Tag: AEW

Cody Rhodes Hasn’t Signed With WWE & An AEW Return Is Reportedly Possible

Apparently, AEW’s door hasn’t shut on Cody Rhodes just yet.

Cody Rhodes is thought to be an imminent WWE signing following his AEW departure this week but, as reports would have it, the former All Elite EVP isn’t completely out the door just yet.

The American Nightmare was reported to have fashioned a move away from the promotion due to a number of issues, including a loss of booking power, financial disagreements, and other personal problems with Tony Khan. His wife, Brandi, left along with him. And while Cody is rumored to be WWE bound, sources claim she won’t be joining him there should he sign.

Vince McMahon is reportedly very excited over the possibility of having Rhodes back on the roster and plans to give him a major push if it comes to that. There’s already talk of the former AEW superstar being involved in tapings this coming weekend while there’s been speculation pointing to a match at WrestleMania 38.

As things stand, though, Rhodes is still a free agent, and reaching a deal with AEW isn’t yet out of the question.

According to Fightful (H/T WrestlingNews.co), the show Rhodes To The Top has not been canceled, and the direction is still being discussed. The show is centered on Cody and Brandi’s AEW life but was produced by Shed media US and Warner Horizon Unscripted Television so, theoretically, it could go on without involvement from AEW.

Said publication also reports that Rhodes has not put pen to paper on a deal with WWE and, until such a time, there’s a chance of him returning to AEW.

Khan was said to be in a poor mood after talks ended with Rhodes earlier this week, which could be because he wanted him to stay. The former TNT Champion had mentioned his unhappiness to the other company EVPs around two weeks ago, but they all expected him to agree to a deal.

Source: TheSportster

Photos: AEW Stars Meet Melissa Joan Hart After AEW Dynamite

Actress Melissa Joan Hart was in attendance at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, TN, for last night’s AEW Dynamite.

The cameras cut to the former Sabrina the Teenage Witch star sitting in the front row, shortly before the Bryan Danielson vs. Lee Moriarity match.

After Dynamite went off the air, The Young Bucks, Leva Bates and Vickie Guerrero shared pictures of themselves backstage with Hart.

Meanwhile, Hart took to Instagram to thank the Bucks for having her at the event. Hart shared another picture of herself and a friend reacting to a spot during the Mercedes Martinez vs. Thunder Rosa No DQ Match.

Hart, a lifelong pro wrestling fan, was involved in a brief Twitter beef with Kevin Owens in 2015. She would later blame WWE’s creative for Owens’ “lazy” character on WWE TV.

Hart wasn’t the only celebrity in attendance for last night’s Dynamite. Also appearing was actor Martin Kove, who was involved in a backstage segment with AEW Women’s World Champion Dr. Britt Baker. Kove is best known for portraying the character of “John Kreese” in The Karate Kid, and the film’s popular spin-off series, Cobra Kai.

https://twitter.com/VickieGuerrero/status/1494163811925962753

Source: Wrestling Inc.

New Details On Why Cody Rhodes Left AEW, Cody To WWE Update, Brandi

Sports Illustrated’s Justin Barrasso reports that multiple sources have said Brandi is not expected to join Cody in WWE.

It was also said that Cody could begin working for WWE as soon as this weekend, potentially visiting the WWE Performance Center in Orlando to film segments for his return.

Rhodes left WWE back in 2016 after being frustrated with a lack of direction, and dissatisfaction with certain members of the WWE creative team, mainly over his Stardust character. It was noted that this will be a non-factor in his upcoming return to WWE as he is expected to have a far different relationship with Vince and the writing team.

Regarding Cody’s AEW departure, Barrasso reports that another key factor in the decision was losing all responsibilities related to booking. Rhodes was originally a part of the process, but Khan, as AEW’s Head of Creative, has taken full control.

There is no timeframe for Rhodes’ return to WWE, but Barrasso reports that sources have confirmed he is headed back. There is also no word on if a deal has been reached. It’s believed that Rhodes could end up being a WrestleMania 38 surprise, or WWE could hold him off until the RAW After WrestleMania, which is the biggest RAW episode of the year.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

AEW Dynamite Preview 2/16/22

Tonight’s AEW Dynamite on TBS will air live from the Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, TN with more build for the upcoming Revolution pay-per-view.

