Cody Rhodes lost the match against Randy Orton in WWE’s Sunday Night’s Main Event (Image via WWE)
WWE announced the official release of Cody Rhodes in May 2016. All In’s success was the springboard to the creation of All Elite Wrestling in 2019. Rhodes continued to be an active performer and won the inaugural AEW TNT Championship in 2020. Rhodes returned to WWE at WrestleMania 38 in 2022 and soon was in the midst of one of the company’s top storylines. He tore a pectoral muscle that put him out for several months, but he came back to win the 2023 Royal Rumble. He then had a match with Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39, but Reigns kept the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. He won the 2024 Royal Rumble, becoming just the fourth man to win back-to-back men’s Royal Rumble matches, earning himself another shot against Roman Reigns. Career phase Key development WWE, 2007–2016 Intercontinental and tag team championship success Independent circuit Ring of Honor, New Japan Pro-Wrestling and other promotions All In, 2018 Major independent event with Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson AEW, 2019–2022 Executive vice president and inaugural TNT Champion WWE return, 2022 Returned at WrestleMania 38 Royal Rumble, 2023–2024 Won consecutive men’s Royal Rumble matches WrestleMania XL, 2024 Defeated Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship
Rather than seeing his departure as the end of his major-league career, Rhodes spent the next few years establishing himself all over the independent wrestling landscape. Nick Jackson, Matt Jackson, Kenny Omega, and Cody Rhodes were named executive vice president and Tony Khan president and chief executive officer of AEW. The defeat did not end Rhodes’ pursuit of the championship. Rhodes beat Roman Reigns in the Bloodline Rules main event to win the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania XL. WWE is selling the win as Rhodes completing his long-form narrative, the payoff of his return after years spent rebuilding his career outside the company.