Cody Rhodes Says Ricky Starks “Should Have Stayed His Butt On The Bus”
AEW star Ricky Starks caused something of a stir when he was spotted backstage with Cody Rhodes at the WWE Royal Rumble in a security camera photo that went viral online.
Cody Rhodes made his big comeback to WWE at the Royal Rumble in January after missing seven months due to an injury. Rhodes made the most of his return as he won the men’s Rumble match and booked himself into the main event of WrestleMania 39 where he will take on Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.
But after the show, many online were taken with a photo showing Ricky Starks with Rhodes backstage at the event – something that Rhodes is keen not to happen again given Starks’ prominent role in AEW.
Speaking on Out of Character Cody Rhodes explained the situation and why he takes responsibility for it happening and wasn’t happy that the photo set off a “conversation that is not accurate”:
“I’ll take full blame. My fault. It was a friend coming to see me in a very big, truly emotional moment. To lose your confidence as an athlete, a fighter, and entertainer; to get back up off the mat, and not just get back up, you have to be at the level you were. I liked having people in my circle around me. I think also, that will be the only time anyone from another company is ever present because it creates a conversation that is not accurate.
“It creates an outlook…this is my friend. He wanted to be there to support me. He should have stayed his butt on the bus, he did not, and because of that, no friends at work anymore. I’ll make some new friends at WWE so there is not random surveillance photos of them and I walking backstage. You know you’re pretty popular when people are making a story out of that. So, I guess good for the Rick Man.”
Ricky Starks picked up another big win over Chris Jericho when the two stars faced off for the second time at Revolution.