* CM Punk will reveal the time, place and rules for rematch against MJF

* Bryan Danielson vs. Lee Moriarty

* Face of The Revolution Ladder Match Qualifier: Wardlow vs. Max Caster

* Chris Jericho and Jake Hager vs. Santana and Ortiz

* No DQ Match: Thunder Rosa vs. Mercedes Martinez

* AEW TNT Champion Sammy Guevara defends against Darby Allin

Cody Rhodes Was Reportedly Upset With Tony Khan Over This particular Issue

Cody Rhodes had a few problems with AEW president Tony Khan before parting ways with the promotion.

Cody Rhodes has left AEW along with his wife Brandi, sending shock waves through the wrestling world. The former TNT Champion is now the hottest free agent in the business, and he has been heavily linked to WWE since the news of his departure broke.

It was initially reported that Rhodes and AEW president Tony Khan were at loggerheads over contractual issues but, according to Andrew Zarian, there were a few other incidents involving Tony that got under Cody’s skin.

One of those is rumored to be a video in which Khan implied AEW’s success was all down to him.

“Somebody sent me a link to a Forbes article and said, ‘This really upset certain people, especially Cody’. I don’t if that’s 100% true but this kind of plays into everything,” Zarian said on Wrestling Observer’s We’re Live Pal (H/T WrestleTalk.com).

“It was the Forbes video, the profile they did on Tony, and Tony starts it off by pretty much listing, ‘I’m the GM, I’m the booker, I’m the this, I’m the…’, essentially he’s a one-man show.”

It’s reported that Rhodes wasn’t the only one upset by Khan’s comments. Zarian added that there may have been a few other issues leading to Rhodes’ exit.

“I don’t know if that’s necessarily one of the things, but it was a multitude of things,” the wrestling insider continued.

Over the last few months, there have been reports citing various problems between Rhodes and the other AEW EVPs. Khan was also on the end of lots of criticism for his handling of certain issues, including Big Swole’s comments on her release.

Cody has since issued a statement on his departure in which he thanked Khan and several other AEW personalities.

“I loved my time at AEW. Amazing locker room. Amazing fans. Amazing people.” He wrote as part of said statement on social media, “The revolution was indeed televised, and I’ve been incredibly lucky to be part of that.” He added, “I have had so many milestones and beautiful memories of this renaissance… through sweat, blood, tears, literal fire, and all that… I left it all on the mat.”

Source: TheSportster

Backstage Talk On Why Cody Rhodes Left AEW, More On Cody – WWE

Regarding Cody and Brandi leaving AEW, word as of last Friday was that Cody wanted a big money deal, but several within the company didn’t think that a new deal was going to happen, according to Fightful Select. It was noted that Cody and Brandi have not been quite as connected to the AEW locker room in recent years as they were when AEW first launched, with word coming out that Cody had become distant from the other Executive Vice Presidents, Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks.

It’s believed by some that Cody could be returning to WWE soon. It was noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that there was a lot of talk at Monday’s RAW about Rhodes possibly returning to his former employer, who he was with from 2006-2016. There is said to be chatter within certain WWE circles about Cody’s future with the company, but nothing is official as of this writing. Furthermore, Ariel Helwani reported that Rhodes and WWE are in talks about a return.

Shortly before AEW and Cody confirmed the departures today, WWE officials were aware of the situation and reportedly knew ahead of time that an announcement would be made, according to the Fightful report. It was noted that Rhodes and WWE have at least had discussions, but WWE did know that an announcement on Rhodes’ AEW departure would be made this morning.

There is no word on if Cody’s WWE return deal would include a spot on the roster for Brandi, or when we might see Rhodes return to the WWE ring.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Cody And Brandi Rhodes Part Ways With AEW

Today Cody Rhodes has announced that he and Brandi Rhodes are officially leaving AEW. The former three-time TNT Champion has been working as a free agent since the start of the year. However, the two parties have not been able to come to terms on a new contract. Because of that, his time with the company has come to an end.

Cody Rhodes released a lengthy statement addressing the situation on Twitter. During that, he took the time to thank Tony Khan. He also gave nods to many members of the AEW roster.

