Igor, Chief White Owl, Hans Smicht..etc. A very successful outing.

[@mishona]

Honestly chuckling about forgetting Kurt Angle when listing people with a solid greco-roman foundation.

[@joshkellemen5931]

Lame to not remember Kurt angle

[@Edyime]

Even lamer to mention Disco Inferno in this video 🤢

[@Beavis-ry6tj]

A lot of the heat for Cody was his own doing. Everything from his promos that he openly said he workshopped. The Cody-tourage and the long entrances that felt unwarranted and unnecessary. The ridiculously bad angles, such as trying to talk about racism and the fact he was having a mixed race baby while he was feuding with a black man. And even doing stupid shit in matches like putting himself through a table he set on fire. Fans rejected him so much as a babyface, that they even threw back his weight belt and cheered for the heels during his matches. With WWE it feels a little like he's been reined in slightly, and is benefiting from being produced, as well as only doing things that actually make sense.

[@crazyc4lyfe1982]

Doesn't matter if you were popular or not you still busted your ass for the company . You got in that ring and wrestled you damn right have the right to voice your opinion.

[@tullyDT]

I'll take the opinion of someone like Stevie over many of the "big stars" There were plenty of people out there who got pushed into the top spot because of their look or a gimick but who had no real skill in the ring

[@crazyc4lyfe1982]

@@tullyDT exactly just like gold dust , Stevie said he should of been champion. I totally agree with that , gold dust was such a hard worker and great gimmick then they wasted it by making him do that tourette syndrome crap .

[@joshmanuel3773]

I would say the fact that Stevie was a jobber probably makes his opinion even more valid. He made his entire career on getting other people over and not hurting them. Show me a job guy that injures somebody and I'll show you somebody standing in an unemployment line lol. Cody was a midcarder before he dyed his hair blonde and started looking like a Bladerunner Replicant. Stevie looks like every AEW jobber's vegetarian uncle. Stevie could have been the greatest wrestler of all time and he still would have been a jobber. He made the most of what God blessed him with.

[@nickhauff5515]

I get what you are saying but I personally think someone that's never been to the top or "the guy" doesn't really have any room to speak on the top people or the guy. Even if they were political to get there, that just means they played the game better.

[@Ahmed-og2jm]

I'll take Stevies opinion over someone like Oldberg any day