Cody and Brandi Rhodes leaving AEW

[Evil Vito]

Cody and Brandi are officially gone.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thank you Cody and Brandi Rhodes <a href="https://t.co/tkDvVpnrrE">pic.twitter.com/tkDvVpnrrE</a></p>&mdash; All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) <a href="https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1493602087481061377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Jordan]

What in the actual fuck? I mean WHAT!? Am I being worked? Why is this happening? I truly am a bit dumbfounded. Cody.... fucking... made AEW why, is he leaving it? I just don't ... WHAT!?

[Evil Vito]

Sean Ross Sapp already reporting that the "expectation" within the business is he's going to WWE.

SRS basically doesn't ever miss so yeah, this shit seems real.

[Jordan]

OH my GOD! This is really shocking to me. I mean, I know Cody has gone through some bad times recently creatively but his early AEW work was one of my favorite characters ever. The program with Jericho was so goddamn good and he was one of the best babyfaces ever for that time. But wow... I mean headed back to WWE I NEVER thought this would happen. I am SHOCKED.

[Jordan]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I can confirm that Cody's camp has been in contact with WWE officials.</p>&mdash; Andrew Zarian (@AndrewZarian) <a href="https://twitter.com/AndrewZarian/status/1493604897513783307?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Jordan]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Make Cody into the invader from the south, have him attack Roman at Chamber and do Cody x Roman in the main event of Mania. That’s what I’d do.</p>&mdash; Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) <a href="https://twitter.com/arielhelwani/status/1493605099834417152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Jordan]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/iyKVg1nVpm">pic.twitter.com/iyKVg1nVpm</a></p>&mdash; AEW COMMUNITY OUTREACH (@CodyRhodes) <a href="https://twitter.com/CodyRhodes/status/1493601980215930880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Evil Vito]

This all kinda plays with Cody saying not that long ago he had only a couple years left in the business, if that.

He's probably still bitter of how things ended in WWE and wanted to take a shot at redemption before he calls it a career.

[Jordan]

If he has some kind of deal with WWE where he's gonna be a "main guy" then I guess I get it. But really... I don't get it. I don't get it all.

[Jordan]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Looking forward to Cody cutting a shoot promo in WWE on the opposition like <a href="https://twitter.com/RealJeffJarrett?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RealJeffJarrett</a> did nearly a quarter of a century ago... <a href="https://t.co/uuxfnmyBTI">pic.twitter.com/uuxfnmyBTI</a></p>&mdash; On This Day in WWE (@OTD_in_WWE) <a href="https://twitter.com/OTD_in_WWE/status/1493607630283153411?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Evil Vito]

Feel like I'd just retire and spend my days climbing on top of Brandi tbh

[Triple A]

Wow...

Damn, really liked Cody... Even though I thought some of his promos were sometimes annoying, was always one of the most interesting guys and had some of the best matches in the company and really liked pretty much all of his programs except for the Ogogo one

[Destor]

its a shame. good talent. on the plus side this gives me hope theyll can the bucks at some point.

[Sepholio]

Damn WWE done poached the EVP/founder of AEW. After all the shit WWE did to him/put him through. That doesn't bode well.

[Bad News Gertner]

One by one they'll come crawling back


R.I.P

[Jordan]

Finally Go Big Show can replace Cody with Paul Wight.

[slik]

Steve Austin coming back for a WrestleMania match and Cody/Brandi gone from AEW.

A wild 24 hours in wrestling news! Wish Cody the best and have a feeling we'll see him at WM.

[slik]

This means Dan Lambert won his feud with Brandi Rhodes lol

[slik]

My guess is Cody would get Dusty's intellectual property back in a WWE deal.

[Evil Vito]

Paige VanZant is automatically the biggest babyface on the women’s roster if she comes out this Wednesday and brags about running Brandi out of AEW.

[Sepholio]

I have this strange feeling that we get Seth vs Cody at WM if he is going back to the exfed. Basically gonna stick Cody in Shanes spot.

[Jordan]

I have this strange feeling that we get Seth vs Cody at WM if he is going back to the exfed. Basically gonna stick Cody in Shanes spot.

Ah... smart.

[Evil Vito]

You know a really ex-WWE guy that WWE could bring back and really leave AEW fans in shambles?

Jake Hager. Come on Vince! Do it for Real America!

[Damian Rey 2.0]

If he has some kind of deal with WWE where he's gonna be a "main guy" then I guess I get it. But really... I don't get it. I don't get it all.

This. He was grossly misused and cast aside when he was there. And even if he’s supposed to be the main guy, how much faith can you put in WWE to actually do that competently and effectively with him getting lost in the shuffle.

I hope it’s for a boat load of cash though. Best of luck to him. I enjoyed most of his run in AEW and thought there was more there. But he did his part putting both Darby and Sammy over for titles.

[erickman]

an josh alexander leaves impact the same time let them trade places for awhile.

[GD]

This is very interesting. I’m curious to see if he actually goes back to WWE.

[Evil Vito]

It's wild that Cody Rhodes might show up on Raw before Veer.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Ahahaha!

[Mr. Nerfect]

Not surprising when you really look at how things have gone. Cody was made to look like a goof from the start. Remember when he smugly said that he doubts we’ll see bad officiating in AEW again after the first Dynamite? The guy did want to deliver something more substantial. That’s gone off the rails, but the dream can still be there.

Tony Khan has also brought in a bunch of talent that Cody is never going to be more important than — CM Punk and Bryan Danielson chiefly. They’re probably getting paid more than Cody, but are they actually bigger deals in how they’ve been used? It isn’t insane for Cody to want that sort of money himself. But then TK has to think about what he is going to offer The Bucks and Omega.

I had a strong feeling he was going to leave. Honestly, him re-signing with the WWE would surprise me a little. I would have thought he’d play free agent for a bit. Starting up your own promotion is easier said than done, but I could see the desire being there for Cody. A Cody Rhodes/Jeff Jarrett/Eric Bischoff venture would make sense, conceptually, if not logistically.

I could definitely see Cody making an appearance in NXT to present the winners of the Dusty Classic with trophies or whatever. Popping Dustin into the Hall of Fame. That sort of thing. Him going full-time would surprise me more than him leaving AEW. It makes sense he’s talking to them though.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I do wonder what this means for Dustin Rhodes and “Cody guys” in AEW.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

So good BAHAHAHA

[Bad News Gertner]

So how long before Tony Khan throws a Twitter tantrum over something Cody and Brandi said

[Mr. Nerfect]

So how long before Tony Khan throws a Twitter tantrum over something Cody and Brandi said

First interview Cody does. I would have had said second, because the first is probably going to be “AEW is great, I have nothing bad to say, everyone is awesome…” but I’m going bold because it’s Tony Khan — he’ll find something.

[Bad News Gertner]

Lol you KNOW it's gonna happen

[Evil Vito]

I suspect Jericho will be back to WWE in early 2023 when his deal is up, though I think it'd be more of a Legends deal with a Rumble appearance/maybe a Mania program do-over with KO before calling it a career and go to the HOF shortly after.

[Mr. Nerfect]

The next departure that really wouldn’t surprise me is Jon Moxley.

[Mr. Nerfect]

And as I’ve said: If TK has really bungled the New Japan deal, keeping Bryan Danielson may be trickier than originally thought. I would not be shocked if he is gone before his 3 year deal is up, because TK isn’t going to have the balls to act like Vince and hold people if they want out.

[Mr. Nerfect]

This shit is way more interesting than the actual product.

[drave]

https://twitter.com/CodyRhodes/status/1493601980215930880?s=20&t=faGitAYtrdY8jnT3EX2GeQ

[Evil Vito]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">No I am not leaving. I like it here in <a href="https://twitter.com/AEW?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AEW</a></p>&mdash; Dustin Rhodes (@dustinrhodes) <a href="https://twitter.com/dustinrhodes/status/1493605295733592075?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Mr. Nerfect]

I don’t expect all this to happen, but it would be absolutely hilarious if by the end of 2022 if:

* Cody has left because of creative differences and a disagreement as to what his status should be.

* Mox leaves because he wants to do whatever the fuck he wants, hang out with W. Morrisey in Impact and work New Japan.

* Bryan Danielson has left because Anthem has forced the door shut on any major AEW/New Japan involvement.

* CM Punk has faded out because this shit hurts too much and he’s fired his best creative shots for no ratings or PPV gain.

* Chris Jericho has left for his health and to save his legacy.

* Omega leaves because he’s a prima-donna who is hurt Will Ospreay is Meltzer’s new favorite, and if he can’t be the best, why bother?

[Mr. Nerfect]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">No I am not leaving. I like it here in <a href="https://twitter.com/AEW?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AEW</a></p>&mdash; Dustin Rhodes (@dustinrhodes) <a href="https://twitter.com/dustinrhodes/status/1493605295733592075?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

He says that.

[Triple A]

And as I’ve said: If TK has really bungled the New Japan deal, keeping Bryan Danielson may be trickier than originally thought. I would not be shocked if he is gone before his 3 year deal is up, because TK isn’t going to have the balls to act like Vince and hold people if they want out.

Why do you keep saying that AEW has "bungled the New Japan deal"... they have on NJPW guys constantly. Just had Jay White on last week...

[Evil Vito]

Why do you keep saying that AEW has "bungled the New Japan deal"... they have on NJPW guys constantly. Just had Jay White on last week...

Obviously it is AEW's fault that they can't send talent over to work in Japan due to the country still having their borders largely closed off to foreigners.

[Evil Vito]

"AEW is responsible for COVID." - Noid, probably

[GD]

I don’t expect all this to happen, but it would be absolutely hilarious if by the end of 2022 if:

* Cody has left because of creative differences and a disagreement as to what his status should be.

* Mox leaves because he wants to do whatever the fuck he wants, hang out with W. Morrisey in Impact and work New Japan.

* Bryan Danielson has left because Anthem has forced the door shut on any major AEW/New Japan involvement.

* CM Punk has faded out because this shit hurts too much and he’s fired his best creative shots for no ratings or PPV gain.

* Chris Jericho has left for his health and to save his legacy.

* Omega leaves because he’s a prima-donna who is hurt Will Ospreay is Meltzer’s new favorite, and if he can’t be the best, why bother?

Ramblings of a mad man.

[GD]

Why do you keep saying that AEW has "bungled the New Japan deal"... they have on NJPW guys constantly. Just had Jay White on last week...

