12 Signings That Changed The Wrestling World

WWE was doing just fine coming into WrestleMania 38.

That still often stale product had found a way to convince 65,000+ people to cram themselves into AT&T Stadium for two nights. But that doesn't change the fact their All Elite rivals were unquestionably putting on a far more intriguing and satisfying pro-wrestling show on a weekly basis at that time and were showing no signs of slowing down.

The tide began to turn, however, the second a refreshingly not repackaged 'American Nightmare' was revealed as Seth Rollins' "mystery" opponent on Night One.

Just like that, a former AEW EVP choosing to kiss goodbye to his baby as he looked to fulfil his WWE Championship dreams both made that exciting world he'd left behind feel like the minor leagues and breathed new life into a company in desperate need of a main event hero to really get behind.

Over the next two years, a firing on all cylinders Cody Rhodes' quest to Finish his Story, alongside the well-received Bloodline saga, were the two major long-term narratives that helped transform WWE from a place where dreams regularly went to die into a logical and consistently rewarding product capable of selling out just about every venue they booked.

Both of those well-booked storylines would then masterfully collide at both WrestleMania 39 and 40, with that latter event kicking off a promising new 'Paul Levesque Era' led by their Nightmare quarterback as WWE look to continue breaking records with possibly their most important signing of the last ten years on top.

Is this WWE product anywhere as hot in a world where Rhodes doesn't jump ship in 2022? And are AEW in a stronger position with one of their original EVPs still in the mix? Who honestly knows?

What's clear, though, is that Cody's decision had quite an effect on not just his life/career, but wrestling as a whole.