Big E on Cody Rhodes’ return to WWE, thoughts on Logan Paul, and the next breakout star from NXT

In an interview with FanSided, former WWE champion Big E spoke about a variety of topics, including Cody Rhodes’ return, his impressions of Logan Paul, and the next superstar from NXT.

The biggest event of the professional wrestling calendar is a matter of days away. On Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2, WWE presents WrestleMania 39, live from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. It serves as a season finale of sorts, with some of the biggest stories in the company reaching their conclusions at the “Grandest Stage of Them All.” Not to mention that there’s the potential of some match-of-the-year candidates taking place at the big event.

Ahead of WrestleMania 39, I spoke with former WWE champion Big E, in partnership with SNICKERS. We touched on a variety of topics, including the return of Cody Rhodes, his impression of Logan Paul as an in-ring performer, and which NXT talent can become the next huge WWE superstar.

You can watch the full interview below:

Big E on the return of Cody Rhodes

I asked Big E about his return in the past year excited him the most. There were a bunch of names who were released from their contracts that made their returns to the company. Big E said that he’s “excited for everyone who got another opportunity to do what they really love.” But one name that he did bring up that excited him was Cody Rhodes, the challenger for Roman Reigns’ Undisputed WWE Universal championship at WrestleMania.

“Cody is definitely one and someone that I’ve known for a long time, even, you know, when I was doing my loops, my first house show loops, in early 2012. Cody was one that I was in the ring with on a nightly basis. So yeah, I’ve known Cody for a while now, but to see someone be in a position in their career where they’re not entirely happy, and then to step away, reinvent themselves and come back, the way that he has. The love from fans, has been incredible the way he’s, the people have just gravitated to him. Seeing him just really, you know, he’s ready for this position,” said Big E.

“It’s clear that he’s ready. And he sees it. And you can tell the way he commands a room when he grabs the microphone. He doesn’t waste any opportunities with a mic. So Cody has really been someone that has been amazing to really see this return. Because you wonder like, how is he going to be received, and right out the gate? Fans were behind him. So it’s such a great story, a story that’s so easy to, to gravitate to, you know, obviously, so many of us are influenced by his father, I you know, bet that was in Dusty [Rhodes]. On a weekly basis, we were cutting promos in front of Dusty and FCW (Florida Championship Wrestling). He was a mentor for so many of us, and to know how much Cody loves his father and wants to in many ways do this. For Dusty and his legacy. It’s an incredibly moving story in so many different ways. But Cody is such an easy talent to root for.”

Rhodes had left WWE back in 2016 and began to compete for numerous independent promotions. He even helped build All Elite Wrestling alongside Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson). But in 2022, Rhodes and AEW agreed to part ways.

At WrestleMania 38 last year, Rhodes made his return to WWE, where he faced Seth Rollins. He continued his feud with Rollins up until the Hell in a Cell premium live event last June, where he wrestled with a torn pectoral muscle. He was sidelined until this year’s Royal Rumble event, where he won the 30-man battle royal to earn an Undisputed WWE Universal championship match against Roman Reigns. From returning to WWE last year, to main eventing the biggest show of the year on Apr. 2

Big E on Logan Paul as an in-ring performer

Logan Paul is a social media personality who had dealt with a variety of controversies. After trying his hand at boxing, he made the transition to professional wrestling. Even though he is set to have his fourth match with WWE on Saturday when he faces Seth Rollins, he has impressed many with his skills and athleticism in the squared circle.

I asked Big E about his thoughts on Paul as an in-ring performer.

