Cody Rhodes shocked the world when he decided to leave AEW and sign with WWE. The American Nightmare was one of the company's founders and an EVP, so his decision that the grass would be greener working for Vince McMahon was a game-changing moment in the latest wrestling "war."
Since arriving in WWE at WrestleMania 38 in 2022, Rhodes has, and continues to be, treated like one of the company's top Superstars. He even finished his story, finally becoming WWE Champion on the Grandest Stage of Them All.
For those in AEW, the American Nightmare's rise to superstardom is surely an indication they'll get similar treatment (Jade Cargill and CM Punk lend plenty of weight to that argument as well).
Rhodes has spoken carefully of his decision to leave AEW, but shared his most revealing comments to date during a recent interview with Bill Simmons. Without naming names, he did hint at a clash with AEW President Tony Khan over the direction he was taking the company, suggesting that was what ultimately led him to decide he needed to step away.
"There’s clearly bad blood, but there’s also clearly respect and love. In the end, the way I see it is, if I felt disrespected ever at WWE, that’s one thing. That’s a company that was built…that’s the Yankees. That’s the flagship of it all. If I ever felt (at WWE) that I was a number on a sheet, maybe, but feeling disrespected at something I built with my friends. That we built. Feeling disrespected there, I wouldn’t stand for it."
"Brandi and I both, I’m so blessed to have her. It was one of those where it was, [frick] it. ‘I did way more here than you think, and you’re going to find out the moment I’m out the door.’ I don’t believe in the cold-hearted back-stabbing type of revenge. The greatest revenge on Earth is success."
"I felt like we were sitting on something wonderful. Something great. A huge, potentially, what I was doing with the American Nightmare, as a bad guy, as a good guy, something in between. We’re sitting on some magic. If I’m not going to do it in the house that I literally, with Matt, Nick, and Kenny built, then buddy, I’m going elsewhere."
Reading between the lines, it seems Rhodes and Khan might have specifically clashed on his place on the AEW card and what they should do with what was shaping up to be a promising heel turn.
Here's a clip from the interview. The full thing is expected to drop later today.