He's just salty that AEW didn't pan out exactly the way he wanted. It doesn't align with his outdated vision of professional wrestling so it is trash.

[GD]

It'd be interesting if Cody debuts on WWE television and immediately goes for a Pedigree.

[weather vane]

Wow. Shocking. I love it. This kind of stuff makes this so interesting.

[erickman]

i am still thinking work for his tv shows.

[xrodmuc316]

How do they let him leave when they have a partnership with Go Big Show, when his show has been renewed for another season, and is streaming on HBO Max? Literally the one guy in their whole dumb company making them any outside money...

This has to be a work, Tony Khan cannot be that stupid.

[Jordan]

How do they let him leave when they have a partnership with Go Big Show, when his show has been renewed for another season, and is streaming on HBO Max? Literally the one guy in their whole dumb company making them any outside money...

This has to be a work, Tony Khan cannot be that stupid.

I think you are over playing the importance of Rhodes to the Top and The Go Big Show. Rhodes to the Top while very important to AEW fans like you, is not something that anyone has any interest in. And The Go Big Show can exist with any number of celebrity hosts not to mention an easy AEW replacement could be Paul Wight.

Also I was listening to Sean Ross Sapp and he said that he's only read one report that mentions Rhodes to the Top was getting a season 2, that it wasn't officially announced by Turner Media and probably isn't happening.

Also these streaming networks are trying to compile content good or bad, so much terrible content uploaded to Paramount, Peacock and HBO Max. Rhodes to the Top is not going to make anyone any money it's just junk in the trunk.

Cody Rhodes was never the main guy in AEW and didn't have what it takes to cut it after he was "gifted" a main event program with Jericho that he had "no right to be in" because he's just a mid-card panty-waste with a lisp and shit neck tattoo and a wife that is the dead worst in the world at being a pro wrestling character.

Cody turned his back on those that made him and has taken anything good his Daddy ever taught him and stamped it on the ground. Cody and Brandi are traitors and if they so much as dare cross the line into the WWE locker room I hope they get buried worse than Mike and Maria Kanellis.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Why do you keep saying that AEW has "bungled the New Japan deal"... they have on NJPW guys constantly. Just had Jay White on last week...

I said IF they’ve bungled the New Japan deal.

Anthem owns AXS, which is the channel that now airs New Japan. Again. AXS also owns Impact Wrestling, who is a competitor of AEW. Jay White appearing on Dynamite, probably for a large sum of money, doesn’t really stir me. We haven’t seen anyone of any real note in AEW yet. People keep blaming Covid, but isolation 10 days either way doesn’t make it impossible. We’re 2 years into borders being closed now and the world’s economies doing their best to factor in this new world. AEW has gotten, who? Minoru Suzuki and KENTA? Is Suzuki even signed to an exclusive New Japan deal?

We’ll see what happens. I’m just not going to be shocked if you never see Tanahashi, Okada or Ibushi in AEW, or if New Japan starts using gaijin from places other than AEW, because it makes logical sense to help out other promotions as opposed to the one that popped up and made it harder for anyone else to have gain or retain any traction.

[Mr. Nerfect]

How do they let him leave when they have a partnership with Go Big Show, when his show has been renewed for another season, and is streaming on HBO Max? Literally the one guy in their whole dumb company making them any outside money...

This has to be a work, Tony Khan cannot be that stupid.

I’m willing to bet Cody feels his other properties are pretty secure, and he doesn’t need AEW to make them work or keep the spot. Going to WWE is probably bigger promotion for both of them than working in AEW anyway. Leaving AEW in general is a good story for his show.

TK no doubt wanted to keep Cody, but I think money and ego (justifiable or not) has come into the equation and TK just can’t go there.

[slik]

That Cody vs Sammy ladder match was a great send-off for Cody and he left AEW by making Sammy look stellar.

[xrodmuc316]

I think you are over playing the importance of Rhodes to the Top and The Go Big Show. Rhodes to the Top while very important to AEW fans like you,


LOL this might be the first time ive ever been hit with the "you just think everything AEW does is good because you like AEW". :rofl::rofl::rofl:

No, I am saying that Tony Khan trying to low ball offer the ONE guy that that brings more to the table than tshirt sales just further shows what an idiot he is.

[Danny Electric]

It'd be interesting if Cody debuts on WWE television and immediately goes for a Pedigree.


Vince - “Cody so glad to have you back on a two year deal, creative has come up with a new plan for you. We are going to see the return of Stardust at Wrestlemania or maybe SummerSlam. Just need you to film 3 months worth of vignettes and then have you debut on NXT 2.0”

[Mr. Nerfect]

The crows are going to come back home to roost.

TK is paying talent so much money that even if they’re happy, they’re likely to just band together and cut him out in the future anyway. It also comes with guys looking at other people’s paychecks and trying to work out who is really worth that. This is what happens when you pay to play.

[Mr. Nerfect]

If Cody works WrestleMania, I don’t know how the program isn’t him vs. The Miz.

[slik]

Cody vs Seth Rollins would be a fun WM program

[Mr. Nerfect]

Cody vs Seth Rollins would be a fun WM program

In-ring, sure. I can think of better uses for Seth though. I can’t see WWE passing up on the reality TV star program and getting the wives involved.

[Evil Vito]

I'm not even kidding when I say the outcome I'd actually want from this is Cody somehow getting an ownership stake in a mid-sized promotion like the NWA or ROH and just make that his place to keep doing Cody things and occasionally turn up in other promotions when there's a good reason for it.

As insufferable as I have found Cody at times, the thought of going back to WWE to end up being a Dolph Ziggler type after this initial return push feels a little depressing to me.

[Splaya]

It is an interesting day to say the least. Pretty shocked that Cody left, but like others have said, Tony Khan is content with bringing in people like Bryan Danielson and Punk rather than taking care of some of the people who have been there since the beginning.

I always just believed that Cody always claiming he would never challenge for the world title would actually happen one day and that would be the way that he would fully turn heel when he storyline just said "Fuck you guys, I am EVP, I'm getting a title shot right now". Now there will never be a payoff for that.

[Sting Fan]

Didn’t see that one coming tbh. I have enjoyed Cody’s work so it’s a shame I won’t see it anymore. I hope he’s going to something decent in WWE not a mod card reign, he’s past that now.

On an increasingly stacked roster with the “I won’t be world champion” gimmick I did wonder where he fit in longterm more and more. I don’t think anyone expected to look up this soon after inception and have the level of main eventers and attractions they have at AEW.

Hoping for good things for Cody… hoping he’s the guy to unseat Roman frankly.

[Splaya]

Cody probably had the best of intentions in terms of helping to build a company but with AEW getting all of the free agents from WWE, maybe he just doesn't want to be a part of that anymore. Everything in AEW is built around the Young Bucks/Omega/The Elite. It's almost like a modern day storyline similar to the NWO and how they controlled shit (except it doesn't have Hogan/Nash/Hall/Bischoff to run it into the ground)

[Evil Vito]

As much as reality TV is hammed up for drama, that period between August and September really might've had an impact on him.

He lost to Malakai on August 4th and got written off. Punk returned a few days later making it the biggest story in wrestling. Bryan and Cole were in a month later. Doubtless, Cody knew Punk and Bryan were coming in and probably knew Cole would be too once he wrapped up his NXT angles, but I don't think he anticipated getting the shit booed out of him by the largest audience in AEW history when he returned.

AEW always would've had a spot for Cody, but the crowd was likely to keep rejecting him. Kinda sad to think that last fall Cody was possibly wrestling with very real thoughts that the company he helped found didn't really need him anymore.

[Evil Vito]

Could see Cody just being happy to wrassle again and not be a "suit" or whatever. Give it a couple years in WWE and call it a day.

[Triple A]

Fightful says he wanted a "big money deal" and AEW apparently wasn't willing/able to give it. I can imagine WWE is offering him a lot because signing away one of AEW's top stars and an "EVP" is very valuable...

[Bad News Gertner]

Wow, AEW experiencing money troubles? Shad Khan wouldn't give Tony a raise for his allowance.

[Bad News Gertner]

"But, but ,but, daddy! "

[Evil Vito]

Tony comes from extreme wealth, but AEW the company still has a budget, and while they can pull from the Khan family fortune in an emergency, they set up AEW to be a self-sufficient company.

WWE has vastly more money to throw at Cody without any worry about it impacting their bottom line. If WWE puts out a contract that would require Tony to borrow more money from his dad, AEW is unlikely to match that. At least at this point anyways. Pre- Punk and Bryan maybe they would have but those two are inarguably bigger stars than Cody and I doubt Cole, Lee, or anyone else they've added since are on anything close to that kind of wage.

If Cody wanted a mega-deal, WWE are the only choice. If he's content to go back there to take a paycheck from them, more power to him. Get your money and have sex on a pile of money with the missus.

[slik]

I expect Jericho and Moxley to return to WWE too in the future and AEW will be just fine.

[xrodmuc316]

Why does everybody just assume Cody would be a midcarder in WWE. He basically did what McIntyre did before coming back to WWE but on an even larger level. I would legit bring him in and build towards him vs the WWE Champ at Mania, whether that be Lashley or Rollins. Either of those matches would be money.

[slik]

I agree with you xrod

[XL]

If Cody works WrestleMania, I don’t know how the program isn’t him vs. The Miz.

You don’t know how? Try doing + Mayrse and + Brandi. Very WWE thing to do. I wouldn’t be oppose to it either.

[Bad News Gertner]

That was the first match I thought of as well. Or Edge and Beth

[Evil Vito]

Maryse and Brandi on the screen at the same time would make me very happy in the pantular region.

[Bad News Gertner]

Where's Bobo when you need him

[xrodmuc316]

Tony comes from extreme wealth, but AEW the company still has a budget, and while they can pull from the Khan family fortune in an emergency, they set up AEW to be a self-sufficient company.

WWE has vastly more money to throw at Cody without any worry about it impacting their bottom line. If WWE puts out a contract that would require Tony to borrow more money from his dad, AEW is unlikely to match that. At least at this point anyways. Pre- Punk and Bryan maybe they would have but those two are inarguably bigger stars than Cody and I doubt Cole, Lee, or anyone else they've added since are on anything close to that kind of wage.

