Nick Aldis On Cody Rhodes: ‘We’re destined to collide again’

The build for the NWA Worlds Title match between Nick Aldis and Cody Rhodes at “All In” was splendid, and the match itself ended with one of the most emotional moments of 2018.

Thanks to the efforts of Nick Aldis, the NWA Worlds Title feels like a big deal again. Aldis first won the title in December 2017, defeating Tim Storm in a rematch at Cage of Death 19, and he proceeded to elevate the title to new heights by taking on title defense after title defense, beating the likes of Robbie Eagles, Jonah Rock, and Flip Gordon, Tommy Dreamer.

At “All In”, Aldis faced Cody Rhodes in an acclaimed title defense that brought new eyes to NWA, as wrestling fans were captivated by the back-and-forth promos. Aldis and Rhodes did a fantastic job of discussing the legacy of the belt and their own reasons for wanting to put everything on the line to win.

With his father, a three-time NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion, in mind, Cody simply wanted it more at “All In”. The two men threw everything they had at each other, and when Rhodes pinned Aldis in a manner reminiscent of The British Bulldog’s heart-warming win over Bret Hart, the crowd erupted with glee.

Appearing on Bill Apter and Josh Shernoff’s “The Apter Chat”, Aldis spoke about his rivalry with Cody, and he called their feud the “defining” feud of 2018. He also had some high praise for Rhodes, whom he thanked “for being a great dance partner”. Aldis added that he believes the two will cross paths once again.

Transcription via WrestleZone’s Michael McClead:

"“I’d like to thank him for being a great dance partner. You’re only as good as your last match, so right now I’m pretty damn good. To quote Ric Flair when he was talking to Cody’s father [Dusty Rhodes], ‘Our egos run side by side gentlemen.’ He wants to be the top dog in the entire business. So do I. We push each other. I’m inspired by things he’s done. He’s inspired by things I’ve done. That’s why we were destined to collide and why we’re destined to collide again and anytime he wants to do it, he knows I’m open for business.”"

It’s always awesome to hear one great wrestler praising another great wrestler publicly, especially since Aldis and Rhodes have been involved in one of the most important stories of the year. Aldis won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship back at the NWA 70th Anniversary Show on Oct. 21 after another great back-and-forth that was filled to the brim with creativity from both men.

Though Aldis came away victorious, there’s certainly room for another match between them, even after their all-out “best of three falls” encounter at NWA70. Therefore, it was good to hear Aldis leave open the possibility of them having yet another match.

Rhodes has emerged as one of the best story-tellers in pro wrestling, and he and Aldis were, in a lot of ways, the perfect dance partners for this rivalry. Both men carry themselves like champions and understand the legacies of the titles they represent, and the hype surrounding each of their title matches was contagious. Hopefully, there’s at least one more match left in this story.