ANOTHER Reason Why Cody Rhodes Left AEW Revealed
There was more to Cody Rhodes' shocking AEW split than just money...
Following on from recent reports that money played a factor in Cody Rhodes' departure from All Elite Wrestling (with one suggesting the former EVP asked to the highest-paid person on a roster featuring CM Punk and Bryan Danielson), Sports Illustrated's Justin Barrasso has shed light on another reason for the split.
Per Barrasso's report, Rhodes losing booking power hurt Cody "more than any loss he suffered in the ring."
Rhodes had seen the opportunity to contribute towards AEW's booking as a way of paying tribute to his father, who spent time as a booker for Jim Crockett Promotions, WCW, TNA, and more during his career. When Cody's EVP power started waning in this department, it appears to have caused friction.
AEW president and founder Tony Khan is widely reported to have restructured his company's creative processes in December 2019, making the vast majority of the creative decisions himself. While other EVPs The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega are seemingly happy in their roles, it was stated earlier this week that Cody wanted more, including a bigger hand in creative.
Now, Rhodes appears set to return to WWE - a company where creative control scarcely exists beyond Vince McMahon. He will surely know this going in.