
Cody Rhodes Says There Was “Bad Blood” in AEW Exit, Calls Success the Greatest Revenge – Cody Rhodes is once again speaking candidly about his departure from AEW, just days before his blockbuster Undisputed WWE Championship match against John Cena at WWE SummerSlam.
Ahead of his full appearance on The Bill Simmons Podcast this Thursday, a preview clip has been released featuring Rhodes discussing his decision to leave AEW, the company he helped build alongside The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega.
In the clip, Cody acknowledges a complex mix of emotions surrounding his exit:
“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, fuck 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.”
Rhodes served as an Executive Vice President in AEW and was one of its founding faces when the company launched in 2019. His departure in February 2022 shocked the wrestling world and signaled a turning point in both his career and the company’s evolving identity.
Since returning to WWE, Cody has established himself as one of the top stars in the company. His journey now leads him to SummerSlam, where he will challenge 17-time World Champion John Cena for the Undisputed WWE Championship in what is being billed as one of the most anticipated matches of the year.
Cody Rhodes Says There Was “Bad Blood” in AEW Exit