Rhodes and Strickland have been working together frequently.
Guest appearing on the latest episode of Insight with Chris Van Vliet was AEW talent and coach, Dustin Rhodes. During the conversation, Rhodes was asked how much has AEW changed since its launch in 2019.
While responding to that, he mentioned that he’s been coaching Swerve Strickland in all of his matches in the last year. The two have had two singles matches. They are tied 1-1 and Strickland got the latest win at the Worlds End pay-per-view in 2023.
I think it’s (AEW) changed a little bit. I don’t think it’s changed for the worse. I mean, every company grows and you have somebody like Tony (Khan) who is a huge wrestling fan. I mean, huge. I’ll sit in Gorilla, okay, and say, I’m not wrestling that night, I’m coaching. Right now, I’ve been coaching Swerve (Strickland) a lot in all of his matches in the last year and I’ll be really focused on watching the things and talking to the referee and the giving the times and telling them, ‘Oh, you forgot to do this. Do this’ or whatever, and Tony will, ‘Hey Dustin, do you remember in 1991, you were in Syracuse, New York? You were wrestling so and so and you did this spot in this match?’ And I’m like, ‘No, I don’t Tony. Let me concentrate on what’s going on right here. We’re on live television.’ I mean, he’s got such a mind and he remembers everything and he loves my — Dustin Rhodes, he’s always loved him and I’m one of his favorites and it’s pretty cool to be under him as, you know, the boss and I’ve never had a boss like that, because Vince (McMahon) was completely different. Very intimidating and very — just business all the time and Tony’s business, but he’s also a very kind man, his doors are always open and it’s good because I feel very comfortable conversing with him, pitching him ideas constantly and just enjoying this from the beginning. It’s been one last ride and it’s still going on. So it’s doing something. It’s got my passion, it’s still piqued.
Dustin’s brother Cody Rhodes headlined WrestleMania for the second consecutive year and this go-round, he bested Roman Reigns to become the new Undisputed WWE Champion.
When asked if he ever thought Cody would leave AEW, here’s what he had to say:
I didn’t actually, I didn’t (think Cody Rhodes would leave AEW). But I know some stuff that went on and you know, I think it was just his time and he made a smart decision. He made a very smart decision. Look at him now. You know, he is the man here so, it’s incredible. Incredible ride, incredible journey from him leaving the first time in WWE and saying he’s betting on himself and just taking the ball and f*cking running with it and he created something really cool. That’s awesome.
On the 4/10 AEW Dynamite, Dustin Rhodes is going to be challenging Samoa Joe for the AEW World Championship. It is being advertised that Joe will be defending the title against Swerve Strickland at the Dynasty pay-per-view on April 21st.
If the quotes in this article are used, please credit Insight with Chris Van Vliet with an H/T to POST Wrestling for the transcriptions.
