WWE superstar Cody Rhodes’ journey from All Elite Wrestling (AEW) to WWE continues to attract attention, as notable moments involving his past AEW rivals and the recent actions of The Rock spark conversations about Cody Rhodes AEW WWE career highlights. This renewed focus comes amidst growing buzz over cross-promotional appearances and career milestones involving several standout personalities.
Cody Rhodes’ Memorable AEW Tenure and Notable Rivalries
Before making his return to WWE, Cody Rhodes spent three eventful years with AEW, where he quickly established himself as a fan favorite. Based in Jacksonville, AEW provided Rhodes with a platform to secure the TNT Championship three times, and he became widely recognized for leading the Nightmare Family faction. His time with the company was marked by numerous significant storylines and adversaries.
One of the most talked-about matches during Rhodes’ AEW run occurred on episode 74 of Dynamite, where he joined forces with Red Velvet to take on NBA icon Shaquille O’Neal and Jade Cargill in a mixed tag match. The encounter saw Shaquille O’Neal and Jade Cargill emerge victorious in a decisive 12-minute bout. Following her AEW success, Jade Cargill signed with WWE and has since become one of its prominent stars. Recently, The Rock, an eight-time WWE Champion, was seen alongside Shaquille O’Neal, adding more fuel to the ongoing discussions among fans about career-crossing encounters in the wrestling world.
The Rock acknowledged the impressive stature of Shaquille O’Neal with a tongue-in-cheek reference, as captured in a recent caption:
“Got me out here lookin’ like Kevin Hart 😂 Love U big brother 👊🏾”
—The Rock, WWE Champion
Criticism Emerges Over Current WWE Storyline Progression
Recent developments on WWE SmackDown, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, put the spotlight back on Cody Rhodes. The show opened with a heated promo exchange between Randy Orton and Rhodes, also known as the American Nightmare. However, former WCW World Heavyweight Champion Vince Russo expressed disapproval over the segment’s approach, citing redundancy in the show’s creative direction.
Sharing his perspective on a BroDown episode, Russo remarked that the rivalry between Rhodes and Orton felt repetitive and mirrored previous weeks’ segments:
“We had a promo between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton. We had the same exact promo four weeks ago. The same, exact word-for-word promo. Thenewe had the deal where Fatu hit the ring to back up Jimmy Uso. They did the same exact thing last week.”
—Vince Russo, Former WCW World Heavyweight Champion
Looking ahead, Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton are set to face off in the 2025 King of the Ring tournament final at WWE’s Night of Champions event. The winner of this highly anticipated match will earn an opportunity to compete for a world title at SummerSlam, raising the stakes for both competitors.
Cross-Promotional Moments Shape WWE’s Current Landscape
The unique intersections between current WWE stars and former AEW personalities continue to energize the fan base, while recent appearances by Shaquille O’Neal alongside The Rock underscore the ongoing relevance of crossover moments. With Cody Rhodes pursuing another major title run, and familiar criticisms resurfacing from industry figures like Vince Russo, the intrigue surrounding Rhodes’ career remains high. WWE fans and industry watchers alike now look to the upcoming King of the Ring final to see whether Rhodes can once again carve out a defining moment in his renowned career.
