Cody Rhodes was a guest on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani today and talked a variety of subjects, including AEW, a subject that was brought up by Helwani following the CM Punk interview on Monday.

Asked for his opinion on CM Punk’s comment that Tony Khan is not a boss, but just a nice guy, Cody Rhodes played more of a diplomat and said that while that is CM Punk’s assessment, it’s not his assessment.

“It’s always important for me to remind people that I am so proud of what me, Matt, Nick, Kenny, Tony, Bernie, Brandi, Dana, and Chris…” Cody said. “And I name all these people, because I was in those meetings and as much as the internet will try and spin the narrative in one way, if one of those people have not been at that start up level, the company would not have happened.”

Cody added that he’s “insanely proud” of what AEW does for the industry overall, for wrestlers, their well-being, and their ability to feed their families and has unbelievable love for people in that locker room.

The former TNT champion said that when he was there, the infrastructure was still being built up as a start up company but wishes nothing but the best to everyone in AEW.

He joked that he loves Nick, Matt, and Kenny, and loves CM Punk too, if that is even all possible!

Asked if it crossed his mind to go back to AEW at the end of his WWE deal before he signed, Cody said no, it didn’t, and he didn’t mean it as a negative to AEW, but he’s lucky to be in the current spot in WWE.

Cody was also asked if he knew that CM Punk was coming back at the Survivor Series and spilled the beans that both Nick Khan and Triple H went to ask him before and to get his opinion so he went into War Games knowing what was about to happen.

Cody said that that he’s glad that CM Punk is back in WWE as he’s a great addition to the locker room and was not shocked at all that the powers that be brought him back.

“It’s been wonderful since he came back,” Cody said.