Cody Rhodes Quit AEW Over “A Personal Issue”

Cody Rhodes has given the clearest indication yet of why he left AEW.

Cody Rhodes was one of the key figures in forming AEW along with The Young Bucks, and Kenny Omega in early 2019. Those four men were made Executive Vice Presidents in Tony Khan’s upstart company which is why the wrestling world was stunned when Cody Rhodes and his wife Brandi walked away from AEW in early 2022.

The American Nightmare kept that nickname and his whole presentation when he returned to WWE a few short weeks later at WrestleMania 38 and since then fans have been eager to see him finish his story and finally become WWE Champion – a feat his legendary father Dusty Rhodes never achieved in his career.

In a clip from his documentary Becoming Cody Rhodes, The American Nightmare alludes to why he left AEW to the shock of many in early 2022, dispelling many rumours from the time:

“This is my one request in this entire documentary. This one answer I don’t want edited in any capacity, don’t even edit this part. I can’t tell you why I left AEW, I can’t and I won’t but I’ll tell you the reasons that were said that didn’t actually matter.

“I didn’t leave AEW because of money and I didn’t leave AEW because of other talents. I left AEW because of a personal issue. That’s it.

“But the by-product of leaving AEW is the opportunity to go for the biggest dream I ever had and the first dream that I had in my life.”

What’s next for Cody Rhodes in WWE?

Cody Rhodes’ immediate future sees him clash in a rubber match with Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam. Both men have picked up a win over each other ever since Lesnar caused issues between them by attacking Rhodes on the night after WrestleMania 39.

Inevitably, Rhodes will surely be looking to get back on track to capture the richest prize in WWE and many believe he is still the man who will eventually dethrone Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship down the line.

If you use any quotes from this article please credit original source and then h/t with a link back to TJRWrestling for the transcription.