If Cody wanted a mega-deal, WWE are the only choice. If he's content to go back there to take a paycheck from them, more power to him. Get your money and have sex on a pile of money with the missus.

That argument doesn't work when Tony Khan brags about how "he" has more money than WWE:

“We can take the commercials out of it. If you want to take the commercials out of it, I can do that too. It doesn’t seem very civil, but I have more money than they do, so I can afford to do that longer than they can."

https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2021/10/tony-khan-on-smackdown-airing-commercial-free-i-can-do-that-too-we-have-more-money/

He is such a mark he actually believes his own bullshit. This turd has no money himself, he is basically 10 years old saying "my dad can beat your dad".

[Mr. Nerfect]

Tony comes from extreme wealth, but AEW the company still has a budget, and while they can pull from the Khan family fortune in an emergency, they set up AEW to be a self-sufficient company.

WWE has vastly more money to throw at Cody without any worry about it impacting their bottom line. If WWE puts out a contract that would require Tony to borrow more money from his dad, AEW is unlikely to match that. At least at this point anyways. Pre- Punk and Bryan maybe they would have but those two are inarguably bigger stars than Cody and I doubt Cole, Lee, or anyone else they've added since are on anything close to that kind of wage.

If Cody wanted a mega-deal, WWE are the only choice. If he's content to go back there to take a paycheck from them, more power to him. Get your money and have sex on a pile of money with the missus.

I hope you’re not one of those people who cries every time WWE releases people for budgetary reasons.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Fightful says he wanted a "big money deal" and AEW apparently wasn't willing/able to give it. I can imagine WWE is offering him a lot because signing away one of AEW's top stars and an "EVP" is very valuable...

I don’t see WWE offering him much more than they would any other upper mid-carder. They don’t want to blow their whole scheme out of whack. Tony didn’t want to do that either, but that’s the downside to offering Punk and Danielson huge deals and not having proper metrics to justify it. At this point, why SHOULDN’T Cody get as much as Punk? And once you do that, you’ve got to do the same for Omega and The Bucks.

This is why Vince McMahon canceled Bret Hart’s giant WWF contract in 1997. It wasn’t because he couldn’t pay Bret. It was because he couldn’t afford to pay Bret…and Shawn…and Taker…and Austin.

But Cody could have kept working there if he wanted, on a non-exclusive deal or something. He’s leaving because he wants to leave. That’s probably more ego and vision than anything. Money compounds it.

[GD]

I love all the dumb speculation that's going on in this thread. You love to see it.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I'm not even kidding when I say the outcome I'd actually want from this is Cody somehow getting an ownership stake in a mid-sized promotion like the NWA or ROH and just make that his place to keep doing Cody things and occasionally turn up in other promotions when there's a good reason for it.

As insufferable as I have found Cody at times, the thought of going back to WWE to end up being a Dolph Ziggler type after this initial return push feels a little depressing to me.

This is what I think is likely. Maybe some NXT appearances for the Dusty Classic and to do some documentary stuff about his dad, but mainly remaining a free agent and trying to boost his profile by helping out the smaller promotions.

It wouldn’t surprise me to see him as NWA Champ and/or ROH Champ within the next couple of months at all.

And I would not be surprised to see him go into business with Jeff Jarrett, Eric Bischoff and all those people rumored to start up a new promotion because the space is there. DDP’s name will probably be floating around somewhere, since he is close to Cody and Eric and seemed to have knowledge of this happening before it broke anywhere else.

[GD]

Can't wait for Mr. Nerfect to be thoroughly disappointed by the new major promotion.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Can definitely see Cody working Mania as a one-off though. Gives him fodder for his reality show. It would be a decent pay-day, leave the door open for more, and the WWE gets to put The Miz over one of the AEW EVPs at Mania.

[Destor]

Why does everybody just assume Cody would be a midcarder in WWE. He basically did what McIntyre did before coming back to WWE but on an even larger level. I would legit bring him in and build towards him vs the WWE Champ at Mania, whether that be Lashley or Rollins. Either of those matches would be money.
McIntyre came back looking like a million bucks

[Impeccable]

You know for a fact he debuts next week as Gunther McGillibuddy

[Evil Vito]

BRB starting a "Cody and Shane McMahon buy ROH" game in EWR.

[erickman]

If Cody works WrestleMania, I don’t know how the program isn’t him vs. The Miz.

him and trips, if this is not a work an cody goes to wwe they need to give him a heel hogan push.

[ClockShot]

Before I clicked to open the thread, I thought to myself "Okay. Probably stepping away for a while to spend time as a family."

Then I open the thread and start skimming and see that he's likely WWE bound. "Oh. That's quite the plot twist"

Anyway. If it's money he wants or going back to mend fences or do something totally different like he ends up doing behind the scenes work, more power to him. I mean, his contract should contain language that he has creative control or he's going in as upper card/top guy status. I mean you never know when Vince will wake up and say "Stardust! THAT'S GOOD SHIT!" You can figure out the rest.

I assume the Nightmare Family is kaput. Vito posted earlier that Dustin is content with what he's doing. So, they'll probably cook up something new for him. Stupid Coach Arn can stick with his son. And that other guy, Lee..........something. Whatever with him.


I hope he knows what he's doing.

[XL]

McIntyre came back looking like a million bucks

Not entirely sure what you’re saying here :lol:

He looked like a million bucks as in he looked good? Agreed.
He was booked to look like a billion bucks? Disagreed.

[XL]

WWE have a very strong hand here. They can play the optics both ways.

It looks great for them to steal away an AEW Original, one of the EVPs no less, especially when so far it’s all been motion in the other direction. Or they go “Nah, we don’t want AEW castoffs even if it is an EVP”.

They can sign him, pay him whatever, get the novelty, and release him due to “budget cuts” in 3 months.

[Destor]

i mean his aesthetic improved 50 fold

[weather vane]

This is only good for wrestling.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

It’ll be interesting if Vince does his old strategy of making the other guy’s main eventer a jobber to the stars.

Then again, Cody was a mid carder in AEW.

[Destor]

cody went from jobber in the A promotion to midcard in the B promotion. honestly i wouldnt hire him. anyone he goes over looks bad and he doesnt have a demo following him around. youd get a 1 night 1 segement bump and then everything after is lost money. he's not a draw. he offers very little. i think his work is outstanding on a personal level but he doesnt connect on a mass level. this is just reality.

[weather vane]

Disagree.

[xrodmuc316]

youd get a 1 night 1 segement bump and then everything after is lost money. he's not a draw. he offers very little. i think his work is outstanding on a personal level but he doesnt connect on a mass level. this is just reality.

You just described AEW's entire business model lol

[Jordan]

I can't believe that Cody did this to us. He's left us, why aren't we good enough for him anymore?

[Jordan]

I never turned my back on you Cody. I was always there cheering your name. Why did you turn your back on me? You were my hero Cody! Cody I just have one question, the only thing that can come to mind... Why Cody, Why?

[rez]

CONGRATULATIONS, NOIDE!!!!


What is your obsession with JJ and Bischoff running a new organization? Bischoff should just stick to podcasts and occasionally make appearances for AEW & WWE.

JJ...welll..

https://bleedingcool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/GlobalForceWrestling-1200x900.jpg

It would be funny if it was all a swerve and Cody "signs" a temp contract with NJPW, Impact, or NWA so he can technically challenge for the AEW championship.

[Sepholio]

Gonna laugh when Cody vs MJF main events night 1 of rasslemania in 2 years

[Jordan]

Gonna laugh when Cody vs MJF main events night 1 of rasslemania in 2 years

I feel like of any star MJF would be the one to hurt the most. This is the one to keep an eye on down the line.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Honestly, they don't have to put Brandi on TV anymore so it's probably a win in the long run.

They should put Arn with Brian Danielson. Seems a better fit.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

I don’t know why anyone isn’t talking about the obvious play here. Cody wanted to run NXT like his daddy. Vince wanted HHH out of the company but couldn’t do it himself due to family reasons. Cody tells Vince he can run his own promotion better than Hunter ever could run NXT. Vince says prove it and NXT is yours. Cody proves it. Hunter fails. Vince has an excuse to make a move.

Cody will be in charge of NXT in 6 months.

[xrodmuc316]

I don’t know why anyone isn’t talking about the obvious play here. Cody wanted to run NXT like his daddy. Vince wanted HHH out of the company but couldn’t do it himself due to family reasons. Cody tells Vince he can run his own promotion better than Hunter ever could run NXT. Vince says prove it and NXT is yours. Cody proves it. Hunter fails. Vince has an excuse to make a move.

Cody will be in charge of NXT in 6 months.

They could put 40 year old Vince McMahon in charge of NXT, but as long as 76 year old Vince McMahon is in charge of their booking once they get to the main roster, it would still fail to create any new stars.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Only if you believe Vince hasn’t be sabotaging Hunter this whole time

[xrodmuc316]

Only if you believe Vince hasn’t be sabotaging Hunter this whole time

I dont, not intentionally at least. Vince likes money too much, and I just can't see him screwing up so many callups and losing potential money on purpose.

That is not defending Vince, I just think he is too greedy to make that kind of financial sacrifice out of spite lol

[rez]

They could put 40 year old Vince McMahon in charge of NXT, but as long as 76 year old Vince McMahon is in charge of their booking once they get to the main roster, it would still fail to create any new stars.

NXT is a feeder league for AEW these days.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

And yet when Dusty was in charge we got the Shield and the New Day. HMMMMMMM

[Maluco]

This is a good thing for AEW. I posted about Cody and Bucks still being presented in strong positions on TV as being detrimental to the product ages ago. . They aren’t good enough to be EVPs and have key positions in the company now guys like Punk and Danielson are around. He was getting booed because fans were sick of the focus on him. There are wrestlers far more deserving of the TV time. The Codester is midcard for life and wanted a main event deal.

If TK knows what he is doing, he lets the Bucks deal run down too. They are useless and have an awful look and can’t tell a story in the ring. They should be next to go. They don’t make any other team in the division look good by competing at the same level as them.

[Lock Jaw]

Super "bad sign" for AEW that the "guy who started it all" is jumping ship......

No way he comes into WWE as a face, though.... there will be enough people chanting AEW and probably "you sold out" at him... they will have to embrace it and roll with it... either way this is "legit interesting" and might get me to check out WWE for a show or two to see what they do with him....

[#1-norm-fan]

Cody about to be wearing polka dots like a mother fucker.