“I have loved my time at AEW. Amazing locker room, amazing fans, amazing people. The ‘revolution’ was indeed televised, and I’ve been incredibly lucky to be part of that. First, I want to thank Tony Khan. He’s taken the baton and run with it, and it was an honor to work for him and to know him on a personal level. He’s a beautiful soul. Obviously need to thank my incredible wife and the mother of my baby girl, Brandi, for all of her love and support throughout this journey together and the amazing relationships she fostered with Kulture City and the American Heart Association.

“I also need to thank Nick and Matt Jackson (these two, whether they know it or not, took an undesired and not confident lir cub and gifted me the confidence to become a leader of the pack), Kenneth Omega, Chris Jericho, Chicken…we started the fire. I must thank Tim W/Keith M/Greg W and the amazing production crew who understood and captured the vision with such grace, I can’t name everybody. But thank you to Megha, Margaret, Harrington, Jeff Jones, Dana, Tony Schiavone, Bern, Raf, and the hardest worker in the game, QT Marshall, for propping me up and kicking me in the ass when I was running on fumes.

“I must thank all my kiddos… MJF, Jade, Sammy, Darby, Lee, Ricky, Tom, The Gunns, Brock, Velvet, Nyla, Aubrey, Turner, Vanilla, Solo, Spears, Julia, Anna, Will, Wardlow, Sonny, Fuego 1 and of course, -1. While we’re at it, give Jade the Codyvator! Also need to take a moment to thank the great partners at Warner Media including Brett, Sam, and the rest of the team. I have so many milestones and beautiful memories of this renaissance…through sweat, blood, tears, literal fire, and all that…I left it all on the mat.

“Everything pales in comparison to the final contribution I was empowered to lead at the company, the community outreach team. In the most inward moments, your outward behavior and your ability to take fame/influence and do something of value for the communities you visit (whether the cameras are on or off) is the highest honor. I am confident Amanda Huber will lead the department with style. I’m so proud of my creations and contributions and the items I supported or collaborated on with such wonderful professionals.”

Following Cody Rhodes’ statement, AEW President Tony Khan also commented on the news. He took the time to thank both Cody and Brandi for their work within the company. Not just for their in-ring runs, but also what they have done with the community outreach program.

“Cody and Brandi Rhodes were integral to the launch of All Elite Wrestling. Cody’s ability combined with his boldness and his passion for our industry and his love for community outreach helped AEW deliver on our mission to give fans what they needed for far too long. Something new, innovative and lasting. Brandi helped us shape the AEW story, and I appreciate how hard she fought for us both in the ring and out of the ring, competing in the women’s division while advancing our efforts at inclusion and civic causes, including great partnerships with Kulture City and the American Heart Association.

“I have immense respect and appreciation for Cody and Brandi. And I wish them both the best as they move on from AEW. Thank you, Cody and Brandi!

“Tony Khan CEO, President, General Manager & Head of Creative, All Elite Wrestling”

Brandi also issued a statement on her departure from AEW:

It is currently unknown what is next for Cody Rhodes. However, it was reported earlier today on the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, that there was talk backstage at Raw this week about him returning to the company.

https://twitter.com/CodyRhodes/status/1493601980215930880
https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1493602087481061377

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Brandi also issued her own statement today after the departures were confirmed. She wrote the following:

“A heartfelt thank you to every fan that has supported me in AEW. It was an honor to be the company’s first Chief Brand Officer. The thank you list is long so I’ll try not to wander. Thank you to Kulture City, Special Olympics Illinois and the American Heart Association for allowing me to cultivate these amazing partnerships. Thank you to every AEW Heel that helped me build a dream community of female fans. Thank you to every AEW wrestler and talent that worked hard to create a great locker room environment. Thank you to the production team, make up team, and seamstresses. Thank you, Dustin, QT, Jerry Lynn and Leva Bates, for every ounce of energy, help and encouragement you provided. Thank you to my husband for being that constant rock and partner every single day. Thank you to TNT, TBS and WarnerMedia for treating my family like your family. Thank you to Tony Khan for giving me this opportunity and platform. I move forward with my daughter and this quote in mind.

“We must take time to define our own path. Too quickly we can find the world defining it for us” – Unknown

Also…

“I’ll see you on the flippity flop” – Michael Scott

https://twitter.com/TheBrandiRhodes/status/1493602002353463310

AEW Rampage Preview 2/11/22

Tonight’s AEW Rampage on TNT was taped earlier this week from the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ.

