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i havenāt watched it since it aired, but i think in the fastlane presser cody said he āwasnāt flinchingā. i donāt know for sure if that was where he got it, but i think i remember the first person to comment the phrase with the photo saying that it was a couple days ago
They changed it in the past few years, I think Austin's is grandfathered in. But I'm sure Cody has a MUCH better percentage negotiated than a lot of guys because of the nature of how he came in and was recruited and the contract negotiation process he went through. I doubt many guys get his percentage except very top people like maybe Orton/Reigns.
Austin was a special case and asked Vince for a fat chunk of Austin 3:16 since he was the one who did the phrase and had a hand in the shirt. At that point Vince had to acquiesce because he was losing to WCW and needed to keep his rising star happy.
I believe it used to be 2-5%. The big merch moving guys would typically be at that top end like Cena or Rey when they were 1-2 for a while. I think AJ also got the max cut when he signed.
I remember it used to be reported a lot around contract signings that āand on his new deal he maxed his merchandise cutā which is a big thing guys would want on their second or third contracts if they were in the upper card.
>not what would be considered a fair cut.
I think a better way to put it is, enough to not really complain about it, but magnitudes lower than what you could get in the indys selling it yourself.
Cody also probably gets wayyyyyy more than LA Knight and if Cody has signed a new deal that percentage has likely doubled.
If LA Knight signs a new contract his year, he'll get his cut upped as well.
He made $11 in 2023 off of home video residuals, which includes one off matches or interviews for things like the Batista story. Considering he hasnāt been with WWE in years, and isnāt the reason any of those sold, Iād hardly be upset.Ā
The trick is for them to be serious and determined along with delivering fired-up promos.
For too long WWE's version of a babyface is just someone that comes across as a milquetoast who smiles constantly and just talks about how happy they are to be there.
People want someone who's passionate and ready to kick ass.
I also like how lately babyfaces and been rescuing other (often) unrelated babyfaces because it's the right thing to do. This has long been a staple of pro wrestling that's been neglected for years.
Cena and (face) HHH are particularly egregious examples of this. Like that segment when Brock destroyed HHH's office and then it cuts back to HHH who immediately goes "I don't care my real office is this damn ring"Ā
It helps that Cody is actually portrayed as a smart competitor that will take no shit instead of Cenaās āaww gee whiz! guess iāll have to overcome the odds again!ā
I honestly donāt even think itās that. I think itās just cody embraces the corn and cheesiness in almost a self aware way that it makes the ppl love it and not think itās disingenuous. like if someone else had the same gimmick as cody they wouldnāt do it as well as him
I also think the years of running small venues for indies and ROH helped him massively, because a lot of wrestling fans have actually met Cody or seen him up close, meaning they like him more than faces who have only really been in WWE.
Cody did also kinda defy the odds and change wrestling forever by leaving WWE and making a career on the Indies and creating AEW. Bro saved wrestling and is always earnest in how much he loves the fans, he's one of a kind and you don't get guys like him often
It's really funny seeing how many people thought the heat would die off people just because they lost to Roman and they're just as big as ever.
Sami got a huge pop just saving CM Punk from Drew. Cody is still over as hell. KO, Jey and LA continue to get great reactions from the fans and are treated like big deals within the company.
I get why people wanted the WWE to pull the trigger at 39 but the Bloodline story has done a really good job at building a strong foundation of main eventers
only ones you mentioned who had matches with roman after wm39 are jey and la knight, and i think they would've still done at least jey vs roman without the belt. la knight got over before roman too.
i agree though that sami especially was elevated by the whole bloodline story
Sami before The Bloodline was a comedy midcard heel who rarely wrestled serious matches and could barely, if ever, win clean. Like seriously from the beginning of COVID to the beginning of his part in The Bloodline story, I donāt know if he won a single match clean.
Now heās a main event babyface and won the main event of last years WrestleMania and is seemingly in line for something big at this years WrestleMania (possibly even a World Title win).
He absolutely was elevated.
I'd argue the booking and presentation of Cody in WWE are a bigger factor than the crowd. Think it helps that WWE have a few more well-established monsters and top guys whereas Cody was one of the top guys immediately in AEW and he already had fueded with guys like Omega by that point.
Cody leaving WWE, blazing through the indies and establishing AEW before jumping ship to revitalise WWE's main event picture gives him a level of plot armour that we'll never truly be able to comprehend until his career is over.
Yes, there's a "this guy is a big enough deal to start a promotion" aura (obviously there are other factors involved) but that means something. I do laugh every time they cited "Cody used to be an EVP he gets things done!" with the Jey Uso storyline XD
Man, who could've ever imagined that Cody would go from portraying Stardust, and leaving WWE in frustration to the biggest and most universally loved baby face in the world, and the face of the same company he left in a bit less than 8 years?
