Why did Cody Rhodes leave AEW?

Introduce

Cody Rhodes, also known as “American Nightmare“, is a professional wrestler and executive in the world of wrestling. He was born on June 30, 1985, in Marietta, Georgia, and is the son of the legendary wrestler, Dusty Rhodes. Cody started his wrestling career in 2006, working for various promotions such as WWE, Ring of Honor, and New Japan Pro Wrestling.

In 2019, Cody and a group of wrestlers, including Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, and Chris Jericho, founded All Elite Wrestling (AEW), a new wrestling promotion that aimed to provide an alternative to WWE. AEW quickly gained popularity among fans, and Cody played a significant role in its success as both an executive and a wrestler.

Cody’s departure from AEW in 2022 came as a surprise to many fans and colleagues. His departure marked the end of an era in AEW and left many wondering about the future of the promotion. Cody’s importance to AEW cannot be overstated, as he was one of the company’s founding members and played a crucial role in its early success. His departure raised several questions about the direction of AEW and the reasons behind his decision to leave.

AEW’s Evolution and Cody’s Role

AEW underwent significant changes in its leadership structure and talent roster since its inception. The initial leadership structure consisted of Tony Khan as the President and Cody, along with The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega, serving as Executive Vice Presidents (EVPs). However, in 2020, Khan assumed the role of the sole President, and the EVPs’ roles were scaled back. This change allowed for a more streamlined decision-making process, but it also resulted in creative differences between Cody and Khan.

As AEW continued to grow, the promotion introduced new talent to its roster, including Jon Moxley, MJF, and Darby Allin. These newcomers brought fresh energy and excitement to AEW, but they also changed the dynamics of the promotion. With the introduction of new talent, Cody’s role in the company began to evolve. He continued to be an active wrestler, but he also took on a more prominent role as a commentator and a backstage producer.

Cody’s evolving role in the company was further highlighted by his involvement in creating new programs for AEW. He played a significant role in the development of the reality series “Road to AEW” and the game show “Tournament of Roses”. Cody’s creativity and passion for wrestling were evident in these projects, and they helped to showcase AEW’s diverse offerings beyond its weekly wrestling shows.

However, as AEW continued to evolve and grow, tensions between Cody and Khan began to emerge. The creative differences between the two became more apparent, leading to a clash that ultimately contributed to Cody’s departure from the company.

Creative Differences

Cody Rhodes was known for his creative input and passion for the wrestling industry. He was heavily involved in the creative process of AEW, including storylines, character development, and match outcomes. Cody’s contributions to AEW were significant, as he played a crucial role in the promotion’s early success.

However, tensions began to emerge between Cody and Tony Khan, as well as the other EVPs. Creative differences between Cody and Khan were reported to be the main reason behind the clash. Cody had a specific vision for the direction of AEW, which differed from Khan’s. These differences in creative direction reportedly led to several disagreements and frustrations.

According to reports, one of the major areas of conflict was Cody’s desire for more creative control over his character’s storyline. Cody was reportedly unhappy with the direction of his character’s storyline, which he felt was not consistent with his vision for AEW. The disagreements between Cody and Khan reportedly led to a significant clash, which ultimately contributed to Cody’s departure from AEW.

Despite attempts to resolve the creative conflicts, the differences remained unresolved, leading to a stalemate between the two parties. The creative differences between Cody and Khan highlight the challenges of managing a wrestling promotion and the importance of creative collaboration in the wrestling industry.

AEW’s Response and Future Plans

After Cody Rhodes announced his departure from AEW, the promotion issued an official statement expressing their appreciation for his contributions to the company. AEW acknowledged Cody’s talent and creativity and thanked him for his role in helping to establish the promotion.

AEW also announced plans to fill the void left by Cody’s departure, stating that they were actively seeking new talent to join their roster. The promotion has continued to introduce new talent, including names such as Malakai Black and Andrade El Idolo. These new signings are expected to bring a fresh energy and dynamic to AEW’s programming.

Additionally, AEW has made changes to its creative direction following Cody’s departure. The promotion has shifted its focus to a more cohesive and streamlined creative process, with Tony Khan taking on a more hands-on approach to creative direction. AEW has also introduced new storytelling elements and character development, including factions and stables.