[xrodmuc316]

And yet when Dusty was in charge we got the Shield and the New Day. HMMMMMMM

That is not true, Kofi was already on the main roster for years, and I believe Big E was gone from NXT by the time Woods got there.

As for The Shield, they were never paired together beforehand. That is not a callup of an NXT act like when the Wyatt Family was called up. In fact the only appearances Dean Ambrose ever made in NXT were after The Shield had already debuted.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

I’m sure Meltzer told you to believe that.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

I prefer to Believe in the Shield

[Sepholio]

I prefer to just plain Bolieve.

[weather vane]

I just Always Believe.

[Jordan]

Thank you to those of you guys who've reached out to me about this. I am doing okay for the time being. I wouldn't say anything is normal, I'm not certain I'll know what normal is for a long time if ever again. Betrayal leave a wound that takes time to heal and the scars are everlasting. Hopefully with time I will grow stronger and heal from Cody's wounds. Thank for reaching out you guys, thnks.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Thank you to those of you guys who've reached out to me about this. I am doing okay for the time being. I wouldn't say anything is normal, I'm not certain I'll know what normal is for a long time if ever again. Betrayal leave a wound that takes time to heal and the scars are everlasting. Hopefully with time I will grow stronger and heal from Cody's wounds. Thank for reaching out you guys, thnks.

I felt the same way when Bret Hart joined the nWo. Same for Konnan.

[Vastardikai]

I'm going to say my primary stance on this hasn't changed since a month ago: I'll believe it when I see it.

But, if Cody really is gone. If Cody has decided to leave AEW, that does a lot of damage to the promotion in ways that don't involve wrestling. As in, I see Twitter meltdowns becoming more and more common. As in, I see maybe 3 people on the regular roster who can credibly fill the role of company cheerleader and spokesman: Paul Wight, Bryan Danielson, and Mark Henry. Everyone else either can't do it or really shouldn't do it. Nobody has the gumption to go for that next level. Except maybe Konnan.

[Vastardikai]

i mean his aesthetic improved 50 fold

The first time I saw him blonde was the first time I thought he looked like a star.

[slik]

Hoping Jake Hager and Shawn Spears leave AEW next...

[slik]

Maybe Brandi Rhodes will join the RAW commentary team, thoughts??

[GD]

To be fair, Stardust's entrance theme was a banger

<iframe width="1069" height="527" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fo1KLGGgfao" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>


<MARQUEE>https://www.wwe.com/f/styles/gallery_img_s/public/2016/04/Stardust_stat--b5d64784c498faa3c44268f8cd77d188.png</MARQUEE>

[Destor]

it is amusing that the money mark cody and the bucks recruited is pushing them out

[Mr. Nerfect]

I’m still laughing about this.

[Corporate CockSnogger]

Ah this is a bit shit. Cody is/was comfortably one of AEW’s best guys. 100x better than Punk, and on the whole more interesting than Danielson. Up until the Ogogo feud everything he touched had been golden and that just seemed to de-rail him.

[Corporate CockSnogger]

I suppose one saving grace is it now makes Billy Gunn and the Assboys the dominant wrestling family in the company.

[Mr. Nerfect]

There’s an EVP spot open for Billy Gunn.

[Evil Vito]

It's been confirmed that Cody will still co-own and train at the Nightmare Factory. So if he goes to WWE you'll have the school co-run by WWE and AEW talent, possibly opening up even more network opportunities for those trainees.

There's also always a chance some of the Nightmare Factory grads currently on the AEW roster will look elsewhere once their deals are up. Preston Vance/10 is very tight with Cody. I really love the Dark Order, but being objective I really don't see a path for them becoming more than the lovable undercard babyface act they are now. So if a 10 or an Alan Angels decided to explore other options, it wouldn't be the biggest surprise to me.

[Impeccable]

As a company, how do you move on from this quickly?

When Austin walked out on the 'E in 2002, they sent Rock out to address it off the bat and literally said "get the 'f out". Given Cody has in the very recent past made comments in the ring about WWE being an inferior product, do you send a CM Punk or an MJF out with a live mic and address it, call Cody out on his hypocrisy and support the audience/help them to move on, or do you just not address it at all?

[Jordan]

This is from Wade Keller

Keller talked also talked about how Brandi Rhodes was viewed backstage.

He said, “So I’ll just say this. It sounds mean but nobody has anything nice to say about Brandi Rhodes and her disposition or popularity behind the scenes and I’m not saying that with any personal satisfaction or preference for her to be liked or not liked. I’m just telling you when I talk to people, Brandi has not been seen as an asset on camera, in the ring, or behind the scenes. And so that ended up being baggage with Cody because people like Cody, pretty universally like Cody. Even people who say bad things about Cody like Cody if that makes sense.

“But Cody wanted to be a superstar, and AEW signing big money contracts, especially with Bryan Danielson and CM Punk, changed the dynamic to a degree with Cody. And I’m not saying this wouldn’t have happened if that didn’t happen. But Cody knew and Tony knew that Cody became expendable. You know, he went from a clear essential top tier guy, top four talent in the company. And you know, Cody was fine obviously with Moxley being signed, and with Jericho being signed. Jericho was a huge boon to the AEW brand at the beginning. And Moxley was a great acquisition and disgruntled with WWE and not really a threat to Cody, because he was just so different than Cody, even if they’re not too far off in age. But Danielson and Punk and then Adam Cole to a lesser extent, changed things certainly more than Malakai Black or Miro or Christian changed things. And it did give Tony a sense of ‘I have enough top guys and then young guys on the rise’ that it took some leverage away from Cody, in terms of ‘you need me pay me’ and there’s only so much salary cap room that Tony has to spread around. And he had the good fortune to have Punk and Bryan Danielson and Adam Cole become available to him, but they were expensive. The top guys in WCW had the clause in their contract that if anyone got paid more than them, their contracts would go up to match it. And they knew politically that if you’re not the top paid person, you by definition lose leverage with the boss, with the network, with your co-workers, your peers. And Cody was no longer a top paid guy. And my understanding is he wanted to be and to a degree that just wasn’t seen by Tony as what he was worth to him in the current landscape. But it’s complicated and there’s not a single factor that plays into this because Cody might have been worth it if he weren’t getting booed and he wasn’t the subject of ridicule online and in buildings and frankly, behind the scenes in various ways.”

Keller continued, “Cody has always had some issues. There’s been wrestlers who have had issues with Cody even early on. But over time, Cody pulled himself more away. Like he got a really expensive bus and was driving that only to like the Florida shows, in part done for the reality show and stuff. I mean there’s more than two sides, really to everything. But it was perceived as ‘well he got this bus and it’s really expensive and its this giant gas guzzling unnecessary luxury is sending a different message than what the wrestler founded by wrestlers for the wrestlers were supposed to send.’ And it was like, ‘Oh boy, here he goes

Keller noted how Cody has talked about how much he looks up to Triple H. Cody said the following last year during an interview with Inside The Ropes:

"So I don’t know if I should share this, but, at some point, it’s going to come off my chest: Triple H is probably my favorite wrestler and was a role model. I only watched from a distance, but he reminded me a lot of my dad in the sense that I watched him do all the work, be this executive, and then go out there—and he was only part-time for the most part other than when I first started and had that run with him and Teddy and Shawn. He really was a model in terms of, “OK, you can do both, you can do both, but you have to be really disciplined. You have to take it really seriously.” And that doesn’t get you many friends when you’re the Hermione Granger of the company, and you just take it so seriously and are just a little bookworm.”

Keller continued, “So Cody wanted to be I think more involved with being seen as sort of an equal to Tony and it became clear over time this was Tony’s company, and you know, the EVPs had their titles and The Bucks and Kenny by all accounts are happy with their role as EVPs and they have some latitude. Kenny gets to work with the women and The Bucks get to kind of do their thing with their friends and get to show off their ring style. Tony is pretty hands off and open to their ideas about certain pockets in the company that they have. But I think Cody did desire to be something more substantial. Danielson and Punk changed that dynamic a bit and I think Cody knew from experience if you’re not the top paid guy, you’re not going to get pushed like the top paid guy, you’re not gonna have the leverage that comes with that. He was as much if not more than anyone the founder of this movement of AEW and Brandi put out public statements on Twitter about this and said nice things. I have not heard that there was a big blow up or that there’s a ton of hurt feelings with Cody and Tony. But, obviously, you know, it’s business.”

Keller noted how both parties said nice things to each other and that hopefully, those statements are genuinely how they feel about each other. Click here to read Cody Rhodes’ statement about AEW and Tony Khan. Click here to read Tony Khan’s statement

Keller added, “but the bottom line is Cody was not successful with this character and was stubborn or steadfast in wanting to be portrayed a certain way. And you can see it in that statement about the community outreach aspect of it. So when you’re trying to manage Brandi’s aspirations, and you’re also wanting to be paid a certain amount, and to match or exceed others, and at the same time the crowd is rejecting the character that you’re steadfast in wanting to continue portraying, it can become a problem. Then you have WWE that is willing to pay millions to acquire a co founder and EVP of your top competitor and make some waves with that going into WrestleMania season. I’m not surprised. People were really surprised. I heard some of the EVP’s were surprised about this, because it seemed like things had gotten better with everyone after there had been some tension. But if things got better, it might have been a loveless marriage in that sense. There wasn’t fighting but there wasn’t great chemistry and collaboration

"You know, everyone just kind of had their roles. Cody, if he wasn’t on his bus, he was in his locker room. He had his people, a small group who hung out with him, and he was open to hearing ideas and giving advice when people asked, but he wasn’t out there just making himself available and getting to know everybody and shaking hands and welcoming people into the company and getting to know their story. Cody was very focused on himself and the grandioseness of what he did. He recently bought a mansion — like a big house. And, you know, people are speculating about between that and the bus and all that, does he have the issue that his dad Dusty had, which is spending money that he’s expecting to earn before he has it or putting himself in a situation where there’s financial commitments and he just needs to get paid to match that. And I don’t know enough about the money he had [or] if he paid cash for the house, and he’s totally fine…so, you know, part of what Cody was going for is I think he just kind of assumed there would be a certain level of pay raise, and he was pretty forward on TV saying ‘quite frankly, I didn’t get offered what I thought I was worth or what I thought I deserved’, especially as a co-founder of the company and if that came with any extra perks, when there’s money to be spending on Danielson and Punk and Cole and now Keith Lee.”

