10 Biggest Disappointments From Cody Rhodes’ AEW Career
7. The World Title Stipulation
In one of Cody’s most celebrated promos, he introduced a self-imposed stipulation. If he failed in his quest to defeat Chris Jericho at Full Gear 2019, he would never again challenge for the AEW world title. This stipulation made it to another list on this very site, a list focusing on Cody’s AEW highlights.
Why? Because it added drama to his match with Chris Jericho, assuaged fan fears about wrestlers holding the pencil and seemed to open up all sorts of narrative possibilities.
Unable to go after pretty platinum, thus deprived of most wrestler’s main objective, surely Rhodes would have to be involved in some epic personal feuds instead? Alternatively, what incredible storyline could drag him back into the world title picture?
So why is this also on the disappointments list? Because the imagined ramifications looked set to play out across years and years of AEW storylines. However, instead of seeing those stories play out, “The American Nightmare’s” exile from the world title picture has been abruptly cut short. It looks like Cody is off to take a tilt at a WWE title instead.