Nick Khan comments on Cody Rhodes' AEW run; relationship with Triple H & fan backlash on WWE creative

Cody Rhodes helped in founding AEW before his WWE return in 2022.

In his recent appearance on What’s Your Story? With Steph McMahon, WWE President Nick Khan commented on Cody Rhodes helping found All Elite Wrestling (AEW) before his WWE return at WrestleMania 38 in 2022. The American Nightmare requested his release from the WWE back in 2016.

He went on to achieve success on the independent circuit and in TNA prior to him and the rest of the Elite forming AEW in 2019 alongside Tony Khan. During his appearance, Khan spoke about Rhodes’ initial departure from the company and forming AEW.

“He asked to be released from a guaranteed contract, and he goes on the independent circuit, and he helps to start up another company.

Sometimes you’ve gotta leave home to be considered an adult. And I think because he had grown up at WWE or around wrestling, WCW, NWA, WWE, he had to leave and go do his own thing so he wouldn’t just be Dusty’s son.“

Khan also commented on Rhodes’ return in 2022, where he revealed himself as the mystery opponent for Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 38 in Dallas.

“And when he came back, 2022 WrestleMania in Dallas, the crowd went fucking crazy for him. And I thought at that moment, ‘Man, he made all the right moves, and he took risks, and his risks paid off’. And as you know, he’s one of our top guys right now. He’s a gem.”

Nick Khan opens up about his working relationship with Triple H

Khan also discussed his journey in WWE, and also opened up about his relationship with CCO, Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque.

“Paul (Levesque) and I, Triple H and I, we make mistakes in business every day. The good thing is we have one another, where we can say, ‘I think I did this. What do you think?’ ‘Ah, I don’t think that was the move. Maybe we could think of it the other way.’

‘Okay, let’s try that,’ and then to the executive committee meeting, the executive committee part of me, the senior leadership team will say, ‘Hey, this got messed up. We’re gonna pivot,’ we’re gonna do X, Y and Z instead and everyone rolls in the same direction.”

Khan joined the Stamford-based promotion in 2020, initially serving as president and chief financial officer under the then CEO Vince McMahon. He later rose to CEO before the company’s acquisition by Endeavor and its merger into TKO. After the transition, Khan was named president, while Triple H assumed the role of Chief Content Officer in 2023.

WWE ignores ‘online noise’ in creative decision

During his appearance, Nick Khan also discussed how he handles online criticism from fans, stating that he refuses to let online chatter ruin his day.

“It’s not real life. I try to keep my head down and work. If I’m doing something wrong, someone I trust will tell me, I’m not going to let someone with 14 followers decide how I feel about my day.“

Khan added that he and Triple H give special instructions to the creative team, telling them to ignore comments made on social media and trust their instincts.

“We train our creative team to ignore the noise. Trust the data. Trust your instincts. Don’t let Twitter or Reddit or whatever throw you off your game…

We try to program for the universe, not the people who want to criticize you. That doesn’t mean we don’t care what people think, but it means we care more about everyone, not just the loudest voices.“

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