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Regardless of how this all turns out, it's definitely kinda cool to see this particular salvo fired by the WWE. I'm definitely "Team AEW" in the sense that they need to do well for the sake of wrestling as a whole, but this is the type of shit that gets people talking.

Vince has turned into a creative hack and I don't expect much out of Cody's run (even if he gets some special treatment, WWE can't help but be petty and will look for any reason to bury him at some point.) But even the initial few appearances will be cool enough.

I get this is a small-scale rivalry, and they're competing for exceptionally niche audiences, but this shit's been missing from wrestling for years.

[Evil Vito]

That all kinda plays in to the way I've been feeling about Cody since that godawful Ogogo angle started. Maybe even earlier than that actually, he tried to do this triumphant hero return in the Revolution ladder match and then days later got involved in a weird feud with Penta that lasted two weeks.

Whether you liked Cody's stuff or disliked it, the one prevailing thought I kept having was that it felt like Cody existed in a completely different AEW from the rest of the roster. And that took me out of his work sometimes.

You could be watching a Dynamite that felt like a cohesive show for an hour and 40 minutes but there's just this one 20 minute Cody match or segment in there that felt like it was in its own bubble. Whoever he was feuding with would feel like they were part of the regular roster again when it was over.

Tough to really explain it but I know I'm not alone in that sentiment, AEW's reddit page referred to it as the "Codyverse"

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Honestly as much as Cornette and Brian Last have their "specific view," they've been spot on about Cody AND Brandi. If you listen to their reviews of his/her work and their speculation on him backstage from the beginning of AEW until now, it's reflects A LOT of Keller's report.

[erickman]

yeah i want to see what cornett has to say

[Maluco]

He will be fine in WWE at the start and get an initial push and a good Mania spot, but 6 months down the line, he is going to be old news and Vince will lose interest.

By SummerSlam, he will be having endless matches with Dolph Ziggler on SmackDown with no purpose or end in sight, and he won’t have the EVP status to say that he doesn’t t fancy it.

[GD]

Are people actually buying that Keller bit?

[xrodmuc316]

This just proves all the shit AEW has tried to present themselves as is fake. Its not a family, it is a business. Not signing Cody shows Tony Khan has no loyalty, AEW is not some safespace company where people dont have to worry about job security and their spots.

AEW is not a utopia for pro wrestlers, it is entirely to placate a vain manchild. Look at the fucking statement Khan released about Cody:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FLpVqqxXsBIARgu?format=jpg

He signed it "CEO, PRESIDENT, GENERAL MANAGER & HEAD OF CREATIVE"

What an egotistical asshole, fuck AEW.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Rod I feel like you’ve got too much skin in this game.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Not saying you’re wrong about Tony Khan but we could be just as inflammatory of a guy like Bischoff when he put the heat on Vince. Didn’t make it any less fun. AEW is “good for business.”

[rez]

This just proves all the shit AEW has tried to present themselves as is fake. Its not a family, it is a business. Not signing Cody shows Tony Khan has no loyalty, AEW is not some safespace company where people dont have to worry about job security and their spots.

AEW is not a utopia for pro wrestlers, it is entirely to placate a vain manchild. Look at the fucking statement Khan released about Cody:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FLpVqqxXsBIARgu?format=jpg

He signed it "CEO, PRESIDENT, GENERAL MANAGER & HEAD OF CREATIVE"

What an egotistical asshole, fuck AEW.

Still honors existing contracts...for now

[Jordan]

I get that there is one sore. I guess you can pick at, the fact that Tony wanted to keep people signed during the pandemic. So what he wanted to make the company look good by not firing people during the pandemic. The pandemic is essentially over for wrestling. You can go to Indy wrestling all over the country any night. So what obligation does Tony have to keep people around that aren't up to par? Cody is a great talent. I wish he was still there but is he CM punk or Brian Danielson? No he's not. He's different but he's just not on that level. So yeah people are going to get cut.

[Mr. Nerfect]

This just proves all the shit AEW has tried to present themselves as is fake. Its not a family, it is a business. Not signing Cody shows Tony Khan has no loyalty, AEW is not some safespace company where people dont have to worry about job security and their spots.

AEW is not a utopia for pro wrestlers, it is entirely to placate a vain manchild. Look at the fucking statement Khan released about Cody:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FLpVqqxXsBIARgu?format=jpg

He signed it "CEO, PRESIDENT, GENERAL MANAGER & HEAD OF CREATIVE"

What an egotistical asshole, fuck AEW.

Lol, that is douchy.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I’m still not convinced Cody signs with WWE long-term. WWE doesn’t want to encourage people to go out and make their own way. They want obedient cogs. If he shows up with a massive downside guarantee, what is the next mid-carder whose deal is coming up going to think is the best way forward for them?

I can see Cody making a few appearances and getting in tight with WWE. I can see him putting over The Miz at WrestleMania. But I won’t believe anything long-term is going to happen until I see it.

[Jordan]

Something worth mentioning. Brandi really think of herself as a wrestler and wants to have "moments", but she's terrible. So do you think that Tony not using Brandi in any meaningful way as a wrestler, and maybe even "laying down the line" when Brandi has raised issue with her lack of booking?

Perhaps Brandi's feelings about her lack of use by AEW as a talent are a big reason for Cody to leave AEW. Jus a thot.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Something worth mentioning. Brandi really think of herself as a wrestler and wants to have "moments", but she's terrible. So do you think that Tony not using Brandi in any meaningful way as a wrestler, and maybe even "laying down the line" when Brandi has raised issue with her lack of booking?

Perhaps Brandi's feelings about her lack of use by AEW as a talent are a big reason for Cody to leave AEW. Jus a thot.

I mean, it’s going to go into it. Money and ego are going to play a part with both.

[xrodmuc316]

Not saying you’re wrong about Tony Khan but we could be just as inflammatory of a guy like Bischoff when he put the heat on Vince. Didn’t make it any less fun. AEW is “good for business.”

True, and maybe when I was younger this stuff would not have bothered me as much, but Tony Khan feels like such a snake. He is obsessed with his wrestlers and company being portrayed as this Homage to what a genius he is, and anybody who doesnt go full on with that is out.

Everybody loves working for him and AEW, and the moment that is challeneged in anyways, he gets weirdly defensive and vindictive. He stopped putting Brian Cage on TV, he went out of his way to be very sexist to a reporter, the whole Big Swole meltdown, forced Leo Rush to basically publicly apologize for being upset, and then released Leo without EVER putting him back on TV, and now Cody.

Cody did not want to pretend that Tony Khan did this all on his own, wanted some recognition and a justified pay raise for all of his hard work, and Tony would rather let Cody walk then share any credit.

Like I said, pretending he could not afford to bring Cody back when he goes out of his way to say he has more money than WWE is a really bad look. It is even worse that the company he says he has more money than CAN afford Cody.

I really believe it has nothing to do with the amount of money Cody wanted, and everything to do with Cody not stroking the ego of this manchild.

Vince McMahon and Eric Bischoff are both vindictive ruthless bastards, but I cannot recall one time either of them creepily sat next to a wrestler rubbing their arms and touching them while said wrestler HAD to talk about how great and smart they are. That is a Tony Khan exclusive.

Look, I know I ramp it up a little for "hot takes" sake, but seriously watch him in this for a few minutes, he makes me uncomfortable.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZtgojWmLtEI?start=239" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Triple A]

One key factor that led to this exit was losing all responsibilities involving booking. That is a role where Khan, who is the head of creative, has taken full rein. Originally, Rhodes was part of that process. As great as Dusty Rhodes was as a performer, his contributions as a booker are an integral part of his legacy. For Rhodes, AEW represented another chance to pay homage to his father as a booker while also further cementing his own legacy. Losing that opportunity in AEW hurt Rhodes more than any loss he suffered in the ring.

https://www.si.com/wrestling/2022/02/16/aew-cody-rhodes-update-wwe-return

[Mr. Nerfect]

True, and maybe when I was younger this stuff would not have bothered me as much, but Tony Khan feels like such a snake. He is obsessed with his wrestlers and company being portrayed as this Homage to what a genius he is, and anybody who doesnt go full on with that is out.

Everybody loves working for him and AEW, and the moment that is challeneged in anyways, he gets weirdly defensive and vindictive. He stopped putting Brian Cage on TV, he went out of his way to be very sexist to a reporter, the whole Big Swole meltdown, forced Leo Rush to basically publicly apologize for being upset, and then released Leo without EVER putting him back on TV, and now Cody.

Cody did not want to pretend that Tony Khan did this all on his own, wanted some recognition and a justified pay raise for all of his hard work, and Tony would rather let Cody walk then share any credit.

Like I said, pretending he could not afford to bring Cody back when he goes out of his way to say he has more money than WWE is a really bad look. It is even worse that the company he says he has more money than CAN afford Cody.

I really believe it has nothing to do with the amount of money Cody wanted, and everything to do with Cody not stroking the ego of this manchild.

Vince McMahon and Eric Bischoff are both vindictive ruthless bastards, but I cannot recall one time either of them creepily sat next to a wrestler rubbing their arms and touching them while said wrestler HAD to talk about how great and smart they are. That is a Tony Khan exclusive.

Look, I know I ramp it up a little for "hot takes" sake, but seriously watch him in this for a few minutes, he makes me uncomfortable.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZtgojWmLtEI?start=239" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

People will say you’re being unfair, but people’s personalities go into their work. And you’re right — there’s no reason for him to be fashioning himself as someone who touches his female employees and stares at them for that long in public interviews. It actually is creepy, lol.

TK’s ego goes into this too. His immature outbursts and Twitter spats highlights that this is something he takes very personally. There’s enough evidence to call this, as well as his football gigs, vanity positions. Their bought by Daddy to make Tony feel important. And what he wants from the position is probably adulation. It doesn’t seem like making money is actually the priority. The booking and a large part of the talent roster demonstrates that. He wants to be loved. He wants the reviews, the reports, the write-ups and the wrestlers all toting what an amazing thing for wrestling he is. It’s a narcissistic fantasy of being influential in something you are a fan of.

It doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s out to harm people or that no good can come from him. But people will want to put their fingers in their ears when you point out stuff like this bizarre behavior that actually doesn’t fly in most sectors anymore.

