10 Things That Didn't Go The Way AEW Wanted

We'll never know if the recent actions of - and reactions to - Cody Rhodes were going to lead to a monumental heel turn that would've positioned the American Nightmare as the top villain of Tony Khan's promotion. By all accounts and purposes, Cody had no interest in embracing the hate, which makes so much of the last year or more of Rhodes' AEW antics all the more head scratching.

In 2019, Cody was the top singles act babyface in AEW. And more still, fans treated him like the top singles act babyface in AEW.

Regardless of how Rhodes was continually utilised as a hero throughout his entire tenure with the promotion, the last year bordered on farcical when it came to Cody.

What if Cody fights the foreign menace of Anthony Ogogo while cutting promos about equality? Sections of the crowd veered away from Rhodes. What if Cody symbolically leaves his boots in the ring and cuts an emotional speech teasing retirement? Sections of the crowd veered away from Rhodes. What if Cody talks about being a proud first-time father? Sections of the crowd veered away from Rhodes. What if Cody literally sets himself on fire? Sections of the crowd veered away from Rhodes.

The list goes on when it comes to examples of AEW and Cody doing all they could to position the performer as a figure who audiences should want to get behind. Multiple, lengthy absences, Triple H-lite claims and a certain 'my sh*t don't stink' smug aura were just some of the reasons why fans struggled to react to the three-time TNT Champion with anything but boos.