Cody Deaner has undergone a complete transformation.
Speaking with Bill Pritchard of WrestleZone.com, Deaner commented on his new look and attitude, saying that he wants to show people he is capable of doing more than just comedy.
“It’s very simple—I have something to prove. I have proven that I can make people laugh and I can make people smile. I’m proud of that because not everyone can do that. That is a skill that is not appreciated enough in professional wrestling... Unfortunately, if we’re talking the truth, that skill set does not make you a whole lot of money. You don’t make a lot of money and you’re not a top guy. There’s never been a top guy in the business where all they ever do is just [comedy]... I’m a top guy that can make the audience feel more than just the fuzzies on the inside. I can make them feel a whole range of emotions and it’s time for me to prove that because I have that ability and I wasn’t able to show that before.”
Deaner recently turned on Cousin Jake, choosing to align with Eric Young and Joe Doering. He says that Eric has been his friend for years and that Young sat him down for a heart-to-heart after he noticed the path Deaner's career was heading down.
“A lot of people don’t know this or realize it, but Eric Young and I have been friends for twenty years. He was at my wedding, I was at his wedding. He was there my very first day of wrestling school, he trained me in professional wrestling. So the stuff you’re seeing on TV is not just some fictional thing and a wrestling company just thought of this crazy thing, ‘let’s put Cody Deaner and Eric Young together.’ No, this is real.”
Deaner, Young, and Doering will face Tommy Dreamer, Rhino, and Cousin Jake in an Old School Rules 6-man tag match at IMPACT Wrestling's Hard To Kill PPV event on January 16.
Fightful will be providing live coverage beginning with the countdown special on AXS TV at 7:00 pm EST/4:00 pm PST.