“I mean, anyone you can feel the way you want about him as a human or as a personality. But I’ve many ways just kind of been blown away with his progress with how good he is already. And when he was here, I don’t want to say like, ‘Oh, he’s really good for only having three or four matches,’ I think he’s just really good,” said Big E. “I think he’s really good at this. He’s clearly an athlete, he moves like an athlete, even his understanding of pacing, when to take time, when to demonstrate personality, like he gets those things in a way that I don’t know if I’ve seen that quickly. And obviously, he has a great support system. And he has the ability to have a ring sent down to him and train. So he’s in position, where had some resources around him, but you got to do the work. And it’s clear he’s doing the work, because it’ll demonstrate, it will show in your performance if you haven’t been doing the work. And he has been. So in many ways, I’ve just been really kind of, you know, really, really blown away with how good he is in the ring and he knows how to make those viral moments. He knows how to make those moments that become gifs that get re-shared over and over again. He gets those things. So he has an understanding of our business that I think a lot of people who have even been in the business for years and years don’t necessarily have that same understanding. So yeah, I mean, you could like I said, you could feel the way you want about him as a human being about him as a personality. But in ring, yeah, he’s got this stuff.”

Paul had made his WWE debut in 2021, where he was involved in a storyline with Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens. At WrestleMania 37, he sat at ringside for the match and was hit with a Stunner by Owens once the match concluded.

At WrestleMania 38 last year, Paul teamed up with The Miz to take on Rey and Dominik Mysterio. In his first match, Paul made a lasting impression, receiving praise on social media. The second bout of his career took place on SummerSlam, where he defeated The Miz. That was when he really caught the attention of wrestling fans, as he hit a Frog Splash from outside the ring onto the Miz, who was laid out on the announcer’s table.

In just his third match, Paul challenged Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal championship at Crown Jewel last November, but was unsuccessful. He did, however, put up a fight against Reigns.

After eliminating Rollins from the men’s Royal Rumble match and costing him the United States championship at Elimination Chamber, Paul will now wrestle him at the “Showcase of the Immortals.”

Big E on NXT wrestler who can become the next huge WWE superstar

Big E’s New Day colleagues and friends, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods, spent some time in the NXT brand, working with the talent WWE has in their developmental system. I asked Big E who he believed would be the next NXT talent to make the jump to the main roster and become WWE’s next superstar.

To Big E, that talent is none other than Carmelo Hayes.

“Yeah, there’s a ton of talent there. If I had to pick one, right now the one that comes to mind right now there’s a ton of talent down there but Carmelo [Hayes], I think Carmelo just screams star,” said Big E. “He’s got he the way he carries himself. I believe every word that he says, every word that comes out of his mouth, he has that believability, he has that confidence, and he gets it done in the ring. He backs it up in the ring, just a really an incredible athlete. And a guy who I think is the total package in so many different ways. And I’d love to see him come up with with Trick [Williams] as well. Trick is wildly entertaining. And I enjoy both of them together. They’re a ton of fun, and he’s a guy that that’s proven it on a regular basis. So yeah, Carmelo for me is a guy that easily screams superstar. I wouldn’t be surprised at all, if in a year or two, he’s, you know, main eventing WrestleMania. He’s that level of talent in my opinion.”

Hayes signed with the WWE in Feb. 2021. He made an impact in the NXT brand, winning their Breakout Tournament. He cashed in his championship opportunity and won the NXT North American title shortly thereafter, and held it for 172 days. He was paired with Trick Williams, who acted as his manager. After losing the title to Cameron Grimes at Stand and Deliver last April in a ladder match, Hayes won it back two months later, holding onto it for 101 days.

Now, Hayes is set to have a huge match during WrestleMania weekend. On Saturday, Hayes will be challenging fellow standout star Bron Breakker for the NXT championship at the Stand and Deliver event at Crypto.com Arena. This is a match that fans have been anticipating for quite some time, considering the career trajectory of both. Now, Hayes will have the chance to win the NXT title for the first time ever. But, it may not be long until Hayes gets the call up to the main roster to compete on either Raw or SmackDown.

Following a successful co-promotion at last year’s WrestleMania, SNICKERS and WWE 2K23 are returning as presenting partners. WrestleMania 39 takes place Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2 live from SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Entering its eighth year as a presenting partner, SNICKERS will continue to be a solution for fans when they feel out of sorts before, during or after WrestleMania. We can’t wait for this weekend’s action at WrestleMania, make sure to grab a SNICKERS and tune in.