Cody Rhodes Discusses ‘Extreme Pressure’ On AEW Women’s Division

Cody Rhodes has spoken about the ‘extreme pressure’ the AEW women’s roster has been under since the promotion’s early days.

AEW used to regularly receive criticism from fans for the lack of women’s wrestling on weekly episodes of Dynamite. The company definitely showcases female athletes more, with AEW Women’s Champion Britt Baker headlining a number of major shows, including Dynamite Grand Slam in 2021.

Speaking on AEW Unrestricted, Cody praised the promotion’s women’s division for always overcoming pressure, noting that the wrestling world pays attention when female wrestlers are showcased.

Believing that there has been real change in women’s wrestling over the years, Cody said:

“I think our women’s roster, the women in AEW, so much pressure is put on them. When women have a main event, everyone wants to see what the rating is. When women sell a shirt, everyone wants to talk about the shirt. When women have an action figure, everyone wants to see what the price point is at. It’s almost a realistic pressure. Every time that pressure has been presented, they have shown out. For an old curmudgeon wrestler…that’s real change.

“I know it’s probably tone deaf for a man to talk so heavily about women’s wrestling, but to me, that’s real change. There are guarantees on our show. You put Serena Deeb out there, you better have your working boots on or she will outwork you. That’s genuine change and it’s really cool to see.

“I’m at the school now, we have like five girls in this camp. It’s not like back then there wasn’t an example to look at, but now the pressure is on. It really is. I think there are a lot of male wrestlers who, behind the scene, were like ‘ughh’ who are kind of rooting against it, and I’m not saying at AEW, I’m saying in the general space of wrestling, and they need to hop on. It’s happening, it’s growing, it’s building and it’s really cool to see.

I’m very proud of everyone who, under extreme pressure that I think was unfair, continued to deliver.”

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Transcription via Fightful. 

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• Unrestricted
• Women's Wrestling
• Cody Rhodes
• AEW

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