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Welcome back to another edition of Sportskeeda Wrestling's daily AEW News Roundup. All Elite Wrestling fans are still reeling from the aftermath of Double or Nothing, and the company continues to build new storylines and angles as we move forward.
Today's news roundup opens with a massive story featuring Cody Rhodes. A former WWE star has accused the former AEW TNT Champion of lying about an infamous incident from their time in Vince McMahon's company.
Another star and rival of Cody Rhodes discussed about his off-screen relationship with the AEW EVP.
Elsewhere, a WWE Hall of Famer highlighted a major issue with Braun Strowman potentially joining AEW. A young and talented star also shockingly announced his retirement from active in-ring competition.
A wrestling veteran compared Tony Khan to a young Vince McMahon, and the comments have unsurprisingly attracted a lot of attention.
On that note, here is the AEW News Roundup.
#5 Ted DiBiase Jr. calls out AEW's Cody Rhodes for sharing false details about an infamous story
AEW's Cody Rhodes has shared several explosive backstage WWE stories over the years, with one involving 'the worst match of his life.'
During his Starrcast 2018 appearance, Cody Rhodes opened up about a six-man tag team match from a Smackdown episode in June 2011. Rhodes was part of The Legacy alongside Ted DiBiase Jr., and the SmackDown match ended with a botched finish. The match was originally supposed to go on for two segments, but it suffered an abrupt end after four minutes when DiBiase didn't kick out of a routine pinfall.
DiBiase apparently blamed the referee for the botch, and the third-generation wrestler was really heated behind the scenes.
According to Rhodes, DiBiase was angry about the finish and was allegedly even heard saying the following backstage after the match: "Where's that referee. He was trying to f*** on me!"
DiBiase's reported outburst caught Vince McMahon off guard, and the boss just put his headphones back on and resumed managing the show.
DiBiase Jr. spoke to WrestleZone recently and set the record straight about the incident mentioned above. The former WWE Tag Team Champion shot down the story and blamed AEW EVP Cody Rhodes for fabricating the details of what went down after the match.
Here's what DiBiase Jr. had to say about Cody Rhodes' version of the incident:
"Look, I'm just going to say this—that dude will say something and beat a dead horse with it. I may have said 'he tried to f— me,' but I don't know where he got the 'he tried to f— on me.' Sorry, I'm trying not to curse in front of the kids, but look—that dude knows how to blow something up. I think it's hilarious, and it's probably a shot at me, but he'd do that all of the time. He'd make something up that somebody said and scream it non-stop in the locker room, and then everybody would adopt it. So, I was pissed because I did kick out. You can go back and watch it, but we had a meeting that day where [they told us] 'The referees are going to count you out if you don't kick out!'"
DiBiase Jr. stated that he kicked out of the pinfall and was admittedly annoyed with the referee. The ex-WWE star concluded by taking another shot at Cody Rhodes:
"I did kick out, and I don't remember his [the referee] name, but anyway, I was hot [about it]. I was pissed; I said a lot of cuss words when I came through there, but Cody can tell a story. He can fabricate one too [laughs]."
The AEW EVP is yet to respond to Ted DiBiase's rebuttal.
#4 Booker T explains a big issue with Braun Strowman joining AEW
Braun Strowman's name just can't be kept away from AEW as recent trends suggest that Tony Khan and co. are very much in the market to sign released WWE talents.
However, Booker T explained in his Hall of Fame podcast episode why Braun Strowman joining AEW isn't a logical option.
Booker stated that Strowman might be too big for the AEW roster. The WWE Hall of Famer cited Kevin Nash's example and how Big Daddy Cool was introduced as Shawn Michaels' bodyguard. In contrast, Braun Strowman was positioned as a destroyer since day one, and the Monster Among Men had an enormous task to accomplish during his early days on the main roster.
Booker T firmly believes there isn't much for Braun Strowman at AEW as the former Universal Champion would ideally have to run through the entire roster once he arrives on Dynamite.
"That's the thing, Braun Strowman runs through that whole roster," Booker said. "I really rely on the past in certain ways to feel what we got going on today. Just imagine, we may not be talking about Kevin Nash the way we talk about him if he wasn't the bodyguard for Shawn Michaels in the beginning. The way big Kev was introduced, he wasn't a guy that was just thrown out there to be a star. He was a star, and the fans knew it, and they wanted to get behind them because he was Big Sexy, Big Daddy Cool, Diesel. He had some charisma, and the fans gravitated to that. A guy like Braun Strowman, we just threw him out there to become a star, and sometimes it's really, really difficult when you're put out there under the bright lights to pull it off. Not saying that he didn't do a hell of a job but being introduced the way that he was introduced, as the Monster Among Men, he had to be bigger than everybody every single night. To rise to that occasion, man, that's a tough task," explained Booker T.
The 5-time WCW Champion said that Braun Strowman doesn't have many exciting matches in AEW and named Lance Archer, Brian Cage and Miro as potential opponents for the recently released WWE star.
"There's like two matches over there for him. Lance Archer, Brian Cage, Miro. There's two or three guys that Braun Strowman [can face]. Mark Henry," added Booker T. H/t WrestlingInc
Do you agree with Booker T's views regarding the issues with a potential Braun Strowman AEW signing?
