10 Most Important Days In The Creation Of AEW

10. Cody Rhodes Leaves WWE (22 May 2016)

Stardust became "the star that left them on the dust" on 22 May 2016, when Cody Rhodes was granted the WWE release he'd tweeted about the day before:-

Professionally, Rhodes was in a rut. Competing primarily on Main Event and Superstars at the time he was let go, Cody was frustrated by his perceived misuse, citing WWE's decision to persist with the Stardust character long past its sell-by date and the refusal of several pitched ideas amongst other peeves. Thus, he was released during a period of major roster upheaval, with Wade Barrett, Damien Sandow, Hornswoggle, and others all leaving during the same month.

Cody's departure was a big story that year. A smart worker and tenured second-generation star, he had floundered in an environment that should have allowed him to flourish. None of it was his fault, so of course he valued himself more than WWE's push.

Afterwards, Rhodes' marketing nous came out as he released a list of wrestlers he'd like to face upon his no-compete clause's 19 August expiration. The likes of Adam Cole, Kurt Angle, and The Young Bucks all featured, and he wrestled Zack Sabre Jr. in his first post-WWE match that very day.