News broke yesterday that former EVPs and founding members of AEW, Cody Rhodes and his wife Brandi are no longer All Elite. Cody and Brandi were both working without contract for about a month and announced that they are stepping away from the company that they helped build. To say that this was somewhat of a shock is an understatement. I think most fans just assumed that Cody would take some time off and listen to other offers, but not actually leave. He is no longer with AEW and I think I can speak for most fans when I ask, why?

Why would you leave a company that you not only helped build, but the company that solidified you as a star in the wrestling business? With all of the great things that have come out of AEW and the moments that you created, why would you leave? Was it backstage issues? Was it creative issues? Or could it have been strictly business? For now, those are all unanswered questions that I think most fans are interested to find out in the coming days.

Of all of the EVPs, Cody is the only one with a history in the WWE and while he didn’t really bash his former company to the extent that others have, but they clearly weren’t on great terms. With the rumors that he and the WWE have been in talks, clearly the bridges aren’t completely burned. Time and time again, we have seen talents leave the WWE on bad terms and come back. They always come back in one way or another. I always say if Bret Hart came back, I think anybody can and will. Cody’s animosity was nowhere near the level of Bret Hart’s, so it is very possible that he could return.

Speaking of the EVPs or founding members of AEW, I personally thought that Cody was going to be the first to leave. The rest of them really have no reason to join WWE. They have solidified themselves as big stars without it. With Cody, however, he started in the WWE and while he didn’t have a terrible WWE career, it was far from where he likely wanted it to be. He has unfinished business in the WWE, but how can he be so sure that they won’t ruin him once he returns?

It has been nearly 6 years since Cody has been in a WWE ring and he left as Stardust. Stardust was a jobber, for lack of a better term. He lost a lot and Cody knew that he was capable of more and the fans knew that he was capable of more. He left and proved to everyone that he could be a big star without the WWE. He had major success in ROH, NJPW, and even won the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship before embarking on his journey with AEW. You could legitimately argue that he was the face of AEW over the last 3 years and I personally would say that. He has been the flag bearer of the brand and not to say that AEW wouldn’t or couldn’t have been successful without him, but I don’t think it would’ve been to the level that it is today. He has been involved in some of the biggest moments in AEW history. From the moonsault off of the top of the steel cage, to going through the flaming table, to blood feud with his brother Dustin, his feud with the late Brodie Lee, and his unforgettable promos, Cody is AEW. When I think of AEW, these are the moments that immediately come to mind.

So, the big question now that he is gone is now what? Will he go to WWE after going on record to voice he displeasure with the company? Like I said earlier, they all come back in one way or another and now is as good of a time as any. WWE is in a creative crisis right now, fans are growing weary, the product his not great and the roster is the smallest that it has been in a very long time. Bringing in someone like Cody Rhodes could be huge for WWE, but for me personally, I think it will make AEW look better in the end. It will show that WWE views AEW as a legitimate brand and signing arguably the face of their brand shows the amount of respect they have for not only Cody himself, but AEW as well. Now with that being said, the level of respect that they have for AEW will depend on how they book Cody if and when he enters.

If Cody comes to WWE, what can we expect? I certainly would doubt that Cody would go to WWE and not have any creative freedom. Now I’m not saying he would have booking power, but I think he would have a lot of say in what he says and does. He is only 36. He is entering the prime of his career and he is going to do everything in his power not to waste it. The top prize in the WWE would be Roman Reigns’ Universal Championship. Could he be the guy to take him down? Who knows? It would be interesting to see how they could book that. There are certainly a lot of possibilities for him and it would shock me if he doesn’t walk away from this next potential WWE run without some sort of gold.

With all of this being said, how does this affect AEW? AEW is in a great spot right now and they can manage without Cody and Brandi Rhodes, but it will definitely feel weird without them. They have been a vital part of the brand for 3 years and their exit will take some getting used to. I think this will initially be viewed as a huge loss for AEW, I personally think that this could be great for AEW. I seriously don’t think there is any ill will between the Rhodes family and AEW. I think this departure was strictly a business decision where they felt like they were worth more than they were offered in AEW. I don’t think there were any hard feelings because as early as this week, both of the Rhodes’ were posting things on their social media promoting AEW. If there was any ill will, they wouldn’t even bother with that.

How would this be great for AEW exactly? Well, considering how there likely isn’t hard feelings between the two, Cody will likely speak about AEW in some capacity. I can’t imagine him trashing them. If AEW is mentioned on WWE television, it could be great exposure for them. Let’s face it, WWE reaches a much broader audience and while AEW has been growing as a brand, they’re still nowhere close to WWE as a business. No one expects them to be this early in the game, but if they’re getting mentioned on WWE TV, it could help grow their brand. Also, this would be a long shot, but it could open the doors for a possible AEW/WWE working relationship. It’s definitely a long shot, but I think it’s worth noting.

This departure is puzzling due also to the fact that The Rhodes family is tied into a reality show on the Turner networks and Cody is a judge on the Go Big Show. Could all of this be a work? It’s possible, but I don’t think it is. The fact that Cody said he wouldn’t turn heel in his last AEW promo and considering how open he has been with all of this tells me that it isn’t a work. Why would he go back to the company that he couldn’t trust, but more importantly couldn’t trust him? It’s pretty simple. Money and unfinished business. Now that he is “proven”, there is no reason for him not to have success in the WWE. If somehow, when it is all said and done, he didn’t achieve what he wanted, he can blame WWE for dropping the ball, because there is no longer a reason to believe that he can’t be successful in the WWE.

Yacs

Cody Rhodes is No Longer in AEW, Now What?