The big news that sent shockwaves through the wrestling world on Tuesday was Cody and Brandi Rhodes departure from AEW.
According to PWInsider, multiple sources have indicated the following:
Rhodes and AEW President Tony Khan hit a snag in negotiations for a new deal over pay. That led to the end of their discussions and within AEW among some wrestlers, the departure had at least been suspected.
Mike Coppinger of ESPN reported that Rhodes informed Khan Tuesday morning he was leaving AEW. Rhodes was not at the Atlantic City taping last past Wednesday, and one source noted that his road case, containing his gear and other belongings for the road, had been cleaned out, which some saw as a sign that he was “as good as gone.” It was being said that up until that point, all expectations had been that Cody and Brandi would be remaining with AEW as there had been plans for them be at upcoming Dynamite tapings.
WWE sources confirmed they have had “contact” with Rhodes dating back to his when his AEW deal expired at the end of 2021. There is no official word at this time that he has signed with the company. If he does sign with WWE he would be free and clear to appear on their television programming immediately. Rhodes has a long relationship with John Laurinaitis, who first signed him to a WWE developmental deal back in 2006.
It is said that there was an excitement among some who work in WWE about the potential of Rhodes coming in, as a talent, while others noted that from a strategic standpoint, Rhodes would be the first from AEW to WWE jump who also has “intimate knowledge” of how the company is run and operated given his position as an Executive Vice President, which Rhodes took extremely seriously the last several years.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Rhodes was not on AEW’s internal talent roster but the signing, from WWE’s perspective, makes sense and is unless there’s another major shift in the trajectory of things, is expected to happen. One source even believed Rhodes could at the WWE Performance Center as early as this weekend in preparation for a return.
WWE could present him as a big star as the first “jump” from AEW to try and make waves and create the perception the tide is turning against AEW and back towards WWE – similar to how Sean Waltman was presented after leaving WCW during the Monday Night War. One WWE source noted Tuesday that if WWE pushed Rhodes and gave him a big WrestleMania match or title push, the subliminal message to all the other AEW stars is that this would be an example of how they would be treated if they made their way to WWE.
Just a few weeks ago, Rhodes told PWInsider that his priorities had changed following the birth of his first daughter, Liberty:
“Well, now that I have a child, I’m starting to look at the actual numbers on the checks, because for so long, I didn’t care at all. I was, “Yeah, I want to be a wrestler.” It doesn’t matter what you pay me. Now you’re starting to look at it like, “Okay, we’ve got to get this college fund. We’ve got to get this set up for this beautiful little girl.” But the number one thing she’s done for me, and this is, my life is about her at this point, and I can’t see that changing forever. But the number one thing she’s done for me personally, is, it has taken a lot of the selfishness away from me. All wrestlers are selfish, all wrestlers have egos, and if you meet one who doesn’t, they’re not a good wrestler or they’re lying. But, I care a lot less about what happens to Cody Rhodes in terms of, I care a lot less about bad versus, what happens to Liberty and how does Liberty perceive this?”
Amanda Huber will take over AEW’s Community Outreach Department, which Rhodes have been deeply involved in.
PWInsider made attempts to reach Rhodes and Khan Tuesday, but were unsuccessful. AEW’s Public Relations referred all questions back to the statement released Tuesday morning by Tony Khan.