[Mr. Nerfect]

https://www.si.com/wrestling/2022/02/16/aew-cody-rhodes-update-wwe-return

I know people can cut their nose off to spite their face. I know one door being shut doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t take a gig in a doorless factory, but Cody is not going to get creative freedom in the WWE. And I sincerely doubt he is getting more money.

Do I believe money and creative differences played a part in this role? Sure. But it’s more the principle of what they all mean. It’s a battle of visions.

[GD]

I think it is well established at this point that Tony Khan is an eccentric oddball. Who's arguing against it?

[Triple A]

Per multiple sources, Brandi Rhodes is not expected to join her husband in WWE. This is not to imply her wrestling career is over, as Rhodes just revealed to SI that she is determined to win championship gold in wrestling. Obviously, that won’t happen any time soon in AEW, but she could still wrestle elsewhere.

https://www.si.com/wrestling/2022/02/16/aew-cody-rhodes-update-wwe-return

hmm

[Mr. Nerfect]

Cody is not going to be able to dictate his face/heel status in WWE either. If he was so adamant against turning in AEW, it doesn’t make that much sense for that to be a factor in him joining WWE.

[Triple A]

I know people can cut their nose off to spite their face. I know one door being shut doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t take a gig in a doorless factory, but Cody is not going to get creative freedom in the WWE. And I sincerely doubt he is getting more money.

Do I believe money and creative differences played a part in this role? Sure. But it’s more the principle of what they all mean. It’s a battle of visions.

Seems like he felt that if he didn't really have the booking power he expected in AEW anyway, he might as well make a ton more money in WWE while also not having booking power

[Swiss Ultimate]

Seems like he felt that if he didn't really have the booking power he expected in AEW anyway, he might as well make a ton more money in WWE while also not having booking power

Booking power is meaningless at this

[Swiss Ultimate]

Point.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I don’t know where this idea Cody is going to be getting tons more money in the WWE comes from. AEW is the one offering guys their biggest contracts. Cody would have surely been making >$1 million in AEW. Brandi would have been making mint too.

If Cody didn’t want to turn in AEW, he probably wouldn’t have to. In WWE, he’s going to be at the whims of Vince McMahon. He’s giving up his charity-friendly spot, essentially.

I’m not saying he’s NOT going to do all these things. But there’s more to the story than “WWE pays well” or “Tony won’t let me book.” There’s some real bruising here.

[Triple A]

Why wouldn't they offer him tons of money? It's a huge thing for WWE to sign one of the original founders of their main competitor... Feel like they probably offered him at least 2x or 3x what AEW did. Weren't they throwing around like $1 million per match to some old timers for the Saudi shows

[xrodmuc316]

Its been 3 years, Shad is sick of his stupid kid wasting all this money. Suddenly AEW is "aware of their salary cap". What probably happened is Shad told him to turn a profit or grow up already :rofl:

[GD]

:rofl:

[xrodmuc316]

I don’t know where this idea Cody is going to be getting tons more money in the WWE comes from. AEW is the one offering guys their biggest contracts. Cody would have surely been making >$1 million in AEW. Brandi would have been making mint too.

If Cody didn’t want to turn in AEW, he probably wouldn’t have to. In WWE, he’s going to be at the whims of Vince McMahon. He’s giving up his charity-friendly spot, essentially.

I’m not saying he’s NOT going to do all these things. But there’s more to the story than “WWE pays well” or “Tony won’t let me book.” There’s some real bruising here.

Yeah Cody was sick of busting his ass and a creepy manchild taking all the credit, i'd be pissed too. Shame that with Brandi being gone, that is one less minority in management Tony Khan can point to and say "See I am not racist, I hired this black lady! Please praise me!!!!!!"

[XL]

Yeah I can’t see him making bank in WWE. He’s just lost his bargaining power; he can’t play one off against the other.

[XL]

There’s lots of talk about Cody and his dad’s legacy, which is understandable, but you can see why Tony would be annoyed by a reluctance to go heel; it’s Cody’s natural disposition. Remember when he inducted Dusty, most likely the first time people saw him on TV, he came across with a natural heel presence even then. He’s not Dusty, he’s a born heel. That’s the role he should be in, and I’d bet that by being the best heel he can be he’ll eventually go babyface in the eyes of the fans anyway.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

Cody’s best run and program IMO was going against Dustin. The promos, the swagger, the way he carried himself in the match itself, etc. He was perfect. And a power trip heel Cody Rhodes was going to be money, and probably the best thing he could’ve done to cement himself.

I have little doubt he’s going to make more money in WWE. He’s also going to get flavor of the week treatment and get a big initial run, maybe even a title run, then get pushed back down into the mid/upper mid card and stay there. They had something with McIntyre, paired him with Ziggler as his muscle, then finally pushed him at the worst possible time before pushing him back down and he found himself lugging around a dumb sword and feuding with Jinder Mahal.

Cody is a great talent. But other than money, I can’t see what his lógicos going to back to WWE. They didn’t satisfy him the first time, and the landscape is even worse now than it was before he left. Unless you’re Roman Reigns or a legend, you’re not going to get very far. He’ll find himself in an endless feud with the Miz and having to endure Seth Rollins cackles every week to piped in crowd noise.

I Annie Brandi’s belief in herself but she brings literally nothing to any wrestling company as anything more than an interviewer/ring announcer. She’s terrible in the ring, she’s mostly terrible on the mic and has zero upside in any those aspects. Her being taken off AEW TV is a fucking blessing.

[XL]

I was financially if they’d been better off as a package with AEW giving Brandi a role/salary, than with Cody going to WWE by himself.

[XL]

Also, don’t forget it wasn’t just Ziggler they paired McIntyre with, he had an alliance with Corbin, and then was muscle for Shane “Best In The World” McMahon before they did anything with him as a singles guy proper.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

And then her buddied around with Keith Lee, who they did fuck all with, and Sheamus, who’s been repackaged more times than I can count. Then ended his run as the top babyface to the fucking Miz.

Note that I think about it, it’s amazing to me that Ziggler, Sheamus are still there well after their peaks doing the same fucking song and dance they’ve been doing for the past decade. Jesus Christ you have people who have grown you watching theses guys not realizing that staying with an org that fucking long would’ve been lunacy to think of 20 years ago.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Why wouldn't they offer him tons of money? It's a huge thing for WWE to sign one of the original founders of their main competitor... Feel like they probably offered him at least 2x or 3x what AEW did. Weren't they throwing around like $1 million per match to some old timers for the Saudi shows

Because they don’t want to send the message that the path to financial success is leaving the WWE and getting a money mark to open up the wallet and pay to play.

How much do you think Cody was making in AEW? Keep in mind Chris Jericho is making more money with AEW than he’s ever made in his career. Cody Rhodes would maybe be a bit behind that on the talent scale (not factoring in his executive deal). He’d be at least $1 million per year, maybe more. Do you really think the WWE is offering him Randy Orton money? Why would Randy Orton not leave?

Matt Riddle’s current deal is said to be for $400k a year. The WWE going out of their way to pay lower-carders $500k was blown up when they worked out AEW was no threat. They released everyone on those deals and now $400k is “rising star” money.

[Bad News Gertner]

I could watch Sheamus wrestle all day. Easily one of my favourites from that era

[drave]

I could watch Sheamus wrestle all day. Easily one of my favourites from that era




Same. Always been good IMO. Very hard hitting and believable.

[Bad News Gertner]

Wow, Sheamus is 44! I had no idea.

[xrodmuc316]

Vince is a genius. He cuts like 30 midcarders that AEW signs, and now Tony can't afford to keep the guy who is basically the founder. Massive embarrassment for Tony Khan. Can't WAIT until Brandi says something and Tony has yet another public meltdown :rofl:

[Loose Cannon]

weird turn of events. Cody is the backbone of AEW. Doesn't really say much about the company if he just takes off 3 years after he founded it . But I guess money talks even if you'll just be a midcarder again. I guess the IC Title needs some fresh life lol

[Mr. Nerfect]

Vince is a genius. He cuts like 30 midcarders that AEW signs, and now Tony can't afford to keep the guy who is basically the founder. Massive embarrassment for Tony Khan. Can't WAIT until Brandi says something and Tony has yet another public meltdown :rofl:

That’s definitely a very real strategy. Let a bunch of people go and flood the scene. Either AEW picks up too many losers or fans start getting frustrated at the pick-and-choose. It’s also possible that other promotions can benefit. And the longer AEW goes in, the more confident WWE get with their releases and how much smaller their offered deals are.

I could watch Sheamus wrestle all day. Easily one of my favourites from that era

Sheamus is really good. It’s interesting though, because I just don’t find him captivating. I think it’s his promos or whatever around the wrestling, or just the era he is from. A dude his size doing what he does is no doubt impressive.

I saw snippets of him vs. Cesaro from SmackDown a few weeks back. Holy fuck they work well together. Just let them go out there and have a series for the IC Title or something.

[drave]

The Bar was one of my favorite tag teams of all time.

[drave]

<iframe width="1206" height="678" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_XvoDv79mZ8" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Mr. Nerfect]

The Bar was one of my favorite tag teams of all time.

They really did put effort into that to make it feel like a real tag team.

[Mr. Nerfect]

The Bar was around for about as long as Edge & Christian were together in the WWF.

[XL]

weird turn of events. Cody is the backbone of AEW. Doesn't really say much about the company if he just takes off 3 years after he founded it . But I guess money talks even if you'll just be a midcarder again. I guess the IC Title needs some fresh life lol

Bad take.

The Inconsequential Championship scene is doing great. They just got done pushing the champ strong on TV with wins in tag team matches. Now it’s on Sami Zayn who’s getting some mainstream shine by being involved with Johnny Knoxville.

[xrodmuc316]

Cody is about to win the WWE Title at Wrestlemania, and CM Punk is the worst UFC fighter of all time. Tony Khan is a GREAT CEO :rofl::rofl::rofl:

[GD]

:rofl:

[Evil Vito]

Here's my honest guess on how I see Cody's WWE run going:

He debuts in a week or two and launches into a WrestleMania program with someone who matters but doesn't matter so much that Cody couldn't win. Realistically that only rules out Reigns/Lesnar (who are fighting each other), Orton (who I can't imagine being booked to lose to Cody right out of the gate plus he'll likely be tied up with Riddle), Lashley, and maybe Drew McIntyre.

