CM Punk: I was gonna say, before we start, let's take a minute to enjoy this moment. You and I have been on very different paths to get here. Saturday night, it all changes. Sunday morning, I hope we're still friends. But for right now, let's just enjoy this moment.

Cody Rhodes: So, NOLA... more specifically, CM Punk... what do you want to talk about?

Punk: I want to talk about your dad. And I don't know if you know this story, I've never told it; I know they don't know it. 2007. Your father calls me on the telephone, and he tells me he's sending his youngest son Cody to start his journеy as a professional wrestler. And hе tells me... 'I want you to keep an eye on my kid.' And at the time, I don't know if I was the guy for the job. And I certainly didn't know you yet. I wasn't aware if you would need a guardian angel. I didn't think ya did. But when the 'American Dream' asks you for a favor, New Orleans, you say yes.

It wasn't a hard job. I stayed out of your way. You didn't get into any trouble that you couldn't take your own way out of. You didn't fall into the same vices I saw a lot of our contemporaries do. And I watched you grow from a preliminary wrestler, into this bona fide, main event, main event, championship-caliber superstar, that stands before me today. And it might sound a little bit condescending coming from me. I am proud of you. I bring this up, I bring this story up, I bring your father up... because on Saturday, I feel like I'm breaking a promise. In the Royal Rumble, when the bell rings, if me and you cross paths; I'm not going to be looking out for you, I'm going to be looking for you. I'm gonna do what I have to do. I'll punch you in the face, I'll throw you over the top rope, because CM Punk is going to win the Royal Rumble. And he's going to go on to main event WrestleMania.

Rhodes: You're not alone in that feeling being someone who is talking to me, but thinking about him. I work with countless legends, and luminaries, and dignitaries in this industry. 'Freebird' Michael Hayes, Bruce Pritchard, even... Mr. Heyman. That when they see me, they can't help but see the 'American Dream' Dusty Rhodes. It's a very large shadow, but I think you know well that I have done everything in my power -- since I've left here -- to not just be in the shadow, but the light in the shadow. To subvert expectations on my own last name, and be my own man.

You're talking about OVW. You're not lying. I showed up to OVW, folkstyle wrestling experience only. No matches under my belt, a complete nepotism hire. And there you were. CM Punk, who had toiled on the independent scene for ten years, who had made a name for himself. You could have treated me poorly, you treated me like a peer. And after that, we became friends. And that's what makes all of this so bittersweet. Is because in the Royal Rumble, there are no friends.

Punk: What about Sunday morning, Cody? I know there's no friends in the Royal Rumble, I've been in more than you have! But what about Sunday morning? Because I can sperate business from personal, can you? Because I wasn't born into this business, you very much were. You grew up in this business. Personal, to you, is this business. You were the son of the most legendary wrestlers of all time, one of the greatest!

And I said to start this all off, you and I have travelled very different paths. I didn't have a famous dad. When you showed up to OVW, other people saw Dusty, I saw Cody. I didn't see necessarily a nepotism hire, because where everybody saw that you were born on third base, and you were afforded all of these great things. And you had the head start that I didn't get. Because I had to scratch, and claw, and fight to get to where I was. I saw the burden of your last name. I saw how hard it was gonna be to come out of that shadow. And congratulations, you have done it with flying colors. But for all of our differences, in a very nice, expensive suit; me, for what to the gym today. Two very different paths, one very, very similar goal.

I didn't have the famous dad. I didn't have the 'American Dream' Dusty Rhodes. Global, international, heavyweight champion, superstar wrestler. Recognized on the streets. 'Dined with kings and queens,' how's the rest of it go?

Rhodes: Slept in alleys and dined on pork and beans.

Punk: I didn't have the famous dad. My father was blue-collar. He wan an electrician. Which makes it kind of ironic, I'm more of the 'American Dream' than you are.

Rhodes: Okay... okay, 'American Dream,' here's what I want to talk about. Let's talk about 'the Pipebomb'. You sat right up there. You said a feel words, you rattled off the formula for a revolution. You inspired countless. There are wrestlers who have gotten into this today because of said interview, count me one of those who was inspired. But then, you left. And when you left, you REALLY left. You didn't pass the torch off, you dropped it on the way out. And I don't think you care who picked it up, but I think you know who did. I did. Everything, everything that you spoke about, I literally did. So where you talked, I walked. And what is actually ironic, that makes me more 'CM Punk' than you.

Punk: It's getting a little hot in here. You're more CM Punk than I am? Well, allow me to give you the full road to WrestleMania CM Punk experience. See, Cody Rhodes, you have carried this company on your back for a soul crushing two years. And you're right about the corner, and they hand you the cover of the WWE 2K video game. Congratulations, by the way, it's on sale, pretty soon, I'm sure.
And right when you're about to cross the finish line, and 'finish your story?' Oh wait! What's that in the distance? It's a much bigger superstar that hasn't been around in a very long time, comin' to take it all away from you. And I'm talking about me.

Rhodes: There you are! Lookin' out for me again. You might be right. You talked all about the 'American Dream,' well, then you should know this. He was my best friend, and he regularly quoted John Wayne. And the quote the most is, 'courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyways.' You may be right, but I only have one direction. And that's forward! And that's in the Royal Rumble. That direction goes through you.