During a recent conference call to promote tonight's
All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite premiere, Cody was asked about whether there are still potential issues with WWE over the use of the Rhodes name.
It's no secret that he was unable to use it after leaving WWE but Cody has now confirmed that while he could go by "Cody Rhodes" in AEW, he feels like he doesn't need the rub from that any more and he's far more interested in going by his "American Nightmare" persona moving forward.
"I can use it. I won't use it though. That's not everyone's favorite answer, but I got the rub off that name plenty. The reason I don't use it is this - this isn't the romantic Game of Thrones answer that everyone wants, but the reason I don't use it is, I got so used to being 'The American Nightmare' Cody in Japan, and I love that. I love the idea of trying my damnedest to get a single name over. I got the rub off of Dusty and my family long enough. I don't mind not using it. You'll see it every now and then, some people, they already know, so if it's here, it's here, if it's not, it's not. But by no means is WWE holding that name hostage, that is not a real thing. If I was to walk out tomorrow as Cody Rhodes and announced as Cody Rhodes, nobody's gonna sue us, nobody's coming after us. There's a lot of respect between the families that are involved here. So, no. I just like using my first name."
It's easy enough to see where he's coming from and good to hear that WWE is no longer stopping him from using it. Honestly, it sounds like he might be on good terms with the company these days and while we'll probably never see Cody in a WWE ring again, you have to hope the door may be open to them working together again somewhere down the line.
What do you guys think?