Former WWE star Cody Rhodes full of praise for the rise of British wrestling

Exclusive interview: The son of WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes is preparing for a run with Fight Forever Wrestling in the UK this week

Matty Paddock
Wednesday 05 December 2018 13:06 GMT
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Cody Rhodes will appear for Fight Forever Wrestling this week
Cody Rhodes will appear for Fight Forever Wrestling this week

One of American wrestling’s biggest names believes that the UK scene is giving the United States a run for its money.

Cody Rhodes is a former WWE Intercontinental champion and now one of the industry’s brightest independent stars.

He’s now in the UK and is ready to be part of a string of events under the banner of an all-new British wrestling promotion, Fight Forever.

While the 33-year-old is one of the headline names on the card alone, much of the focus will be on UK stars including Flip Gordon, Jimmy Havoc and Viper to name just a few.

The shows, held in Birmingham, London, Bristol and Liverpool this week, are the latest events in a flourishing era for wrestling on these shores that is threatening to eclipse anything that’s ever come before.

Even in WWE, comfortably the industry’s biggest and high-profile company, the Brits are taking over. NXT: UK is a show under their umbrella dedicated solely to talent from the UK, while the likes of Drew McIntyre feature on the main roster on Monday Night Raw each week.

It’s a growth and rise that’s not lost on Rhodes, who has enjoyed a stunning few years since leaving WWE in 2016.

He’s uniquely positioned to know what’s hot in the world of wrestling and, speaking to The Independent, said this week’s shows will be a real highlight.

“The true reason that UK wrestling has been in the news so much lately and the reason it’s such an obsession is that it’s such a hotbed,” he said.

“Everybody is trying to take advantage of that, and I wanted to come over and experience that and enjoy that raucous kind of unique crowd environment.

Rhodes has enjoyed a successful few years since leaving the WWE

“The management [within] wrestling companies are the same and each want to try and be the best in the UK.

“There’s kind of a joke in wrestling that everyone in Canada can wrestle – because so many people who you meet that are Canadians, no matter what their experience level, can go in the ring.

“Now it’s become a thing that the UK is like that and that’s why, when I saw the list of guys who were coming with the Fight Forever Crew… I’m just giddy as a fan. It’s a real good roster they’ve got.”

Quite so often, the ‘X’ factor that is so telling in any great success remains elusive when it comes to identifying exactly who or what causes it.

Rhodes is seeing more and more British wrestlers coming through the ranks

Rhodes, whose father, Dusty, was a legendary figure in the US inside and outside of WWE, and whose brother has wrestled as Goldust for much of the last 20 years, was equally at a loss to explain the phenomenon.

“It’s overflowing, from top to bottom, with really great talent,” he added.

“This is by no means a knock on the UK, but it it is physically a much smaller country than the United States.

“But you could absolutely argue that the UK has just as many, if not more, wrestlers with varying experience levels who are getting a buzz and making a name for themselves than guys in the US at the moment.

Rhodes believes the British talent is starting to rival what the US have to offer

“I don’t know what it comes down to, whether it’s the training over there or whether there’s something in the water!

“It’s wonderful to be able to go over there and be part of that.”

Fight Forever launches with its debut tour with shows across the UK this week with in-ring action 6-9 December 2018. For more details visit fightforeverwrestling.com

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