Cody Rhodes, known for his role on WWE’s SmackDown, recently opened up about his decision to leave AEW, a company he helped establish, to return to WWE. Speaking on the podcast Six Feet Under with The Undertaker, Rhodes acknowledged that his move was a significant risk, weighing heavily on his career and future in professional wrestling.
The Weight of Making a Career-Changing Choice
Rhodes revealed that he carefully considered whether returning to WWE was a mistake, given his previous departure.
“I had to really weigh it out. Is this a mistake? They didn’t see it the first time,”
he said.
“They saw a little of it, but they didn’t see it. Is this the biggest mistake ever? You think the first time leaving is the biggest mistake ever. Coming back, my fear was like, this could be the biggest gamble of all.”
Balancing Stability and Ambition
Though Rhodes had a lucrative and stable position outside the ring, including an executive role, he was driven by his desire to evolve and keep pushing forward in his wrestling career.
“I had a good gig. Contrary to what you hear, and you guys know how the internet likes to internet, but I had a good gig. I had an executive job. I loved the Bullet Club guys, but evolving and moving myself forward, it was just a lot to weigh out,”
he explained. Rhodes acknowledged the stakes, knowing any failure would impact his reputation more than WWE’s.
Understanding the Stakes and Future Implications
By risking his established status in AEW and his executive role, Rhodes embraced uncertainty for the chance to redefine his wrestling legacy. His return highlights the difficult choices wrestlers face between security and personal ambition. What remains to be seen is how this gamble will affect his long-term trajectory in WWE and the broader wrestling industry.
Cody Rhodes says jumping from AEW to WWE in 2022 was a gamble:
“I had to really weigh it out. Is this a mistake? They didn't see it the first time. They saw a little of it, but they didn't see it. Is this the biggest mistake ever? You think the first time leaving is the biggest… pic.twitter.com/VyjWd8R5rd
— WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) January 28, 2026
