Cody Rhodes thinks some wrestling fans spend way too much time worrying about what supposedly happened backstage instead of appreciating what happened in the ring. Using one of WWE’s most talked-about matches as an example, Rhodes argued that fans often let behind-the-scenes stories overshadow the actual performance.
Speaking to Mythical Kitchen, Rhodes recommended Shawn Michaels vs. Hulk Hogan at SummerSlam 2005 as an underrated match. He acknowledged the long-running stories about Michaels allegedly being unhappy with Hogan, but said people get so caught up in the backstage lore that they miss just how great the match actually is.
“Everyone thinks that there’s some mystery thing going on and Shawn Michaels was mad at Hulk Hogan. And what you don’t know about Shawn Michaels is he was always performing, and he still is. And that’s why he’s probably the greatest to ever do it.
And if you just watch it for what it is and don’t get into the whole lore of, ‘Well, they were supposed to work twice and da, da,’ you’ll love it. It’s two of the best ever doing the best ever.”
Rhodes then expanded on that idea, saying he finds it amusing when people outside the wrestling business confidently claim they know exactly what happened during famous backstage moments like the Montreal Screwjob. For him, sometimes it’s better to stop trying to solve every mystery and just enjoy the show.
“She’s not going to be able to fall asleep when Shawn’s holding Hulk and the blood is pouring down his arm. It is so well done. And to this day, I love when people who aren’t in my business try to tell me that they know about, ‘No, here’s what was really going on. The Montreal Screwjob.’ Dude, just enjoy it.”
Rhodes’ point is a simple one: wrestling is at its best when fans get lost in what’s happening on screen. While backstage stories can be interesting, he believes they shouldn’t take away from great performances or become more important than the matches themselves.
Do you agree with Cody Rhodes, or do backstage stories make wrestling even more enjoyable for you? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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