Coming back to WWE was a significant shift in Cody Rhodes’ career. Shifting companies isn’t unique in wrestling, but with Rhodes, it was shocking to everyone. The last company that Rhodes was a part of changed North American wrestling’s landscape as we know it. AEW’s launch shot off Rhodes and The Elite into another sphere.

Having helped build this company, everyone thought leaving AEW was a hard decision for the American Nightmare. But he recently revealed that it was the easiest thing he ever did.

Cody Rhodes reveals how leaving the EVP position was the easiest thing “ever”

Sitting down with GQ magazine, Cody Rhodes opened up about the major shift in his career ever since his return to WWE. From his resurgence in the independents to his biggest wrestling match at WrestleMania 39, Rhodes talked about everything. In the middle of it, the interviewers asked Rhodes if the decision of leaving his executive vice president position at AEW was hard on him and he had this to say.

He said, “No, it was the easiest thing I ever did. It’s because I had a personal issue that I wasn’t going through, over, or around. I was just going to steer clear of it. If anything, I wanted to look at what we had done at AEW and say, ‘Amazing, what a wonderful time, a beautiful memory, and very special in every way. Now it’s time to move on.’ You know, all good things.”

Rhodes’ statement comes days after Triple H labeled AEW as a “secondary promotion” in the documentary American Nightmare: Becoming Cody Rhodes.

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But having seen Rhodes only in WWE, wrestling Seth Rollins and Brock Lesnar, you might be wondering why would he find it difficult to leave the alternative to WWE. Well, here’s why.

Helping The Elite and Tony Khan to build AEW

Having proved his worth to the wrestling industry, clawing his way into the independents, just like Drew McIntyre, Rhodes went one step ahead. Having made friends with The Elite in NJPW, the quartet, and Rhodes with his wife, Brandi Rhodes, signed with Tony Khan to start the wrestling promotion to rival WWE. This was met by many doubters, Tony Khan’s father also being one of them.

Today, AEW is one of the biggest wrestling brands apart from WWE. They have even amassed a fan following who wanted to see a different flavor of wrestling in North America. But this company would not have started without Rhodes’ involvement and that’s why many will find it shocking that Rhodes’ decision of leaving AEW was easy for him.

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Tell us what you think about Rhodes’ response to leaving AEW in the comments below.