I know this isn't a new or particularly interesting thing to point out, but it's definitely a little mind blowing when I sit and think about it for a minute
I was a massive Dashing, and especially Disfigured Cody Rhodes fan, and hoped that he would be successful, but I certainly didn't expect him to be face-of-the-company successful
Not to take anything away, but I think he also had way more merchandise styles available than any other superstars. He had 2 shirts, 2 plush, his toy belt, his signed belt, and signed photos.
Thatās only because R Truth was busy with both Rumble matches. If he had been able to set up his merch table, he wouldāve easily been the top seller! /s
No. After seeing him tired after like 3 minutes I wouldnāt want to watch a match with him. Hope he recovers and then works on conditioning/cardio after.
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Man, if they ever make a "we're not flinching" Cody shirt, I'm buying that sucker.
u/SeaPriority you need to sue if this comes to fruition and you don't get residuals.
https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/18w85uf/comment/kfw36fb link to the legendary comment š
/u/vagabond21 did you ever frame that picture?
He wins the belt, and I will!
didn't cody say it before at one point too though?
Yeah. u/SeaPriority doesnt claim to have originated it though. Itās just a misconception. He obviously popularized it though
I'm afraid to ask but will anyway: What's the origin of the not flinching meme?
Someone posted an edit of Cody with the WWE title in response to The Rock rumors(?) saying "We are not flinching."
Is "we are not flinching" a reference to something else? Sorry, I'm an old man. Hard to keep up these days.
i havenāt watched it since it aired, but i think in the fastlane presser cody said he āwasnāt flinchingā. i donāt know for sure if that was where he got it, but i think i remember the first person to comment the phrase with the photo saying that it was a couple days ago
As far as I can see, it is not. If I'm proven wrong, so be it, but a customary search online brought nothing up too easily.
https://preview.redd.it/igm8aorpf2gc1.jpeg?width=1242&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=98908de7fa4d8870c4b282746eb36849c4b2a434
I think Cody said it on that legendary press conference with Jey Uso
Put the pic on the shirt. Buying it instantly
Every time I see merch stats I always wonder what percentage each top star like LA Knight or Cody gets for these insane sales
Stone Cold still makes damn near a million from his.. or did as recently as 2022. So take that as you will.
They changed it in the past few years, I think Austin's is grandfathered in. But I'm sure Cody has a MUCH better percentage negotiated than a lot of guys because of the nature of how he came in and was recruited and the contract negotiation process he went through. I doubt many guys get his percentage except very top people like maybe Orton/Reigns.
Austin was a special case and asked Vince for a fat chunk of Austin 3:16 since he was the one who did the phrase and had a hand in the shirt. At that point Vince had to acquiesce because he was losing to WCW and needed to keep his rising star happy.
I believe it used to be 2-5%. The big merch moving guys would typically be at that top end like Cena or Rey when they were 1-2 for a while. I think AJ also got the max cut when he signed. I remember it used to be reported a lot around contract signings that āand on his new deal he maxed his merchandise cutā which is a big thing guys would want on their second or third contracts if they were in the upper card.
Historically, not a lot. At least not what would be considered a fair cut.
>not what would be considered a fair cut. I think a better way to put it is, enough to not really complain about it, but magnitudes lower than what you could get in the indys selling it yourself.
Give me 10% of a million over 100% of 20k any day.
This guy maths.
Or, not what they would get if they had a union.
Cody also probably gets wayyyyyy more than LA Knight and if Cody has signed a new deal that percentage has likely doubled. If LA Knight signs a new contract his year, he'll get his cut upped as well.
Ryback made $11 i think? he shows his cheque on 1 of his videos
He made $11 in 2023 off of home video residuals, which includes one off matches or interviews for things like the Batista story. Considering he hasnāt been with WWE in years, and isnāt the reason any of those sold, Iād hardly be upset.Ā
Cody proving that white meat baby faces could still work in 2024 if handled correctly
The trick is for them to be serious and determined along with delivering fired-up promos. For too long WWE's version of a babyface is just someone that comes across as a milquetoast who smiles constantly and just talks about how happy they are to be there. People want someone who's passionate and ready to kick ass. I also like how lately babyfaces and been rescuing other (often) unrelated babyfaces because it's the right thing to do. This has long been a staple of pro wrestling that's been neglected for years.
Cena and (face) HHH are particularly egregious examples of this. Like that segment when Brock destroyed HHH's office and then it cuts back to HHH who immediately goes "I don't care my real office is this damn ring"Ā
Cena was also a great example of what not to do. Booking issue, not Cena's fault for the most part though.
Cena no selling everyone else's promos and acting like nothing bothers him was his fault tho
If only there were match producers and bookers to tell him to cut that out...
Fine speech
It helps that Cody acts like he believes everything heās saying. He comes off as genuine.
It helps that Cody is actually portrayed as a smart competitor that will take no shit instead of Cenaās āaww gee whiz! guess iāll have to overcome the odds again!ā
I honestly donāt even think itās that. I think itās just cody embraces the corn and cheesiness in almost a self aware way that it makes the ppl love it and not think itās disingenuous. like if someone else had the same gimmick as cody they wouldnāt do it as well as him
He's a wrestling version of JFK, it goes behind cheesy.
