Real Reason Cody & Brandi Rhodes Quit AEW For WWE

Money changes everything.

While the idea of foundational All Elite Wrestling figures Cody and Brandi Rhodes leaving the company was inconceivable a few short months ago, finances appear to have brought about their split from the Tony Khan-helmed promotion, which was announced yesterday.

Fightful Select stated when breaking the story that Cody had been seeking a big-money deal from AEW, though it became clear by Friday that the two sides weren't going to come to terms in a new deal. PWInsider's Mike Johnson has since corroborated that the decision was financial. Negotiations between Rhodes and Khan hit a snag over pay, leading to the split.

Brandi and Cody's initial three-year AEW contracts expired in December 2021. The duo had been working for the promotion as free agents since then. While many within AEW initially believed they would re-sign, this perception changed towards the end of last week.

WWE is now expected to sign the Rhodes on significant contracts. Nothing has been confirmed yet, though it is believed that the parties have met for negotiations.

Brandi and Cody both left WWE within days of each other in May 2016, leading, ultimately, to the events that enabled AEW's January 2019 launch.