Cody Rhodes Drops Cryptic Truth About AEW Exit: “A Huge Chapter That I Can’t Talk About… Yet!”
Cody Rhodes’ shocking departure from AEW in 2022 is still one of the most talked-about moments in modern wrestling history. As one of AEW’s founders and an EVP, nobody expected “The American Nightmare” to walk away from the company he helped build—only to return to WWE in dramatic fashion at WrestleMania 38.
Since then, Rhodes has been treated like a true megastar in WWE. He finally “finished the story,” becoming WWE Champion on the grandest stage, and earlier this month, he captured the Undisputed WWE Championship again by defeating none other than John Cena at SummerSlam.
But fans are still left wondering—why did Cody really leave AEW?
On his show, What Do You Wanna Talk About?, Rhodes dropped another cryptic hint when speaking to Becky Lynch. While admitting he’d love to write a book about his journey, he confessed that a massive part of his AEW story is something he simply cannot reveal right now.
“I would love to write a book, but an entire huge chapter is locked behind a wall,” Rhodes said. “Every time I say anything about it, I’m apparently rewriting history or remembering it wrong—even though the receipts are out there on social media.”
Rhodes admitted that talking about his AEW exit “hurts his heart,” because he desperately wants to share the truth. However, he suggested he may have to wait until someone else tells the story first—likely hinting that an NDA is keeping him from spilling the full details.
Earlier this year, Rhodes also admitted that leaving AEW wasn’t easy because it was something he “built with his friends.” Feeling disrespected in WWE would have been one thing, he explained, but feeling disrespected in AEW—the house he helped create—was something he just couldn’t tolerate. Many fans believe he’s subtly referring to AEW President Tony Khan.
For now, the mystery remains. But one thing’s clear: the real story behind Cody Rhodes’ AEW exit is still locked away… and when it finally comes out, it could shake the wrestling world all over again.