So of everyone left I'd say the two most likely choices are Seth Rollins and AJ Styles. Seth was rumored to feud with Shane so Cody could be Shane's replacement unless they're gonna push Austin Theory into that spot. Styles would be a good smark-bait type of match in line with Styles/Nakamura a few years ago.

Anyway, Cody wins at Mania. I'd guess he's assigned to Raw but as we know the brand split barely matters and I think he could actually be ticketed for a program with Roman centered on the whole Bloodline thing. Helps raise Cody's profile by working with THE guy, and for Roman it either gives him another opponent to face to extend his extremely long reign, or gives him a rebound program after finally dropping it at Mania. Either way, Cody obviously loses this program because he's Cody and Roman is Roman.

After that program's settled I'd guess he gets a strong showing in the Money in the Bank ladder match, but doesn't win it. And from there he settles into contending for one of the secondary titles at SummerSlam.

Somewhere around here is where I think he starts feeling like just another guy, possibly leading to a reinvention of one of his old characters (Dashing Cody, Grotesque Cody, Stardust etc) or maybe something new. Cody's been on record many times about not being happy being saddled with gimmicks for long periods of time, so he refused to do anything like this in AEW. But honestly it's what he excels at, and maybe he'll embrace it this time around. I like the guy but he feels like a much better supporting actor than he is a leading man.

[slik]

Cody's run will go the way ALL things do in WWE:

Hot Start, 6 months later will be 'kind of boring/just another guy who isn't Roman/Brock'
(6 months is very generous of me)

[Sepholio]

Cody is going to Smackdown and cutting a promo about how he left the lower rated program on Friday nights to come to the big leagues.

[RP]

Cody will be co-hosting talk shows with The Miz and doing a 30 minute reality show with Brandy in 2 months. And no one will care about him.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

The one thing is he’ll get his WrestleMania moment (ughhhh) which likely explains the timing of this switch. Coulda done it a while back (hasn’t been under contract for a bit) but this gives them less time to fuck him before mania and Vince will still be looking at him as a new (old) toy.

Gotta respect the move on Cody’s part in that sense.

[Destor]

Cody's run will go the way ALL things do in WWE:

Hot Start, 6 months later will be 'kind of boring/just another guy who isn't Roman/Brock'
(6 months is very generous of me)
sounds like his AEW run

[slik]

I need Cody to reform Legacy with Randy Orton, Charlotte Flair and Von Wagner

[slik]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I’d encourage you to still watch it - I was very lucky that my hard work led me to be that face, but I wasn’t alone <br><br>Nick/Matt/Kenny/Chicken/Jericho/MJF/Hang were as well, and all the new girls and guys putting in a shift now as well <br><br>Wrestling is thriving <a href="https://t.co/g4PGh8Rp2l">https://t.co/g4PGh8Rp2l</a></p>&mdash; Cody Rhodes (@CodyRhodes) <a href="https://twitter.com/CodyRhodes/status/1494426932770971648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Lock Jaw]

Who the F is Chicken

[Bad News Gertner]

Apparently a lot of people are taking a hiatus cause they didn't break 900,000 viewers lol

[ron the dial]

Who the F is Chicken

seems to be his nickname for dustin based on reading some replies

[Sting Fan]

I might even pay for Mania if I got AJ vs. Cody in a gimmick match where they can do something silly.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Cody vs. The Miz is too easy to set up. I’d be quite surprised if that isn’t the match. I think AJ will wrestle Shawn Michaels. If they don’t dig that deep for names, maybe Finn Balor or Bobby Lashley. I don’t think Cody is shooting to the top of that card.

[Black Widow]

Cody's run will go the way ALL things do in WWE:

Hot Start, 6 months later will be 'kind of boring/just another guy who isn't Roman/Brock'
(6 months is very generous of me)Sure you will still be around to have a period weekly about how much wwe sucks but you still watching it like a loyal sheep.

[slik]

damn


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I'm not not <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ImWithAEW?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ImWithAEW</a> but your son and DIL think I shouldn't be. So should I be <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WWEAmericanNightmare?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WWEAmericanNightmare</a>?</p>&mdash; popcornjack (@popcornjackson1) <a href="https://twitter.com/popcornjackson1/status/1494518727311773719?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[GD]

I have no context to the tweet.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

That person thinks Cody is Dustin’s son

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Which tbf is not that outrageous from an age standpoint

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Dusty was 40 when Cody was born. Dustin was 17.

[GD]

That person thinks Cody is Dustin’s son

Makes sense now. Maybe he confused Dustin for Dusty.

[Rammsteinmad]

Cody will be happy financially if he went back to WWE, but creatively he'll be regretting the move back to WWE after three months.

[GD]

I'm just glad that I don't have to listen to his AEW entrance theme again.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Cody will be happy financially if he went back to WWE, but creatively he'll be regretting the move back to WWE after three months.

He’s likely been regretting creative in AEW too. That’s why I think a short-term deal with WWE is more likely than anything much longer than Mania or SummerSlam. He can come in, present the Dusty Cup to some people, lose to Miz at Mania, lose in Money in the Bank, put someone over at SummerSlam and maybe someone in the UK stadium show (Rey and/or Dominik?). Then he can go to ROH or the NWA or something. Or maybe he likes it there and sticks around? I could see him getting the US or IC Title after all that. Maybe joining a heel faction?

That can take you through to Royal Rumble time. Actually, the more I think about it, the more I think Cody/WWE might work out.

[xrodmuc316]

I'm just glad that I don't have to listen to his AEW entrance theme again.

There is a real chance he uses that theme in WWE. It is a Downstait song, so WWE would have the same option to license it. They also already have a working relationship with Downstait as Miz has been using their song for over 10 years, and until recently Ziggler still was as well.

[Mr. Nerfect]

There is a real chance he uses that theme in WWE. It is a Downstait song, so WWE would have the same option to license it. They also already have a working relationship with Downstait as Miz has been using their song for over 10 years, and until recently Ziggler still was as well.

They could use it, but I don’t think they will. Well, maybe for a few weeks to get the reactions before he gets something else. Hmm, the more I think about it the more I can see the WWE just trying to completely no-sell a Cody that existed outside of WWE at all.

[xrodmuc316]

They could use it, but I don’t think they will. Well, maybe for a few weeks to get the reactions before he gets something else. Hmm, the more I think about it the more I can see the WWE just trying to completely no-sell a Cody that existed outside of WWE at all.

I think Cody gets it in his contract if he wants it. The lyrics though are pretty perfect for him with the part about "his father told him hard times".

[Mr. Nerfect]

I think Cody gets it in his contract if he wants it. The lyrics though are pretty perfect for him with the part about "his father told him hard times".

My only thought was that it kind of contained an anti-WWE sentiment. But I guess the lines about his dream being stolen could be interpreted a number of different ways.

And he’ll be able to use it other places if/when he leaves. I can see it being used a few times, but I think they’ll want him to have something of his own. And I’m not sure Cody is even that attached to the song. He just paid a WWE-linked band to do his own version of a big song for him. WWE could get whoever they’ve got now to do it. Maybe Brandi can rap on it? :lol:

[xrodmuc316]

My only thought was that it kind of contained an anti-WWE sentiment. But I guess the lines about his dream being stolen could be interpreted a number of different ways.

And he’ll be able to use it other places if/when he leaves. I can see it being used a few times, but I think they’ll want him to have something of his own. And I’m not sure Cody is even that attached to the song. He just paid a WWE-linked band to do his own version of a big song for him. WWE could get whoever they’ve got now to do it. Maybe Brandi can rap on it? :lol:

True, and about how he built his kingdome, it really is a lyrically homerun for him.

[xrodmuc316]

Adrenaline, in my soul
Every fight out of control
Do it all to get them off their feet
Crowd is here, about to blow
Waitin' for me to start the show
Out the curtain, lights go up I'm home
(Whoa!)

And my father said, when I was younger
Hard times breed better men (better men!)

You took it all away, I give it all away
Can't take my freedom
Here to change the game, a banner made of pain
I built my kingdom
Now you bow to me
You took my dreams but not my name
You'll follow me until the end
I am my kingdom

Lights go down, I'm ready now
Tear this roof off for the town
Gonna give 'em what they came to see
Hear the crowd, on their toes
Ready for me to start the show
Out the curtain, lights go up I'm home
(Whoa!)

And my father said, when I was younger
Hard times breed better men (better men!)

You took it all away, I give it all away
Can't take my freedom
Here to change the game, a banner made of pain
I built my kingdom
Now you bow to me
You took my dreams but not my name
You'll follow me until the end
I am my kingdom

You tried to tell me what to do
I saw the door and kicked it down
I stepped right over and right through
And you can never stop me now
(Bow!) (Now!)
I am the king and you're the crown
Now watch me as I take my throne
And rule my kingdom

You took it all away, I give it all away
Can't take my freedom
Here to change the game, a banner made of pain
I built my kingdom
Now you bow to me
You took my dreams but not my name
You'll follow me until the end
I am my kingdom
You took it all away, I give it all away
Can't take my freedom
Here to change the game, a banner made of pain
I built my kingdom
Now you bow to me
You took my dreams but not my name
You'll follow me until the end
I am my kingdom
(Now you bow to me)

[GD]

There is a real chance he uses that theme in WWE. It is a Downstait song, so WWE would have the same option to license it. They also already have a working relationship with Downstait as Miz has been using their song for over 10 years, and until recently Ziggler still was as well.

No....I just want Cena to do a cover of "Smoke and Mirrors" :'(

[Damian Rey 2.0]

I hope he takes themes with him.

[GD]

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[XL]

He’s likely been regretting creative in AEW too. That’s why I think a short-term deal with WWE is more likely than anything much longer than Mania or SummerSlam. He can come in, present the Dusty Cup to some people, lose to Miz at Mania, lose in Money in the Bank, put someone over at SummerSlam and maybe someone in the UK stadium show (Rey and/or Dominik?). Then he can go to ROH or the NWA or something. Or maybe he likes it there and sticks around? I could see him getting the US or IC Title after all that. Maybe joining a heel faction?

That can take you through to Royal Rumble time. Actually, the more I think about it, the more I think Cody/WWE might work out.

