All Elite Wrestling Executive Vice President and one of the founding members of the company Cody Rhodes and his wife, Brandi (who is also the company’s Chief Brand Officer), announced they will not be returning to the company.
Rhodes took to Twitter on Tuesday morning to announce the news.
AEW CEO and President Tony Khan would then issue a release through Twitter thanking Cody and Brandi for their contributions to the company.
The news of the Rhodes’ departure from AEW has sent shockwaves through the wrestling world. Cody Rhodes was starring in two WarnerMedia-owned products, Go-Big Show and Rhodes to the Top. Rhodes to the Top was a reality show featuring Cody and Brandi Rhodes showcasing their lives and gave viewers a behind-the-scenes look at AEW. It was picked up for a second season.
There is no word on the status of that show or Cody’s spot on the Go-Big Show.
There is much speculation on where the Rhodes family will wind up. Many are speculating Cody Rhodes will be returning to WWE, which is the company he requested his release from in May 2016. Rhodes has been loudly critical of WWE since leaving the company.
Rhodes has been working without a contract since it expired in December 2021. Rhodes did appear on AEW Dynamite in January 2022 and mentioned in a promo that he was working without a contract. His lone match of the year saw him lose to Sammy Guevara on the January 26 episode of AEW Dynamite in a TNT Title Unification Match.
Along with Tony Khan, The Young Bucks, and Kenny Omega, Cody Rhodes was one of the founding members of All Elite Wrestling. While in the company, he was a featured member of each broadcast, including having the first match on the first episode of AEW Dynamite against Sammy Guevara. Rhodes was the inaugural TNT Champion and went on to win the title three times.
It is not known what led to Cody Rhodes and Tony Khan not being able to get a deal done.
We will continue to follow this story as more becomes available.
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