AEW Dynamite Teases Shaq Vs. Cody Amid Polarizing Response

AEW teased a match between Shaq and Cody.

Credit: AEW

AEW Dynamite featured a lively segment as newcomer Jade Cargill cut a long promo on Cody Rhodes, challenging his manhood and taking exception to the former two-time TNT champion calling himself the Giant Killer.

Cargill ended her promo by teasing the forthcoming appearance by “Shaq,” which is the nickname for legendary NBA center Shaquille O’Neal. The segment took a wild turn as Cody’s wife Brandi Rhodes cut a spirited promo of her own against Cargill, with the Chief Branding Officer calling Shaq’s messenger a “heffer.”

Shaq is a host of Inside the NBA, which also airs on TNT. The longtime arena show is likely to serve as another platform for AEW to promote a potential synergistic attraction match.

In August, Shaq told Richard Deitsch of The Athletic (h/t thescore.com) “I’d love to fight Cody. Write it. Print it. Text it to him. Call AEW up and tell them.”

With pro wrestling’s audience now whittled down to hardcore fans, a Cody vs. Shaq match carries the type of mainstream gravitas that Mr. T, Floyd Mayweather and other crossovers celebrities who helped bolster WWE’s business.

But with so many pro wrestling purists among the hardcore ranks, a possible Shaq vs. Cody showdown was not well-received by all.

AEW President Tony Khan teased “massive surprises” on AEW, and whether or not traditional wrestling fans are on board, a name like Shaq certainly is a massive announcement.

An attraction match featuring Shaquille O’Neal could help Khan deliver on his bold prediction that the “balance of power in pro wrestling shifts tonight.” WCW’s brief run of success over WWE featured featured similar tactics of celebrity matches as Dennis Rodman, Karl Malone and Jay Leno were featured in pay-per-view matches.