When Cody Rhodes left WWE, he was clear with his expectations — grow as a professional and wrestle some of the best in the world.
He talked about not accepting hearing the words “undercard” after spending significant time in his self-professed “sad clown” gimmick, Stardust.
Just short of two years since he left Vince McMahon’s wrestling organization, Rhodes has self-funded (with the Young Bucks) a sold-out 10,000-seat show and is coming off one of the best rivalries in recent wrestling history against Kenny Omega. He’s also had one Ring of Honor world title run and is setting his sights on a second.
So ahead of Rhodes’ attempt to reclaim the ROH world title from Dalton Castle in a triple-threat match with Bullet Club buddy Marty Scurll at Best in the World on June 29, the former champ talked with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated on where he stacks up in the wrestling world today:
“In the modern era of reality is reality versus perception is reality, it’s simple,” said Rhodes. “I am the best in the world. It’s 1: Cody; 2: Kenny; 3: Okada; 4: Charlotte; 5: Cena, with Ospreay creeping up on the list. It’s my responsibility with the event to live up to that ranking. I am unbelievably good at this, because of hard work and dedication.”
“I live for this. I continue to study. To bump and learn. In 10 years I think there’ll be no doubt who really was the best in the world. Maybe ever.”
It’s hard to argue with that list. But if we’re talking about right now, in this very second, how someone like Seth Rollins or AJ Styles isn’t ahead of Cena seems blasphemous. As good as Cena has been, Styles has been nearly untouchable during his WWE run and Rollins continues to be simply one of the best in the world in the ring.
As for Rhodes, he’ll have an opportunity to back up his claim first against Castle, then on July 7 in a highly-anticipated rematch with Omega at New Japan’s G-1 Special in San Francisco, and again at All-In in September against Nick Aldis for the NWA title.
