When I stepped onto the set and saw Michael Cole sitting across from me, I knew this wasn’t going to be one of those light, promotional interviews. This one was going to hurt. He nodded as I took my seat, the lights dim but focused, the tension already thick in the air. He started right away. “Angel,” he said, “thank you for being here. Let’s start with the obvious—your decision to accept a match with Cody Rhodes. After everything that’s happened, everything he’s said, the things he’s done… why?”
I gave a small laugh—dry, humorless. “First off, I didn’t accept the match, Michael. I went up to Adam and demanded it.”
I could feel the weight of every memory with Cody pressing behind my ribs like a hand on my heart. “When I first joined WWE, Cody was one of the first people to welcome me. He didn’t just say hello—he introduced me to his family, brought me into his world. We became good friends fast. Behind the scenes, he always had my back. When I got seriously hurt? He was the first one there. When I lost and felt like I wasn’t enough? He reminded me I was. And I always had his back, too. I’d be at ringside watching, making sure no one interfered or cheated. When he lost, I was right there to remind him of who he is and why we fight.”
I smiled a little, bittersweet. “I’ve even babysat Liberty more times than I can count. Cody and Brandi always trusted me. And now… now he needs me more than ever.”
Michael’s expression softened. “That kind of loyalty… it’s rare. But with all due respect—this isn’t the same Cody Rhodes, is it? The man you called your best friend… he’s different. Darker. He’s turned his back on a lot of people. Including you. So I have to ask—what makes you so sure he even wants your help anymore? What if the man you’re trying to save is gone for good?”
He leaned forward. His tone wasn’t sharp—it was soft. Serious. That question hit me. I didn’t flinch. “You’re right,” I told him. “This isn’t the same Cody. But we made a promise to each other—we said that no matter what happens, we’d always look out for one another. He might not want my help right now, but I’m not leaving him to fight this alone. I refuse to believe he’s gone for good. But… if he is—if there’s truly nothing left of the Cody I knew—then it’s on me to stop him.”
Michael nodded. I could see in his face this wasn’t just an interview anymore. It had turned into something heavier. Something real. “You’re not just walking into a match,” he said. “You’re stepping into a storm. One that could break both of you. You said you’d stop him if you have to. Does that mean you’re willing to hurt him in order to save him? And if you do… if you have to be the one to put him down—how do you walk away from that? What does that do to you, Angel?”
I was quiet for a beat. My hands were clasped in my lap. “Cody’s stronger than me physically. That’s just fact. So I don’t know how much I can hurt him. But I’ll do whatever it takes to try to get through to him. And if it comes down to it… something like that, you don’t just walk away from. I know it wouldn’t be good for me. He’s always been the one to keep me grounded. If I have to do that to him… it would break me, too.”
Michael’s voice grew gentler, more personal. “That’s the thing about loyalty, isn’t it? Sometimes it doesn’t just hurt—it scars. And the pain isn’t just physical. So I have to ask—why put yourself through this? Why risk that kind of pain, that kind of heartbreak, when you could’ve just walked away? Let Cody deal with this himself. Why does it have to be you?””
I looked at him, no hesitation in my voice. “You’ve been in this business longer than I have, Michael, so I know you’ve seen it—friends turning on each other. Teammates betraying each other. It’s happened with Damage Control, Judgment Day, even New Day. I refuse to fall into that same category. I refuse to give up on someone I love just because they lost their way.”
Michael’s brow furrowed, taking that in. “You’re right. I’ve seen plenty of friendships crumble in that ring—over jealousy, ambition, ego… but what you’re doing here? This isn’t just rare. It’s almost unheard of.”
He hesitated, then asked, “You’re walking into what could be the most emotionally devastating match of your life. Not for a title. Not for glory. But for someone who might not even want to be saved. Have you thought about what happens if he doesn’t come back? If you lose him for good, right there in that ring?”
I met his gaze and spoke with quiet conviction. “Then I don’t give up. Even if Cody has. I’ll keep fighting for what’s right. For him. For his family. Why do you think my theme song is ‘Stand Up’ by Fireflight?” I smiled just a little.
Michael returned the smile—small but genuine. “Because you don’t stay down. You never have.”
He glanced down for a second before meeting my eyes again, this time with something personal in his expression. “It says a lot, you know. You’re not just stepping into that ring as an opponent… you’re stepping in as a reminder. Of who Cody used to be. Of who he still could be.”
His voice dipped again. “But Angel, what if he doesn’t listen? What if your message doesn’t get through, and you end up standing in front of someone who looks like Cody… but isn’t Cody anymore? Are you prepared for the possibility that the man you called your best friend… might force you to become the very thing you never wanted to be?”
I let out a breath and nodded. “Maybe. You’ve seen how I get when Cody—or my brothers—aren’t there to ground me. I mean, I got in The Rock’s face.” I gave a nervous little chuckle. “But if I do become the thing I fight against… I know there are people who would pull me back. My brothers for sure. But I’d like to believe my friends in WWE—Rey Mysterio, Jey Uso, Sami Zayn—they’d jump in too.”
Michael chuckled softly at my Rock comment, then grew more thoughtful. “You’re right… we’ve seen that fire in you. That edge. It’s what makes you so dangerous in the ring—and so loyal outside of it.”
He leaned back slightly, then after a short pause, his tone shifted once more. “When that bell rings Monday night, it won’t be just a match. It’ll be personal. Emotional. And very, very real. What’s the one thing you want the WWE Universe to understand going into this? What do you need them to know before you step into the ring with Cody Rhodes?”
I paused, just for a second. “No matter what happens—never give up. Even when the odds seem stacked against you, keep fighting for what’s right. Stand by your allies, and instead of fighting against each other, fight for each other.”
Michael nodded slowly. I could see it hit him, deep. “That’s powerful, Angel. And I think a lot of people out there needed to hear that—from someone who’s actually living it.”
He gave me a small, sincere smile. “We’re out of time, but I just want to say… thank you. For your honesty, for your heart, and for always standing up—even when it’s hard. Good luck on Monday. We’ll all be watching.”
Then he turned to the camera, his voice dipping into that serious broadcaster tone he does so well. “That’s Guardian Angel, folks—ready to fight not just against her best friend, but for him. Monday can’t come soon enough.”
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