Cody Rhodes Doesn’t Owe Anyone But Himself
One of the biggest highlights of WrestleMania 38 was the return of Cody Rhodes and the “American Nightmare” persona he created for himself in the six years he was away from WWE. Cody spent nine years in WWE winning the Intercontinental Championship on two occasions and tag team championships on six occasions. He had partners like his brother Goldust, Hardcore Holly, and Ted Dibiase Jr. Cody had a solid career prior to leaving in 2016, but many question would he ever surpass what his brother and father did before him. The writing was on the wall when Cody was given the Stardust character while teaming with his brother. At first, the character was fun and outlandish. It complimented Goldust until they broke the team up. When the brothers stopped teaming, the writing was on the wall for Cody Rhodes as Stardust. There was nowhere to go and no way to get out of the character.
Cody left WWE in May 2016 and quickly began to make a name for himself on the independent scene. He worked the likes of Drew McIntyre, Chris Hero, Kurt Angle, Doug Williams, and many others. He then made his way to places like Ring of Honor, New Japan Pro Wrestling, and Impact Wrestling. Along the way he won Ring of Honor World Championship, IWGP United States Championship, and the NWA Championship. Cody had really started carving out his own legacy outside of WWE, but it wasn’t enough. On New Years Day 2019, Cody along with Kenny Omega, Adam Page and The Young Bucks announced their new promotion All Elite Wrestling. This promotion was the brainchild of these men and became financially backed by Tony Khan whose family owns the Jacksonville Jaguars. All Elite Wrestling became real when its television in the fall of 2019. Cody has incredible matches with his brother Dustin, Darby Allin, Lance Archer, Brodie Lee, and MJF. He won the TNT Championship on three occasions. All had seemed right with Cody Rhodes, and he seemed destined to finish his career in AEW. However, he departed the company in January 2022.
Why did Cody Rhodes leave AEW? That is a question on a lot of fans minds. From everything I’ve read, Cody has been very quiet about why he really left the company he founded. This is my theory as to why he ultimately left. Cody was never really Bullet Club or The Elite. He was always the outsider who came up through the WWE system. It seemed that he and Brandi were not liked by the crowd or backstage. I am not going to pretend to know what goes on backstage on at AEW shows, but I’m guessing Cody’s way of thinking is much different from the other founders due to how he was brought up. Did Cody and Brandi deserved to be treated badly while they were in AEW? Absolutely not. The Rhodes put just as much time and energy into AEW as anyone else has. The disdain that people had for them was real, but also very unnecessary. We may never know the full details as to why Cody left, but the way you are treated by people goes a long way in building or breaking personal and professional relationships.
Fast forward to this past weekend at WrestleMania. The same fans who wanted Cody out of AEW are now the same ones who are calling him a traitor and attacking he and Brandi. Let me bluntly say this. Cody Rhodes doesn’t owe the fans anything. He doesn’t owe them an explanation, he doesn’t owe them more time in AEW, and he doesn’t owe them his reasons for going back to WWE. Both the AEW and WWE fanbases have some very toxic people in them and Cody’s WWE return has been a prime example of the toxicity among pro wrestling fans. Cody also doesn’t have anything to prove to AEW fans, WWE fans, his brother, or even his father. Cody owes no one a thing but himself, and the only one he needs to prove anything to is himself. I’ve never seen a fan base take things so seriously and so personal when it comes to switching promotions. Pro Wrestling fans often feel entitlement because they buy the tickets, buy the merchandise, and watch the shows. They feel like pro wrestlers owe them something. Buying the tickets and the merchandise is a choice. Just like it was Cody’s choice to depart AEW and come back to WWE.
Cody Rhodes returning to WWE in his own way is an amazing addition to the legacy he built for himself outside of WWE. It doesn’t matter whether you support his decision. At the end of the day, it’s his life and his career. He had to decide what was best for him and his family. We the fans are in no position how to tell someone how to live or what they should do with their career that were not directly involved in. I hope Cody has an amazing run in WWE this time around. I hope he achieves everything that he wants to. The American Nightmare is in WWE and it’s time for him to wine and dine with kings and queens.
