10 AEW Stars Who Have Gone AWOL
5. Dustin Rhodes
Dustin Rhodes was a pivotal figure throughout the early phase of AEW's existence.
His classic match with Cody at its inaugural event was vital in informing fans that deep, almost torturous emotion was back on the national stage, and he was tremendous playing both wise, witty veteran and the ultra-sympathetic target of a heel beat-down.
Even in 2022, as he was phased down in importance, he worked a superb match against CM Punk on the April 20 Dynamite. The selling from both men was incredible in a match in which every move meant something. It was so good that you almost bemoan many of their peers for not thinking about it all quite as deeply.
Elsewhere, the wear and tear might be creeping up on the ageless cowboy at long last.
He suffered an injury against Lance Archer on Rampage a month prior, and, sadly, was far from sharp against Claudio Castagnoli on the August 24 Rampage. This at time of writing was his last appearance in an AEW ring, and while he's still involved in a coaching capacity behind the scenes, he himself revealed on Twitter last month that he is "doing some heavy thinking about the next step".