10 AEW Wrestlers Tony Khan Totally FUMBLED
3. Cody Rhodes
Cody Rhodes' booking in AEW was a perplexing mix of era-defining brilliance and baffling nonsense, ultimately leading to his departure for WWE. It's unknown exactly how much control Tony Khan had/shared when it came to 'The American Nightmare's trajectory but the project coming to an end just three years into the company's existence spoke to how much he was perfectly happy to relinquish.
As a founding figure and one of AEW’s most recognisable faces, Cody was positioned as a top star from Night One. Yet, a series of self-imposed limitations such as his vow never to challenge for the AEW World Title (and then subsequently hang around a little too long in the TNT ranks) gradually boxed him into a corner.
Instead of evolving into a megastar, Cody became embroiled in midcard feuds that did little to enhance his character or the brand. His storylines often felt disconnected from the rest of AEW’s narrative too, and his insistence on playing a traditional babyface began to clash with the more nuanced characters around him. This combination of creative stagnation and fan backlash eroded his standing to a remarkable extent by early-2022, making WWE’s offer of a fresh start and a clear direction impossible to resist.