Kenny Omega Reveals How Cody Rhodes Built AEW

Cody Rhodes was instrumental in AEW’s inception, lending credibility to the promotion alongside Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks. AEW positioned itself as a wrestler-run alternative to WWE, emphasizing creative freedom and fan-centric storytelling. Cody’s leadership role as an Executive Vice President (EVP) extended beyond in-ring performance, as he worked to maintain locker room unity and foster a collaborative environment. His vision for AEW was rooted in teamwork and the collective spirit that distinguished the promotion from WWE’s more corporate structure.

As AEW evolved, Cody’s differences with his colleagues began to surface. Philosophical divides on wrestling’s direction—with Cody favoring old-school storytelling and his peers leaning toward modern, high-octane styles—created tension. By 2021, Tony Khan’s increasing control over AEW’s creative direction further marginalized Cody’s influence. Khan’s 2019 decision to take over booking, compounded by public acknowledgments of his centrality to AEW’s success, seemed to diminish the contributions of figures like Cody.

Cody’s eventual departure began with a seemingly innocuous text from WWE’s Bruce Pritchard. This set up a meeting with Vince McMahon, who flew to Cody’s home—a gesture that highlighted WWE’s intent to bring him back. Initially, Cody viewed the meeting as an opportunity for closure, not a career pivot. However, as discussions deepened, the possibility of a WWE return grew more appealing.

Cody’s exit left a significant leadership void in AEW. Known for his level-headedness and ability to mediate conflicts, his absence became evident during high-profile controversies such as the All Out 2022 backstage brawl. Without Cody’s guidance, disputes between top stars like CM Punk, The Elite, and others escalated, leading to public relations nightmares and internal divisions.

Tony Khan’s management style faced scrutiny as AEW’s backstage issues mounted. Khan’s reliance on high-profile signings and major announcements began to lose effectiveness, while his reluctance to address locker room discontent alienated fans. The absence of a unifying figure like Cody exacerbated these issues, contributing to declining ratings and attendance.

AEW’s original mission—“for wrestling fans, by wrestlers”—appeared to fade in the wake of Cody’s departure. The company’s promise of being a fan-driven alternative to WWE seemed increasingly hollow as internal strife and inconsistent messaging tarnished its image.

Cody’s return to WWE at WrestleMania 38 was a defining moment. Greeted by a thunderous ovation, he realized that fans were ready to embrace him as a top star. This reception validated his decision and reignited his belief in achieving his lifelong goal of becoming WWE Champion. Unlike his earlier WWE tenure, Cody returned with greater leverage, respect, and a proven track record as a major draw.

Cody’s departure exposed systemic issues within AEW, particularly the challenges of balancing creative freedom with cohesive leadership. His absence revealed the importance of having steady, respected figures to mediate conflicts and uphold a shared vision.

Cody’s return also marked a turning point for WWE. Struggling with stagnant ticket sales and creative stagnation, WWE leveraged Cody’s star power to reinvigorate its brand. His journey from AEW back to WWE symbolized not just a career resurgence but also a shift in wrestling’s power dynamics.

𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗧𝗦
Story & Cut: Mike Greenberg
Narrator: Mike Greenberg

𝗖𝗢𝗣𝗬𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗜𝗠𝗘𝗥
This video is made by journalists and contains copyrighted material which is being used under the Fair Use doctrine of the United States Copyright Act. Fair Use allows use of copyrighted material without the permission of the copyright holder for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting and research. The views and opinions expressed in this video are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any of the copyright holders.

#codyrhodes #wwe #darksideofthering

License ID: 536xwAoKy8r

Exposing The Backstage Politics Behind Cody Rhodes AEW Departure
Exposing How Cody Rhodes Broke AEW & Fixed WWE!
Exposing The Backstage Politics Behind Cody Rhodes’ AEW Departure

Dark Truth about Cody Rhodes’ AEW Exit Exposed! (Backstage Politics)

[ThePunk]

No wonder AEW went so downhill after Cody left. He was the only one that knew what to do.

[aidanbagwell]

Hm it’s almost like the company he created turned on him and that’s why he left

[overkilo]

Ngl Kenny outgrew the elite. He needs to leave

[Imsosorrytrash]

That picture of Tony at the end looking scared and clueless is perfect

[sonofage]

i kinda like kenny omega, but i can't stand the "young" bucks

[briandelgado]

Letting cody walk was a huge mistake firing punk was the nail in the coffin. AWFUL ENTITLED WRESTLING is in its wcw 2000 phase aka fat elvis era

[legendkillla]

Whether or not people want to accept it that first all in show and AEW yeah Tony's the pocketbook but in reality Cody Rhodes are the one who put all that shit together and without him it failing makes sense

[patricknoll]

Oh, you mean there is more to running a company than "dream matches" and internet clips?

[worldelite]

I remember it was all four Cody, Kenny and the Young Bucks under contract from NJPW, got the idea of creating a Wrestling company and then months later AEW was born. Crazy, 4 former IWGP Champions.

[JT-Rebel]

uuuummm, what's with that random bit of Mandy Rose taking off her apparently A.I gets bricked up too 🤣

[davidedemurodominijanni]

Somebody in AEW forgot who the AEW mastermind is and is now ruining what AEW was meant to be.

[ZzzzJesse]

Wrestling production? We just go out there and do 3 Canadian Destroyers, kick out at 1, use tables and randomly take 3 weeks off with no storyline, this is awesome!!” 😂

[Adub-xhmt]

Ok how he did he not know they need medical staffing 😂

[mattlambert]

Cody leaving is the reason aew is where it's at

[nikhilsastry]

Tony definitely cried after letting go of cody, punk, penta now ricky stark, fenix are jailed in aew lockerroom 😂

[maxnova]

Tony clown biggest mistake letting him go

[waldogreen]

Explains why it has went to complete crap since he left