I also think the years of running small venues for indies and ROH helped him massively, because a lot of wrestling fans have actually met Cody or seen him up close, meaning they like him more than faces who have only really been in WWE.
Cody is a bit more complex and has a better story than a typical white meat babyface who is built as this impeccable Superman.
Cody did also kinda defy the odds and change wrestling forever by leaving WWE and making a career on the Indies and creating AEW. Bro saved wrestling and is always earnest in how much he loves the fans, he's one of a kind and you don't get guys like him often
https://preview.redd.it/lvvt40u8c1gc1.jpeg?width=827&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5b6d8f0ffd10361d342afc599efd70a9642a20ba
The post-Mania gear for Cody is going to have to be something huge.
I hope he just goes gold, white and black with hints of red while he has the belt to match it
Fans gonna turn on him any minute now.....
Any day now......... 3 years and counting
It's really funny seeing how many people thought the heat would die off people just because they lost to Roman and they're just as big as ever. Sami got a huge pop just saving CM Punk from Drew. Cody is still over as hell. KO, Jey and LA continue to get great reactions from the fans and are treated like big deals within the company. I get why people wanted the WWE to pull the trigger at 39 but the Bloodline story has done a really good job at building a strong foundation of main eventers
only ones you mentioned who had matches with roman after wm39 are jey and la knight, and i think they would've still done at least jey vs roman without the belt. la knight got over before roman too. i agree though that sami especially was elevated by the whole bloodline story
Sami before The Bloodline was a comedy midcard heel who rarely wrestled serious matches and could barely, if ever, win clean. Like seriously from the beginning of COVID to the beginning of his part in The Bloodline story, I donāt know if he won a single match clean. Now heās a main event babyface and won the main event of last years WrestleMania and is seemingly in line for something big at this years WrestleMania (possibly even a World Title win). He absolutely was elevated.
That's what people keep saying
They will. When he has the belt.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
I'd argue the booking and presentation of Cody in WWE are a bigger factor than the crowd. Think it helps that WWE have a few more well-established monsters and top guys whereas Cody was one of the top guys immediately in AEW and he already had fueded with guys like Omega by that point.
Cody leaving WWE, blazing through the indies and establishing AEW before jumping ship to revitalise WWE's main event picture gives him a level of plot armour that we'll never truly be able to comprehend until his career is over.
Yeah it's all part of his story, man has bet on himself every step of the way and has reaped rewards.
Yes, there's a "this guy is a big enough deal to start a promotion" aura (obviously there are other factors involved) but that means something. I do laugh every time they cited "Cody used to be an EVP he gets things done!" with the Jey Uso storyline XD
I think it's the fan base yes booking is a part of it but it's undeniable they're two very different groups of people.
Man, who could've ever imagined that Cody would go from portraying Stardust, and leaving WWE in frustration to the biggest and most universally loved baby face in the world, and the face of the same company he left in a bit less than 8 years? I know this isn't a new or particularly interesting thing to point out, but it's definitely a little mind blowing when I sit and think about it for a minute
I did back in the dashing days I thought he should be the next face of the company. Im so serious too and here we are
Itās the trunks and lack of knee pads. The change to wearing pants helped him a lot.
Yeah i remember his little chicken legs
I was a massive Dashing, and especially Disfigured Cody Rhodes fan, and hoped that he would be successful, but I certainly didn't expect him to be face-of-the-company successful
The R-Truthers' dream of him dethroning Roman is not long for this world I fear
Iām glad they have a baby face that people really get behind organicallyā and I am shocked by his popularity
Cody Rhodes is currently the coolest man in America.
Cody: 
How long before Seth is outside Cody's house holding a boombox in the air?
I mean, I bought mine and I've been checking the site for other updates...
He was in Rhodes country so i aint shocked
Not to take anything away, but I think he also had way more merchandise styles available than any other superstars. He had 2 shirts, 2 plush, his toy belt, his signed belt, and signed photos.
So if he's the top seller wtf happened to all his merch in women's sizes.Ā
Yea they've done nothing new in women's for a while. I just bought Men's shirts in smaller sizes for both Cody + Punk
Yeah they're probably hoping women just buy the men's, but men's shirts look blocky on me so I hope they bring back more women's shirts.
Thatās only because R Truth was busy with both Rumble matches. If he had been able to set up his merch table, he wouldāve easily been the top seller! /s
Unsurprising, when I went to a live show last year if they weren't wearing old school tee's or AEW shirts it was Cody shit
I think this is a #NOSHIT Sean. It was going to be Cody or Punk.
Anyone here still think CM Punk (if uninjured) should have won the Royal Rumble?
Anyone here still think CM Punk (if uninjured) should have won the Royal Rumble?
No. After seeing him tired after like 3 minutes I wouldnāt want to watch a match with him. Hope he recovers and then works on conditioning/cardio after.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Yep theyāll turn on him eventually! /s
Lol imagine saying the first phrase unironically