Entertainment
Anthony Ogogo suffers broken rib days before huge AEW Double Or Nothing match with Cody Rhodes
Anthony Ogogo has suffered a broken rib just days before AEW Double Or Nothing – but he’ll still be facing Cody Rhodes on Sunday night.
The former Olympic boxer is poised for a first major wrestling match at the pay-per-view event and he has revealed the very real risks after getting hurt practicing a standing elbow drop during training this week.
Speaking exclusively to Metro.co.uk, he said: ‘I’m sitting here now – I’m very, very open and honest, probably too open and honest… But I am who I am, I do what I do. I’ve got a broken rib right now.
‘My rib’s broken because I did a move in training this week. I did it wrong, and I broke a rib. I’m now wrestling Cody, the best wrestler in the world, with a broken rib… And that’s real, that’s not me just saying that. My rib is f***ed!’
Ogogo, 32, is no stranger to injuries, having fought in the Olympics with a broken rib, and dealt with dislocated shoulders and a fractured eye socked in his professional career – with the latter ending his boxing career and leaving him with 22% vision in his left eye.
However, the rising star is still more than confident about taking his moment in the spotlight, and despite their on-screen rivalry, he’s excited to be testing himself with someone who has been instrumental in bringing him to AEW.
‘To be fair to Cody, he fought for me this time a couple of years ago, pre-Double or Nothing. I’d just retired from boxing, and we were talking, we were both kinda flirting with each other,’ he smiled.
‘I didn’t wanna say to him, “Yes I wanna do this”, and he didn’t wanna say to me, “Yes I wanna sign you”. Me and Cody are very similar – very, very different but very similar. He wanted to sign me, and I wanted to do it – but I didn’t wanna show him my tits before going on a date!’
Rhodes managed to convince boss Tony Khan to bring Ogogo in – and the rest his history.
It’s fitting, then, that the American Nightmare – who will be using his late dad Dusty’s Dream nickname this weekend – is the Guv’nor’s opponent for his first flagship AEW bout.
‘I’ve had two matches in my existence, and Cody’s this legend – or his dad was a legend, he’s on the way to creating his own legend in wrestling,’ he responded to the idea of feeling any nerves.
‘I watched him when I was a kid – before I had hairs on my bollocks, I was watching Cody Rhodes on TV and I was a fan of Cody Rhodes. Now, I have lots of hairs on my bollocks and I’m facing Cody at Double or Nothing. So, I’m really happy, the pressure’s on him.’
When it comes to what fans can expect from Ogogo as a wrestler, he’s keeping his cards close to his chest but he suggested it doesn’t have to be a long match to be a success.
‘Someone gave me some stick on Twitter the other day, they said, “Oh you don’t do anything, you don’t do any moves.” I haven’t got to do any moves,’ he laughed.
‘If you’re a plumber, and you can go in there and fix the washing machine in 20 minutes and you get paid 500 quid – you’re not gonna spend eight hours fixing the washing machine to get paid 500 quid still.
‘You don’t get paid overtime in this business, in the fight game. I go in there, I do what I do – if I knock you out early, I knock you out early! I’m back at the hotel enjoying myself eating a pizza.
*Anthony Ogogo and Cody Rhodes face off at AEW Double Or Nothing on Sunday (May 30). UK fans can tune in via Fite TV.
Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Share your views in the comments below.
MORE : AEW Rampage: All Elite Wrestling announces new show and confirms Dynamite network change