Do you know what would be pretty sweet? If he won MITB and still left. He could take it to other promotions with him, and we’d legitimately have a MITB cash-in from nowhere. I’ve always liked the idea of the MITB going off TV completely, like “why would I need to stick around putting my body on the line wrestling these jabrones when I have an almost guaranteed title reign in my hands. I’m gonna just sit back, get myself into perfect shape, and then, when you least expect it, BAM! Cash.” Also avoids what seems to the customary inability to keep the MITB looking even half way strong.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I’ve never liked the idea of the MITB winner being off TV. It makes “real world” logic, but it goes against the goal of actually building someone up to the title.

[XL]

When was the last time they actually did that? :lol:

[Mr. Nerfect]

When was the last time they actually did that? :lol:

Probably Seth. But regardless of whether or not they do it, they should.

[GD]

A friendly reminder that this individual doesn't watch enough professional wrestling to have such strong opinions. The amount of time he's spent posting here is more than the clips he has consumed this week.

[XL]

Probably Seth. But regardless of whether or not they do it, they should.

Oh now we’re judging them by what they should do? I thought we looked at the dirt worst and graded on a curve when it comes to WWE? See booking of championships, booking of Royal Rumble match.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Oh now we’re judging them by what they should do? I thought we looked at the dirt worst and graded on a curve when it comes to WWE? See booking of championships, booking of Royal Rumble match.

AEW is graded favorably and WWE is graded more harshly. And you always lead with your personal preference as being what works, instead of what works being what works.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I don’t like the MITB gimmick still being around. Feels played out and like a lazy way of moving someone into a title picture — and that very rarely actually sticks. But if you are going to use it, get the guy who wins it and have them talk and walk like someone who is going to be champion within the next 12 months.

Right now, the I think the best concept they’ve got for getting a guy primed for the main event scene is actually how they do their gauntlets. Seth Rollins, Kofi Kingston and Shinsuke Nakamura all got something out of running the gauntlet at some point over the past couple of years.

[XL]

AEW is graded favorably and WWE is graded more harshly. And you always lead with your personal preference as being what works, instead of what works being what works.

Personally I try to be as objective as possible when discussing what “works” in a general sense, I’m quite clear when I’m saying “this is what would work better for me on a creative front, business be damned” but then I’m a loon that thinks trying to put together a coherent and creatively enjoyable product from the top of the card to the bottom could lead to better business, so what do I know? Better to put all my eggs in one or two acts and aim for “not as bad as it could be”.

[XL]

I don’t like the MITB gimmick still being around. Feels played out and like a lazy way of moving someone into a title picture — and that very rarely actually sticks. But if you are going to use it, get the guy who wins it and have them talk and walk like someone who is going to be champion within the next 12 months.

Right now, the I think the best concept they’ve got for getting a guy primed for the main event scene is actually how they do their gauntlets. Seth Rollins, Kofi Kingston and Shinsuke Nakamura all got something out of running the gauntlet at some point over the past couple of years.

And this comes down to how they’ve booked it the last few years. MITB could still be a tool to elevate someone up the card if handled correctly. So could the Rumble. So could King of the Ring. So could a Gauntlet match. So could a consistent and sustained push with none of those gimmicks. Very few of them are currently.

[Jordan]

<iframe width="975" height="731" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/j1yo8xVR4LU" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I love John Cena. Peacemaker is amazing, if you have not seen him in it yet, do watch. Fucking hilarious, such a good performance.

[Jordan]

I am actually planning to try and watch all of Raw tonight, I enjoyed Elimination Chamber and mostly I'm hopeful to see the break on the Austin angle or even something involving Cody. I am starting to feel a bit more doubt that Cody will go to WWE.

[xrodmuc316]

I am actually planning to try and watch all of Raw tonight, I enjoyed Elimination Chamber and mostly I'm hopeful to see the break on the Austin angle or even something involving Cody. I am starting to feel a bit more doubt that Cody will go to WWE.

I was more doubtful after Brock won and they announced title vs title. Cody vs Bobby or Seth for the WWE title would have been great. Honestly it feels once Vince books Brock in a match, he does not have the ability to figure out a way to have Brock lose.

[XL]

No way they’d bring him in to a WWE Title match at Mania.

[Sepholio]

Nope. I could have seen an IC or US title match maybe, but no way they throw him straight into the WWE/Universal title pictures.

[drave]

I just don't see Cody going to WWE. Why is everyone already arriving at that conclusion?

[Sepholio]

Because the reputable sources have all reported it. Sports Illustrated has even mentioned it.

[drave]

Eh, it doesn't make sense. Anything he does there will be shitty, as per usual.





Look out for CAWDY Rhodes.

[Sepholio]

Well it's Cody. People expecting greatness are going to continue to be disappointed. He's def more credible now though than when he was Stardust. Vince knows that and he'll use it. Cody will be a solid upper mid carder who they occasionally use in the main event scene. He may even get a short run with one of the big titles (assuming they don't actually unify them at Mania) at some point. But he will settle in that mid card role and at least he won't be Stardust this time.

[Mr. Nerfect]

The more I think about it, the more sense Cody signing with WWE makes. I don’t think he’ll return until after WrestleMania though. I can see them wanting him to earn a spot at that show. There’s no organic story for him to slip into.

I don’t think he’s going to be treated as a main eventer. He will slip back into the role he occupied before — mid-card guy that gets some focus. His feuds will get their allotted time on Raw or SmackDown, he’ll get a chance to talk and a chance to wrestle, sometimes as high as TV mains, but they aren’t going to reward a guy for trying to take a slice of their market share. He’ll be busting his ass and coming up short for a few months before it feels like he is properly back and then he might win the US Title or something.

It could all change in a couple of years or something. But I’d say year one is set aside for him to be bust his ass to make WWE look good.

[drave]

If he does show up - Dashing Cody or GTFO

[drave]

He can have a story about getting that hideous neck tattoo removed and removing an "ugly part of his life", lol.

[Mr. Nerfect]

He can have a story about getting that hideous neck tattoo removed and removing an "ugly part of his life", lol.

Lol, that would be tremendous.

I’ve got a feeling he’s going to drop a line that is absolutely going to bury them.

[Mr. JL]

It is definitely not a good look for AEW to lose an "EVP" as pivotal as Cody Rhodes after just 3 years.

I honestly prefer most of Cody's work compared to Omega's and The Bucks.

I like selling and meaning to things. I find Cody's work much more believable and meaningful. I can totally see how his vision would clash with the Bucks and Omega's and ultimately, I guess Tony's too. Cody's is much more rooted in tradition.

I really enjoy AEW but fuck, when you look objectively at the product; it is definitely missing some key elements that would make it great. That is more selling and meaning.

I really like their faithful adherence to feuds and building storylines with payoffs but it drives me fucking insane to see some of the movesets within matches just being stretched beyond reproach. Some of the moves performed in the ring are fucking GO TO WAR KILL YOU Brutal for meaningless matches and then its forgotten, yet in a backstage moment a wrestler might bump into someone or say something really little and ITS THE END OF THE WORLD.

You see guys get spike piledriven into the floor, Canadian Destroyed off a cage and 450'd and tombstoned, dropped on their heads, kicked and kneed in the face x 18 but they fucking kick out; emphatically. Just some of the over the top moves overused and undersold. Its asinine.

I like it here and there but when every single match has a, "HOW THE FUCK DID THEY KICK OUT" moment it devalues everything. And some matches have multiple moments where the wrestlers look like they've been killed but they kick out. Then 17 more moves happen to them and they kickout. Then they show up the next day and wrestle the same way like they are A-OK!

[XL]

Pat McAfee “went off” on Cody returning to WWE. It’s official; Cody vs. Pat at Mania.

[Bad News Gertner]

It is definitely not a good look for AEW to lose an "EVP" as pivotal as Cody Rhodes after just 3 years.

I honestly prefer most of Cody's work compared to Omega's and The Bucks.

I like selling and meaning to things. I find Cody's work much more believable and meaningful. I can totally see how his vision would clash with the Bucks and Omega's and ultimately, I guess Tony's too. Cody's is much more rooted in tradition.

I really enjoy AEW but fuck, when you look objectively at the product; it is definitely missing some key elements that would make it great. That is more selling and meaning.

I really like their faithful adherence to feuds and building storylines with payoffs but it drives me fucking insane to see some of the movesets within matches just being stretched beyond reproach. Some of the moves performed in the ring are fucking GO TO WAR KILL YOU Brutal for meaningless matches and then its forgotten, yet in a backstage moment a wrestler might bump into someone or say something really little and ITS THE END OF THE WORLD.

You see guys get spike piledriven into the floor, Canadian Destroyed off a cage and 450'd and tombstoned, dropped on their heads, kicked and kneed in the face x 18 but they fucking kick out; emphatically. Just some of the over the top moves overused and undersold. Its asinine.

I like it here and there but when every single match has a, "HOW THE FUCK DID THEY KICK OUT" moment it devalues everything. And some matches have multiple moments where the wrestlers look like they've been killed but they kick out. Then 17 more moves happen to them and they kickout. Then they show up the next day and wrestle the same way like they are A-OK!


They all went to the Jon Moxley school of selling

[screech]

The no-selling of moves, especially finishers, in the last few years of rasslin is super off-putting to me. I get that you have to "up the ante" or whatever but at some point your biggest move has to be enough to put a guy away, right?

[screech]

Like when Lesnar and whoever were just spamming finishers at WM two(?) years ago, that was dumb as fuck.

I can't remember who he faced but it was a 5-6 minute match of pretty much all F5 and whatever the other guy does. Terrible.

[screech]

Not exactly the same as the Bucks & others doing it on TV nearly every week with the destroyers and superkicks (remember when both of those moves were finishers?), but it's a similar problem.

[drave]

Definitely overdone. I guess I'm in the boat of "pins don't matter till a finisher is hit" - so at first it was like "oh shit!". Definitely overdone at this point tho, especially "superkicks".

[Destor]

i prefer (the now lost to the ages) puro mentality that its not the last move that beats you but every move cumulatively so ANY move could beat you. every pin mattered.

[drave]

That would be great, honestly. It would make things more entertaining and "climactic".

[drave]

Kids wouldn't be patient enough for those matches, probably :(

[Destor]

watch any puro from ajpw/njpw or noah prior to the mid 00s. it was just they they did wrestling. finishers werent magical moves that would slay the dragon they were techniques that these athletes had refined to have really good versions of. like a boxer with a mean left hook. it might knock you out. it might just hurt like hell.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

I loved the way Hansen used his lariat in Japan.