WWE star Cody Rhodes reveals AEW departure was stemmed from deep feelings of 'disrespect'

Cody Rhodes was one of the guys who helped AEW reach the success it has today

Former WWE Champion Cody Rhodes has finally addressed the controversy surrounding his surprising departure from All Elite Wrestling, the very company he helped to create.

Speaking candidly on The Bill Simmons Podcast, The Ringer, Rhodes provided new insight into his decision to leave AEW, making it clear that it was rooted in feelings of personal and professional disrespect from within the organization.

Cody Rhodes left AEW because of disrespect

In a new interview with The Ringer, Cody Rhodes explained that his AEW exit came down to a sense of deep disrespect, something he couldn’t tolerate, especially in a company he helped create.

“There’s clearly bad blood, but there’s also clearly respect and love,” Cody said. “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.”

Rhodes clarified that while he might accept being overlooked at WWE, it was a different story in AEW, a brand he built from the ground up alongside The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega.

“Feeling disrespected at something I built with my friends. That we built. Feeling disrespected there, I wouldn’t stand for it.”

Rhodes credited his wife Brandi for helping him make the call to leave AEW. He described the decision as emotional and defiant, a stand taken for his self-worth.

“Brandi and I both, I’m so blessed to have her. It was one of those where it was, f*** it. ‘I did way more here than you think, and you’re going to find out the moment I’m out the door.’”

Rather than retaliate with politics or bitterness, Cody said he wanted to show the wrestling world his value in the best way he knew how: through excellence.

“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,” Rhodes reflected. “What I was doing with the American Nightmare… 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.”

His return to WWE has been a storybook ride, culminating in a historic WrestleMania win and a world championship reign that continues into 2025.

Cody Rhodes will be facing John Cena at WWE SummerSlam 2025

Cody Rhodes now looks ahead to his next major challenge, defending the Undisputed WWE Championship against John Cena at SummerSlam 2025. It’s a highly anticipated rematch of their WrestleMania clash earlier this year, where Cena handed Rhodes a crushing defeat.

With Cena set to retire at the end of the year, Rhodes could be the one to send the legend off in dramatic fashion.