Cody Rhodes lost the match against Randy Orton in WWE's Sunday Night's Main Event (Image via WWE)
Cody Rhodes’ ascent to the top of WWE was driven by a choice to leave the company when his character and creative direction no longer aligned with his goals. Rhodes didn't take his WWE exit in 2016 as the end of his wrestling career.
Instead, he used the independent wrestling circuit to find new opportunities, new opponents and to create a stronger identity.His success outside of WWE would ultimately help to turn his career around. With the help of major independent events and the creation of AEW, Rhodes proved he could do more in wrestling than just work in the ring. That experience would come full circle when he returned to WWE in 2022, setting the tone for one of the defining achievements of his career.
How Cody Rhodes rebuilt his wrestling career after leaving WWE
Cody Rhodes left WWE in 2016 after not being able to get the right direction for his character Stardust. He had fought with established names, but still felt like he hadn’t reached the main-event status he wanted. His departure allowed him to reimagine his wrestling identity and pursue matches and creative opportunities that had been scarce during his initial WWE tenure.Rhodes continued to work in the industry, competing on the independent circuit, including in Ring of Honor, New Japan Pro-Wrestling and Impact Wrestling.
These appearances helped refine the American Nightmare character and make him a big draw away from WWE. He also gained experience, connections and knowledge of the wrestling business by working for various promotions.
How Cody Rhodes helped establish AEW through All In
One of the most important milestones in Rhodes’ rebuilding journey was All In, the independent wrestling event Rhodes organized with Matt and Nick Jackson of The Young Bucks in 2018. The event was conceived to challenge the idea that independent wrestling couldn’t draw a large arena crowd without the backing of WWE.All In sold out its 10,000-seat venue in Chicago, demonstrating the commercial potential of a major wrestling event organized outside of WWE. Its success built momentum for a larger project and demonstrated that established independent performers could generate significant fan interest.Rhodes was one of the co-founders of All Elite Wrestling in 2019 along with The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega and Tony Khan. In his role as executive vise president, he assisted in the early development of the promotion while still actively wrestling.
He’s also the first-ever AEW TNT Champion, so he has quite the list of accomplishments.
How Cody Rhodes returned to WWE and won gold
Rhodes made his return to WWE at WrestleMania 38 in April 2022 as the surprise opponent for Seth Rollins. His return instantly made him a huge draw, and his subsequent feud with Rollins led to a grueling Hell in a Cell match where Rhodes wrestled with a torn pectoral muscle.Upon his return, he accomplished yet another monumental feat, winning the Royal Rumble in both 2023 and 2024.
The victories only strengthened his case as a top contender and kept the story going of his quest to win the championship that his father, WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes, never won.In April 2024 at WrestleMania XL, Cody Rhodes defeated Roman Reigns to win the Undisputed WWE Championship, finally completing the journey that is often referred to as finishing his story. This win was more than a championship. It was the career-defining moment that tied together his early frustrations, his independent success, his time in AEW and his WWE comeback.
Rhodes’ career is a case study in how leaving an established promotion can create opportunities for reinvention. His own run helped him forge a unique identity; he was obviously good at promoting in All In, and AEW increased his influence in the industry. Such experiences would ultimately lead him back to WWE and his championship success, a notable career rebuild in professional wrestling.