Cody Rhodes left AEW in 2022, a move which shocked the pro wrestling world seeing as he was one of the company's founding EVPs.
Having left WWE in 2016, the American Nightmare did the rounds on the independent scene before joining with Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks to form AEW alongside billionaire Tony Khan.
While Rhodes has repeatedly declined to talk about his reasons for walking out of AEW and returning to WWE (arguably the best decision he's ever made), an interview with Chris Van Vliet saw him share an issue he has with how the Bucks portrayed his decision to sign with AEW.
In their book, Killing the Business: From Backyards to the Big Leagues, Matt and Nick suggested Rhodes changed his mind on several occasions while trying to decide between AEW, staying with Ring of Honor, or re-signing with WWE.
"I hated that in The Young Bucks’ book they said I was last to the signing. Because that’s a big thing. Some of the AEW defenders who don’t realize they’re turning people off to their product more than they’re turning people on, that’s one of the things that people always cite ‘Oh, he was last, he wasn’t that big a deal to the origin.’ No, this guy here who’s off camera was the first person to ever meet Tony and he met him in a vetting process for all of us."
"So yes, I guess I was the last and yes, I had different thoughts and it’s not incorrect at all what they said [that I was physcially the last person to sign]. Yeah, it’s not incorrect but I was just in on it as well as anybody else. That’s a little thing that when I write my book I get to tell [the story]."
Reflecting on his time in AEW, Rhodes alluded to some issues backstage but said he largely enjoyed his time as part of the upstart promotion. However, it's clear he viewed it as a launching platform to return to WWE as a bigger star than ever before.
"Regardless of any petty squabbles, I will always have a love for it. I got to wrestle Brodie Lee’s final match. I got to lead people, young people, behind the scenes. I’ll always have a love for it."
"I’m sure there’s some negative stuff, but I just remember it lovingly and I also knew I was leaving. I knew it was a season, I knew this isn’t gonna last and there’s something greater for me out there. I know that might sound negative to people, but it’s not. That’s the biggest prize in the wrestling game, if you put on boots, that’s the one. I just wanted to go get it and I had nothing but respect for my time there."
"I got to sharpen my skills, like Hulkamania in the AWA, right before it came to WWE. It’s the same, the energy was there, the Renaissance was happening, it wasn’t just company based. It was all there and I just have a love for it because I got to sharpen my skills."
"By the time I got to WrestleMania and WWE I felt like okay, I’ve come back a complete package."
Check out the full interview with Rhodes below.