Why Cody Rhodes Leaving Is Best For AEW

4. Minimal Risk Of Further Dissention Amongst The EVPs

Tony Khan Cody Rhodes
AEW

Rumours have ran rampant for the past couple of years that all was not well in the relationship between AEW's Executive Vice Presidents.

While Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks had a good relationship, the issues amongst the EVPs pertained to Cody Rhodes' working relationship with Kenny and the Jacksons. For whatever reason, Rhodes was not on the same page as his fellow EVPs on certain AEW matters and directions.

Regardless of any issues that existed between the four, Dave Meltzer at the Wrestling Observer reported that such problems between these EVPs had been ironed out and dealt with in recent times. Meltzer confirmed that there were spells where some EVPs weren't even on talking terms with their colleagues, but those issues had been put to rest.

PW Torch's Wade Keller goes one further on this topic, adding how recent changes to the responsibilities of the EVPs caused an issue with Cody. While Kenny Omega and Matt and Nick Jackson were fine with Tony Khan restructuring the creative process to give himself a larger role, Rhodes was reportedly not as happy with this change.

Despite Cody having put to bed his issues with Omega and the Young Bucks, one has to ponder whether it was just a matter of time before another such issue would rear its head. And of course, if the American Nightmare was given the hefty pay increase he'd requested, that also may have likewise seen his fellow EVPs request a similar hike in salary.

Senior Writer
Senior Writer

Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main day job, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks, Jamie Hayer, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg. Where his beloved Wrexham AFC is concerned, Andrew is co-host of the Fearless in Devotion podcast, which won the Club Podcast of the Year gong at the 2024 FSA Awards.