#3 Lio Rush announces retirement from pro wrestling following recent AEW debut
Lio Rush, aka Lionel Green, announced his shock retirement from professional wrestling earlier today, mere days after his AEW debut. The former WWE star issued a lengthy statement in which he revealed the real reason behind his decision.
Rush has been suffering from an injury that has made it difficult for him even to pick up his newborn son. The former WWE Cruiserweight Champion also spoke about his recent Double or Nothing appearance and added that AEW was willing to offer him a full-time deal.
New Japan Pro Wrestling currently has Lio Rush under contract, and the wrestler will fulfill his obligations with NJPW once he completes his recovery.
Rush stated that he is viewing his latest injury setback as a blessing in disguise as he will get more time to reassess his priorities. The 26-year-old star posted an X-Ray photo of his injury. In addition, he thanked his supporters and promoters for being by his side and believing in him throughout his career.
You can check out Lio Rush's full statement here.
The talented star was released from WWE in April last year, and while he was initially reluctant to return to wrestling, Rush eventually competed again at the end of 2020.
Rush has since gone on to work for many top companies, including MLW and NJPW, and his most AEW debut was expected to lead to multiple appearances on Dynamite. Lio Rush has even released two studio rap albums since leaving WWE, and he would ideally focus on his career as a musician in the future.
#2 Colt Cabana compares AEW President Tony Khan to a young Vince McMahon
AEW's Tony Khan might be new to the wrestling promotion business. Still, the 38-year-old Billionaire has spearheaded a realistic charge towards unsettling a long-standing WWE monopoly in the wrestling industry.
While AEW still has a long way to go, Tony Khan and his team have shown plenty of vigor and drive to provide a viable alternative to the WWE product.
During a recent chat with Steve and Larson's Going In RAW, AEW's Colt Cabana spoke about the comparisons between Tony Khan and Vince McMahon.
The Dark Order member gave a fresh perspective on the debate and noted that Tony Khan possessed the same passion that a young Vince McMahon had in WWE.
While Cabana has not been around Vince McMahon to give a clear picture of how he operates, he was confident that the WWE Chairman would have also been excited about the business during his early days. Cabana sees the same thing in Tony Khan as the AEW founder is deeply invested in professional wrestling.
"It isn't Vince vs. Tony. But it is so cool that Tony is in his early-to-be-a-promoter-years, that I'm not sure if the same idea or passion is there for Vince McMahon. Of course, I can't speak for Vince McMahon because I'm not around Vince, so I don't know. But Vince McMahon, when he took over the world of pro wrestling, he was Tony Khan's age, and he was probably so excited about it. So you see almost the same thing with Tony now, and that's what gets all of us excited that he's on board", said Colt Cabana (H/T- WrestlingInc).
Tony Khan's résumé as a booker is still nowhere close to what Vince McMahon has, and it will take decades until we can talk about accurate comparisons. However, it's great to know that AEW has a passionate boss at the helm.
#1 Anthony Ogogo on his backstage relationship with Cody Rhodes in AEW
Anthony Ogogo wrestled his biggest match at AEW Double or Nothing in a losing effort against Cody Rhodes. "The Guv'nor" may have been on the wrong end of the result but walked away from the pay-per-view with some invaluable lessons about working a match.
Ogogo recently sat down for an interview with Wrestling Inc. Managing Editor Nick Hausman, and the Olympic bronze medalist opened up about his off-screen relationship with the American Nightmare.
Ogogo noted that he had always considered Cody Rhodes to be the best wrestler in the world, much before signing with AEW. Anthony Ogogo has seen Cody Rhodes perform closely, and he had nothing but words of praise for the former WWE star's technical acumen inside the ring.
"Prior to me joining AEW, he's my favorite wrestler in the world," Ogogo admitted. "I actually think the best wrestler in the world. He is genuinely, and before I got into the ring, I saw an AEW Dark. I commentated for six months, and I said 20 times in six months that Cody's the best wrestler in the world, but Cody's a yardstick. I got to watch him daily at the trainer school training and putting the work in still even though he's so good. The way he can tell stories, the things he can do in a ring," said Ogogo.
Ogogo stated that he respects Cody Rhodes, and he stayed in character by adding that he'd not spoken to the AEW EVP since their feud kicked off. The former professional boxer admired Cody Rhodes' decision to sign him and also spoke highly of him in the past.
"He's a big dude. He can do top-rope huricanrannas, which I wouldn't. My a**hole squeezes up, watching him do that. I'm never going to do that. He's really, really good. I respect the hell out of him as a wrestler. I respect the way he does his management. Since this thing kicked off, we haven't spoken. Prior to that, I respect the way he managed me. I respect the way he signed me. I respect the way he went about talking to me. He talks to me on my level rather than talking down to me, and I respect that. He knows that I'm a man on my own way, and I've got respect on my name. Why I like Cody is because he's very real and authentic," added Ogogo.
Anthony Ogogo has had just four matches since transitioning to pro wrestling, and despite all the criticism following DON, Ogogo will eventually come well under the guidance of Cody Rhodes and many other veterans backstage at AEW.