* Bryan Danielson will speak

* The Young Bucks vs. Roppongi Vice

* AEW Women’s World Champion Britt Baker vs. Robyn Renegade in a non-title match

* Hook vs. Blake Li

* AEW World Tag Team Champions Jurassic Express defend against The Gunn Club in the main event

Tony Khan Admits He ‘Can’t Renew’ All AEW Contracts Due To Incoming Stars

According to the company’s president Tony Khan, AEW roster cuts are unavoidable.

Tony Khan has confirmed that an exodus of AEW talent is imminent as the company will not be renewing every contract that is due for renewal.

During a recent chat with Scott Fishman of TVInsider, the AEW president addressed the issue of his promotion’s ever-expanding roster and acknowledged that the reason so few wrestlers have parted ways with AEW was that he didn’t want to fire people during a pandemic unless it was absolutely necessary.

“When we started a lot of people had contracts that were a couple of years long and a lot of them are coming up. I have really tried hard to be very considerate of the people on the roster, especially going through the pandemic,” Khan said.

TK admitted that he would be unable to renew all the contracts that are up for renewal, in part because AEW has brought in some big-name talent in recent months, including Bryan Danielson, Adam Cole, and Keith Lee.

“Really only two places were running and the other place was cutting people left and right. I did want to give some job security to people. Now with so many wrestlers coming in, I can’t renew all the contracts,” Khan confessed. “I’ve had to make some tough choices based on ability, fan response, or both. I try to maintain the best roster I can for the company and fans,” he added.

Whereas WWE often releases talent who still have time left on their deals, Khan prefers to keep his wrestlers under contract until their deals expire, which means he technically isn’t firing them. In the wake of another wave of mass WWE layoffs last year Khan actually called into question the legitimacy of the contracts WWE offers to performers.

“Anybody who signs a contract [with WWE] these days, is not signing a real contract, in my opinion,” TK proclaimed during a Busted Open Radio appearance. “It’s a temporary arrangement. People who come wrestle with me, a lot of these people are frankly lifers and they know that. There are some people who are here and work really hard. There are some people who come in and work more than really hard.”

Source: TheSportster

Tony Khan Brought Jay White To AEW Dynamite To Make Up For “Forbidden Door” Botch

The AEW debut of top NJPW star Jay White was just put together on Sunday.

As noted, White made his AEW Dynamite debut last night during a backstage segment that saw The Young Bucks and Adam Cole attack Roppongi Vice (Trent Beretta, Rocky Romero). After taking out Romero with a BTE Trigger, the trio went to finish off Beretta until Cole stopped and pointed out White as he approached. They backed off as White sent Beretta flying face-first into a production truck. White then walked away, stopping to nod at The Elite and compliment Matt Jackson on his earrings.

White was later referenced in another backstage segment with Cole and The Bucks. The brothers looked ahead to defeating RPG Vice on Rampage, and Cole said White can have their backs on Friday’s show. The Bucks pointed to how White was once enemies with the injured Kenny Omega, but once you take the oath to be in The Bullet Club, it’s for life.

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1491592268431691776

Khan took to Twitter after Dynamite and revealed that he didn’t secure White until Sunday. He brought White in because he botched his own definition of “The Forbidden Door” when first teasing a surprise for last night’s show. In his post-Dynamite tweet, Khan said he brought White to Dynamite because he heard the fan feedback and wanted to make sure Dynamite was special.

“I didn’t secure @JayWhiteNZ until Sunday. I realized after the fact that Friday night I butchered my own definition of Forbidden Door in hyping tonight. I heard the fans’ feedback, & wanted to ensure that tonight was a special #AEWDynamite for all. Thank you everyone who watched!” Khan explained.

White will also appear on AEW Rampage this Friday night, but it appears he has not been signed to a contract.

White is currently working a storyline in Impact Wrestling with bellow Bullet Club members Guerrillas of Destiny from NJPW, and Chris Bey from Impact. The February 19 No Surrender event will see White take on Eric Young in singles action, while G.O.D. challenge Impact World Tag Team Champions The Good Brothers. White has made a few appearances for Impact since last year due to their working relationship with NJPW.

Source: Wrestling Inc.