Cody Rhodes To WWE: What's Changed For The AEW Co-Founder?

Cody Rhodes’ recent departure from All Elite Wrestling was sudden and surprising for many fans. The American Nightmare is a founding father of AEW after all and now, he’s a former Executive Vice President. It’s a surreal moment for the AEW faithful, there is no denying that.

But there’s also no denying that Cody’s next landing spot is likely WWE. While Vince McMahon’s company has not made the signing official as of this writing, the fact is that fans expect it to happen anytime. So assuming Rhodes’ return to WWE is imminent, the question is what’s changed?

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— Cody Rhodes (@CodyRhodes) February 15, 2022

Old Wounds

When Cody left WWE in 2016, he was frustrated. The Stardust gimmick that he was using wasn’t for everyone and despite Cody’s best efforts, it ultimately wasn’t for him either. He wanted a change and the company didn’t allow that change to happen.

Rhodes’ next few steps after leaving WWE defined his career for the next six years. He became a star on the independent scene, wining the Ring of Honor World Championship, the ROH World Six-Man Championship and the IWGP United States Championship. He also wore the same title as his father Dusty before him, when he won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.

Rhodes joined The Bullet Club in New Japan and took his cigar smoking heel persona to new heights. Cody, along with his wife Brandi, were completely reinvented and rejuvenated. They were living their best lives. But then, it got even better.

Cody, along with Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks, formed AEW. For three years, AEW has produced weekly television and pay-per-views, marking the first time that a viable worldwide company has made a true impact in the business since WCW. AEW continues to move ahead and is bringing in new talent on a regular basis.

It’s quite the legacy that Cody Rhodes has made for himself and he did it through sheer force of will. He wasn’t happy working in WWE, so he made a change. Cody wanted to prove himself as a top guy and he did just that. He wanted to try his hand at other TV projects and that’s exactly what he did. Cody, like his father, is fearless and if he doesn’t have something, he goes and gets it.

Going Back For Seconds

But if the WWE rumors are true and he goes back, then what does he get? That’s perhaps the most intriguing part of this story. Why would a man in Cody’s position walk away from the company that he co-founded, only to return to the company that underutilized him for so long? It’s a tale as old as time. At least it is, for pro wrestling fans.

One by one, talented stars are released by WWE and one by one, those stars sign with AEW. Nearly every one of them has the same story to tell about their former employer. It’s always about frustration, hitting a wall, going in circles and ultimately, going nowhere fast. No one listens, including Vince and in the end, there’s no other recourse than to leave.

Sometimes those separations are amicable and sometimes, the talent in question is caught completely off guard. But despite how it happens, it happens and when it does, it’s almost always the same drama. Fans see it all the time and they even expect it at this point. The AEW audience that doesn’t follow WWE knows all too well how often the latter can drop the ball. Will it once again happen to Cody Rhodes?

New Beginning

Are fans to believe that WWE is not only going to welcome Cody Rhodes back with open arms, but also introduce him as a top guy? Is Cody Rhodes going to walk onto Raw on his first night back and challenge Bobby Lashley for the WWE Championship? Does Cody get his match at WrestleMania and win the title that night?

Will Cody Rhodes be The American Nightmare, the well-dressed heel with his wife on one arm, and the title on the other? Does WWE give him ample time on the mic to get over and spotlight him in more than one segment on every show? This is what Cody enjoyed in AEW and it worked for him. The past six years have established his career and he was a top tier talent in the industry.

But does that directly translate to the world of WWE? Some fans believe that Cody will show up with great buzz, then eventually float into the mid-card of the company. His main event status will become a thing of the past and he will be just another face in the crowd, another talented worker with immense potential, that’s not used the way he should be. Didn’t all of this happen to Cody before?

The fact is that it’s far too early to know what will happen with Cody Rhodes. On one hand, everything has changed since he last worked for Vince McMahon. Cody is a different person. He’s a legitimate championship caliber performer with some mainstream recognition. He is also an overachiever and he’s always hustling to do more.

But the man he left behind doesn’t seem to have changed all that much. Vince does things his way and everyone around him goes along with him. That’s how it is and that’s how it’s been for a long time in WWE. It’s hard to imagine that things will be any different this time. But Cody Rhodes is different and this time, maybe that will make all the difference.

Tom Clark is a Senior Pro Wrestling Analyst and Featured Columnist for Wrestling Rumors. His podcast, Tom Clark’s Main Event, is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Audible, Spotify, iHeart Radio, YouTube and live on Wrestling Rumors Facebook Live

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