In an upcoming interview, Cody Rhodes will speak about a perceived “lack of respect” he felt in AEW.
The Bill Simmons Podcast has released a teaser of their upcoming interview with the WWE talent, speaking about his exit from AEW in 2022:
There is clearly bad blood, but there’s also clearly respect and love. And in the end, the way I kind of 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 there, you know, 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. And I think Brandi and I both, I’m so blessed to have her. It was one of those where it was, ‘F—k 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 like the cold-hearted, backstabby type way of revenge. The greatest revenge on earth is success, and I felt like we were sitting on something wonderful, something great, a huge, potentially with what I was doing with the American Nightmare, as a bad guy, as a good guy, something in between, we’re sitting on something magic. And 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’ contract at AEW had an option to roll over in early 2022, but Tony Khan did not exercise the option, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Rhodes has stated that he and Khan have agreed to never speak about the decision to cease working together.
He returned to WWE at WrestleMania 38 in April 2022 and ascended to become the top star in the company.
