Cody Rhodes Reveals Mega WWE Contract After AEW Exit
Cody Rhodes appeared on the Flagrant podcast this week. the Undisputed WWE Champion spoke with hosts Andrew Schulz and Akaash Singh ahead of Crown Jewel, where he’s scheduled to battle Gunther for the Men’s Crown Jewel Championship.
Here are some highlights of what the American Nightmare said about:
His WWE Contract: The contract that Cody signed when he returned to WWE before WrestleMania 38 was worth 15 times more than what he was making when he left the company in 2016.
Brandi and Tony Khan: There were “so many factors” that went into his decision to leave AEW and return to WWE. It has nothing to do with his wife Brandi’s relationship with AEW President Tony Khan, despite rumors to the contrary. Cody confided that his relationship with (at least some of) his AEW co-founders had soured, and felt it was best to depart in order to preserve their longterm relationships.
“It was just a situation that felt icky. This is how I look at it in the end, I had really great memories with all of them, all the way back to All In. I had a really beautiful experience for a while, and I wanted to keep the memories good.”
Vince McMahon’s Role in His Return: Cody revealed how Vince McMahon learned of his departure from AEW not being a storyline but real, leading to McMahon making a personal visit to his home in Atlanta to get him signed.
The ‘Cody Lie’: There was a mention of a “Cody Lie,” a self-aware acknowledgment of how ‘charming’ he can be, and pro wrestling blurring the lines between fact and fiction.
Career Journey: He spoke about his evolution from being underutilized as Stardust, his time at AEW where he helped establish the company, to returning to WWE. He highlighted the financial gamble he took when leaving WWE, how he and his wife Brandi managed during lean times, and his motivation to honor his father Dusty Rhodes’ legacy.
Other topics discussed include the emotional impact of becoming a father, the process of putting together wrestling matches are put together and the power of connecting with the audience through genuine moments.
