One of the first iconic visuals in AEW history was Cody Rhodes smashing a throne at AEW Double or Nothing 2019. The smashing of the throne was a shot at WWE and Triple H for him believing in himself more than the company believed in him in 2016 when he decided to leave.
Throughout the years, Rhodes would continue to take jabs at WWE and Triple H with teases of using the pedigree and pulling out golden shovels.
Rhodes is now back in WWE and while he's on good terms with Triple H and the company, he doesn't regret smashing the throne or any other shot he took.
"Hell no, no, because that's what he would have done," Rhodes told Ariel Helwani. "One of the things I remember, I don't think I was even Stardust yet. I ran up to Gorilla position, I'm huffing and puffing. I was made about something, but not really mad, and I knew I should speak to Vince or Hunter. I spoke to Hunter and he said, 'I totally understand,' he had his headphones on and was taking time off this segment to have this conversation, 'Maybe, go in the writer's room right now and rattle the cages. Make a scene. You're not getting in trouble, go in and let them know.' He wasn't passing me off as much as he sincerely was...the door has their names on it, knock and say your peace. What's the worst that can happen? Doing this without far. It's very easy to be scared. We're surrounded by giants in the business. Vince is a giant in the business. Undertaker, Steve Austin. We have to get ours. We have to keep the pot going and grow into these top stars ourselves. I don't think I'd change a thing. I definitely wouldn't change the throne."
The throne is still part of the Rhodes family and lives in his house, it's a great photo spot according to him,
Rhodes continued by saying, "Ultimately, I think the regret is that it doesn't look like we'll get to clash. That's life, but for him to be the last one to come on the bus before I walked out and to see one of my closest friends, I hate saying he's a friend, QT Marshall, to see him see that moment and to see my wife see that moment, that was the heaviest spot of the night. All that aside, I broke the throne, I talked all this trash, I stand by what I did. I think it was what needed to happen. I was angry, I'm still angry. Not with him. He was somebody who helped teach me. I got in there with Taker, Shawn (Michaels), Hunter right at the end when they were active. Just in ten days, what I learned from Undertaker was unbelievable knowledge that I teach at my school now. Also, say what you want, Hunter may think I'm dork and may not have the respect and admiration for me that I have for him. He did take care of my dad. I can smash all the thrones in the world, that is one I can't payback. Maybe the only way I can come close is to be here and deliver on a high level for him."
Rhodes and Triple H spoke before Rhodes entered the arena for his return at WrestleMania.
Asked if he could share what they talked about, Rhodes replied, "I don't know if I want to share it. I can say, I thought we would just shake hands, but it wasn't a handshake as much as it was a hug. I don't want to repeat what he said, but I will value it forever. You need something like that before you go out. The last thing you need is for something to go wrong. I was really glad he was the final one and I think they made it that he was the final one. It's Triple H. There's that swag about him. I hope we cross paths in the ring in some capacity, not asking for anything that can't happen. I'm ready to play the game, but not nice. He was my favorite, I don't know how it happened, but he was. If you watched me wrestle in AEW, it was clear that he was my favorite."
Triple H kicked off WrestleMania Sunday by leaving his boots in the ring, signifying his retirement. He announced his retirement on March 25 as a defibrillator is in his chest due to a heart procedure. You can find his comments on his retirement and health scare by clicking here.
Rhodes return to WWE Raw on Monday with a mic in his hand. You can find out what he said by checking out Fightful's full report on WWE Raw by clicking here.
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