Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens sit down for an interview before Bash in Berlin

WWE VIDEO

Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens sit down for an interview before Bash in Berlin  WWE Champion Cody Rhodes sits down for an interview with his friend and Bash in Berlin opponent, Kevin Owens. Don’t miss Bash in Berlin, streaming LIVE on Saturday at 1 PM ET/ 10 AM PT on Peacock in the United States and on WWE Network everywhere else. Stream WWE on Peacock https://pck.tv/3ZTjVE7 in the U.S. and on WWE Network http://wwe.yt/wwenetwork everywhere else

Transcript

00:00They've been friends for years, but it's all about the undisputed WWE Championship.

00:10Rhodes Owens in Berlin.

00:14Cody, Kevin, first things first, thank you for your time, I appreciate it.

00:19Tell the WWE Universe how long you guys have known one another.

00:22Kevin, I'll let you start.

00:23How long have you known Cody?

00:24What were your initial first impressions?

00:25I probably met Cody in 2015 when I came up to the main roster.

00:30I already knew Dusty, just because of that I already liked Cody before I even met him.

00:35He might have a different version of it, I liked him right away.

00:38We did get along right off the bat.

00:40To the point where there's a photo, I think my dad's statue gets unveiled, all family,

00:48and then Kevin, on the outside.

00:51It still fit though, it still worked, yeah.

00:54My journey away from WWE, a huge part of it is Kevin.

01:00Simply because Kevin said, hey, here are the people, here are their numbers, but also he

01:04contacted those people, said this Cody guy, he's alright.

01:08Even after he left, I was watching his matches on whatever independent promotion he'd be

01:13working.

01:14I saw the Cody that he wanted to be here that he didn't get to be, and I remember texting

01:18him after, I was like, that's it.

01:21From that perspective, Kevin, how did it feel for you personally, watching Cody finish

01:26the story at WrestleMania this year?

01:28I mean, it was incredible.

01:29He had a vision of how he should be treated, and what he could accomplish, if given the

01:37opportunity.

01:38And he was right, in that to see him win the title was the last missing piece.

01:45We keep talking about the rollercoaster journey that you've both been on, Kevin, you've acted

01:48quite literally as a teammate to Cody on numerous occasions throughout this battle

01:52with the Bloodline.

01:54Why were you so hesitant to accept this opportunity?

01:58I just don't think I deserve it.

02:00I have had a very poor win-loss record, and I think that stuff matters.

02:05I remember Triple H getting handed a title, and I hated it.

02:10Sorry, Hunter.

02:12I hated it.

02:13I was so upset, and I don't want our audience to feel that way.

02:17So why was it the mention of the name Roman Reigns that finally split the switch?

02:21Because what he did over the last four years, to me personally, and pretty much everybody

02:26on the roster, is also despicable.

02:29And now that he loses it, I really don't think he should waltz right back in to get another

02:34shot.

02:35Nick, all this was putting me in a situation where it's either you take it, or Roman's

02:39going to get it.

02:40Then, f*** that, I'm going to take it.

02:42Kevin, I wish we had done it in a different way.

02:44Maybe a tournament.

02:46You still would have got there.

02:47I would have appreciated the opportunity to earn it.

02:49You know what I mean?

02:50But it's all moot now, anyway.

02:52I'm not thrilled about how I got there, that's all.

02:57Just in the interest of playing devil's advocate and piggybacking off of Kevin's point, some

03:01may believe that you handpicked Kevin Owens because you personally feel you have a better

03:08chance of defeating Kevin.

03:10Is that the case?

03:11No.

03:12Not at all.

03:13Actually, so let's run them.

03:14AJ Styles.

03:15Solo Sokoa.

03:16Solo Sokoa.

03:17Logan Paul.

03:18I think Kevin Owens can beat all those individuals.

03:21I too think I can beat all those guys.

03:22I do.

03:23I haven't.

03:24You know?

03:26I haven't in a while.

03:27As someone who's known you for quite a few years, this does not sound like a Kevin Owens

03:30that I've ever known.

03:31A Kevin Owens full of doubt.

03:33This is falling into the most awkward interview of all time.

03:36But it's not doubt.

03:37It's not doubt.

03:38I don't walk in confident or arrogant anymore.

03:41I just walk in realistic.

03:42I can't recall a time in pro wrestling sports entertainment history where I said, hey, I

03:46think you should have the opportunity to fight for the biggest prize in the game.

03:51And the person said, no, as Kevin's exact words, I don't want it.

03:56And that's not what I said.

03:58Well, in the ring, I never said I didn't want it.

04:00Of course I want it just like everyone else would.

04:02I just didn't want it like that.

04:03Well, actually, I wanted to earn it so that I could at least look in the mirror and go,

04:07OK, I worked my way there and I did it.

04:12Is there any chance that this matchup at Bash in Berlin permanently or temporarily affects

04:17your personal friendship?

04:19No, I don't think so at all.

04:23I'm not.

04:24Look, I'm excited to be in this.

04:25It's the first PLA in Germany.

04:27The crowd is probably going to be absolutely insane.

04:29I'm going to give everything I can.

04:31I don't have a choice.

04:32If I don't, my daughter will want to kill me.

04:35I'm going to do everything I can to win this title.

04:38I am more locked in.

04:40I'm more dialed into this than I've ever been.

04:43This is the quarterback spot.

04:45I don't intend to give the ball to anybody, even someone who's actually a close friend.

04:50Well, gentlemen, for both your sake, I hope the friendship remains intact.

04:54But either way, I'm sure we're in for a classic at Bash in Berlin.

04:58Good luck to both of you.

04:59Thanks, man.

05:00Thank you so much.

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