Cody Rhodes Confirms He Is Currently A Free Agent
Former TNT Champion Cody Rhodes has confirmed the recent rumours that his contract with All Elite Wrestling expired at the end of 2021.
The news of Cody Rhodes status as a free agent was first reported by Fightful Select, although the ‘American Nightmare’ would not comment on the situation at the time.
At Beach Break on January 26th, Rhodes fought Sammie Guevara to determine the Undisputed TNT Champion in a ladder match. Previously, Guevara became the Interim TNT Champion by defeating Dustin Rhodes when Cody was unable to defend his title at Battle of the Belts. At the end of the gruelling match, it was The Spanish God who reached the title belts to reclaim the title.
After the bout, Rhodes spoke backstage in a segment that has aired on AEW’s YouTube channel. During the interview, Cody Rhodes discussed his loss and then confirmed that he is indeed a free agent and currently working on a handshake deal.
“Wrestling is about the ones who win. I oughta know, I lost for eight years. I really oughta know. Something as silly as a wrestling match isn’t silly at all to me. The winner’s purse isn’t remotely fictional to me. The winners make more than the losers. The winners sit in first class and wear the TNT Championship.”
“I feel at least positive that it’s on someone like Sammy Guevara. It’s on someone who I helped bring here, recruited, wrestled in the very first match in Dynamite history. Here we are on TBS, we’ve only grown, our audience has grown, the ratings have grown.”
“It’s paradise, right? There are so many elephants in the room. This is an insane week in wrestling. People think that the Sean Ross story is BS, it’s not. I’m working here without a contract. I’m not even on payroll anymore. I’m working here on a handshake deal. That is 100% legitimate, I swear on Pharaoh’s life.”
Rhodes went on to explain what the TNT Title means to him, and said he will now take some time to think about his next steps.
“I can tell you this, I have never felt more at home than under those lights, wrestling for the TNT Title, a title that will never ever be secondary because of matches like that. Old school promoters will tell you that a title can make the man or the man can make the title. At this point, we don’t know which is which.”
“I’m very proud of Sammy Guevara. I absolutely wish that I could go home to my family and say, ‘TNT Champ once again,’ a belt that was synonymous with my name doesn’t look like it’ll be just about me. Brodie (Lee), Miro, Darby (Allin), Sammy, myself.”
“I’m slow when it comes to rematches, but maybe I won’t be so slow on getting my rematch on this one. For now, I’m going to take a beat, get with Arn (Anderson), and think about it. An insane week where I have heard the most wonderful crazy things from all walks of the wrestling world about what it is that I do next. Like I said, I’ve never felt more at home than wrestling for that title in front of a crowd like that. Thank you.”
H/T to Fightful for the above transcription.