10 Most Shocking AEW Controversies

Of all those AEW folks fans ever expected to see rock up on WWE programming, very few understandably had one of the company's EVPs - and golden shovel wielder - strutting out to the mother of all pops at WrestleMania 38 on their lists.

Yet, news breaking of Cody Rhodes eventually working for the promotion he helped bring into existence without a damn contract earlier this year quickly led to speculation that all may not be completely well for The American Nightmare within The Land of All Elite.

Sure enough, by February both Cody and Brandi Rhodes were All Elite no more, with numerous theories inevitably trickling onto the Internet as to why the former TNT Champion would happily choose to part ways with the revolution that was AEW.

And while Cody would confess to having nothing but respect for his one-time fellow EVPs and Tony Khan, explaining that his reason for departing "was a personal matter and we couldn't move past it", this high-profile, controversial exit and Rhodes' presentation since parting ways with AEW has likely done more damage than TK would ever admit.

Gone seemingly are the days of being buried on WWE arrival after jumping rival ship, with Cody's newly obtained main eventer Sports Entertainer status likely turning the head of many an All Elite EVP and top star as time rolls by.