AEW’s response to Cody’s departure has been a combination of appreciation for his contributions and a forward-thinking approach to the future of the promotion. While Cody’s departure was undoubtedly a loss for AEW, the promotion has continued to evolve and grow, demonstrating its commitment to providing top-tier wrestling entertainment to fans around the world.

The Impact of Cody’s Departure

Cody Rhodes was a fan-favorite and a significant figure in the wrestling industry, both as a wrestler and as an executive. His departure from AEW was met with mixed reactions from fans and colleagues alike.

Many fans expressed their disappointment at Cody’s departure, citing his talent, charisma, and contributions to AEW. Some fans also expressed concern about the potential impact of his departure on the promotion’s future. However, others supported Cody’s decision to leave and expressed their confidence in AEW’s ability to continue thriving without him.

Colleagues in the wrestling industry also shared their thoughts on Cody’s departure. Many of his peers praised his talent and contributions to AEW, while others expressed disappointment at his decision to leave the promotion. Several wrestlers also expressed concern about the potential domino effect of Cody’s departure, noting that it could impact the promotion’s future and potentially lead to other key figures leaving.

Despite these concerns, AEW has continued to grow and evolve since Cody’s departure, demonstrating its resilience as a promotion. The addition of new talent and changes to creative direction have helped to keep the promotion fresh and exciting for fans. While Cody’s departure was undoubtedly a significant loss, AEW’s response and ongoing success suggest that the promotion is well-equipped to continue thriving without him.

The Legacy of Cody Rhodes in AEW

Cody Rhodes played a significant role in the success of AEW since its inception in 2019. As one of the promotion’s original executive vice presidents, Cody played a key role in establishing the promotion’s identity and mission, and helped to attract top talent to the roster.

As a wrestler, Cody was a fan favorite and was known for his captivating performances and charisma in the ring. He was a multiple-time TNT Champion and played a key role in several of AEW’s most memorable storylines.

While Cody’s departure from AEW was a loss for the promotion, it is unlikely to diminish his legacy within the company. His contributions to AEW’s early success were significant, and his impact on the promotion will continue to be felt for years to come. Cody’s legacy in AEW will be one of a talented and dynamic wrestler, as well as a savvy and creative executive who helped to build one of the most exciting promotions in professional wrestling.

Looking ahead, it is unclear what Cody’s future relationship with AEW will be. While he has expressed his desire to focus on other projects, he has also left the door open to a potential return to the promotion at some point in the future. Regardless of what the future holds, Cody’s legacy in AEW is secure, and his contributions to the promotion’s success will always be remembered.

Conclusion

Cody Rhodes’ departure from AEW was a significant loss for the promotion, but it also marked a new chapter in both his career and the future of AEW. As a key executive and wrestler, Cody played a vital role in AEW’s early success and helped to establish the promotion’s identity and mission. His departure came as a surprise to many fans and colleagues, but it was ultimately a decision he made for personal and professional reasons.

The impact of Cody’s departure on AEW remains to be seen, but the promotion has demonstrated its resilience and ability to adapt in the face of challenges. AEW has continued to grow and evolve since Cody’s departure, and the addition of new talent and changes to creative direction have kept the promotion fresh and exciting for fans.

As for Cody, his future remains uncertain, but he has expressed his desire to focus on other projects and explore new opportunities. However, he has also left the door open to a potential return to AEW at some point in the future.

In conclusion, Cody Rhodes’ departure from AEW was a significant moment in the promotion’s history, but it also marked a new chapter in both his career and the future of AEW. While his departure was undoubtedly a loss for the promotion, AEW has continued to thrive in his absence, and Cody’s legacy in AEW as a talented wrestler and creative executive will continue to be felt for years to come.

FAQs

Why did Cody Rhodes leave AEW?

While the exact reasons for Cody’s departure have not been publicly disclosed, it is believed that creative differences with the company’s leadership played a role in his decision to leave.

Will Cody ever return to AEW?

It is unclear if and when Cody will return to AEW, but he has left the door open to a potential return at some point in the future.

How has AEW responded to Cody’s departure?

AEW has released an official statement regarding Cody’s departure, and the promotion has continued to evolve and grow since his departure with changes to the creative direction and the addition of new talent.

What is Cody’s legacy in AEW?

Cody played a significant role in AEW’s early success as an executive and wrestler. His legacy in AEW will be one of a talented and dynamic performer who helped to establish the promotion’s identity and mission.