Cody Rhodes Opens Up on AEW Exit and WWE Meeting With Vince McMahon & Bruce, Prepares for Wrestlepalooza Title Defense
On the latest edition of his What Do You Wanna Talk About podcast, Cody Rhodes had Bruce Prichard as a guest and they opened up about the whirlwind circumstances that led to his WWE return in 2022. According to “The American Nightmare,” a simple meeting with Vince McMahon and Bruce Prichard unexpectedly closed the door on his AEW run and set the stage for his monumental comeback at WrestleMania 38.
A Meeting That Changed Everything
Rhodes explained that when his AEW contract had expired, he sat down with Vince McMahon and Prichard to discuss his future. He went in believing it would be a “good meeting,” but not necessarily one that would result in a career-defining decision.
Prichard revealed their intentions were clear from the start: “Hey man, Cody, we want you to come home. The door’s open, and we’re glad you went away and did what you did. Very happy for you; but we feel the best place for you is back home.”
According to Prichard, WWE leadership was determined to walk away with at least a handshake agreement before the meeting ended.
Cody’s Reaction
Even though Rhodes came in prepared with talking points and ideas, he admitted the conversation hit him like “a car wreck” — not in terms of injury, but in how sudden and overwhelming the reality was.
“It hit me like a car wreck, one where you’re not hurt; one where you’re shocked,” Rhodes recalled. “I asked what I should do, and the best answer — but not the best answer — was, ‘I think you know what you should do.’”
Ultimately, when the prospect of facing Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 38 was put on the table, Rhodes knew he couldn’t turn it down: “Seth Rollins? WrestleMania? As me? Changing nothing? Keeping the music? Yes! That was a very fun, fun experience.”
Looking Ahead: Wrestlepalooza Awaits
Fast-forward to 2025, and Rhodes is now sitting atop WWE as the Undisputed WWE Champion. He is expected to put that title on the line against Drew McIntyre at the inaugural Wrestlepalooza event on September 20. With ESPN and WWE joining forces for the spectacle, this showdown could be one of Rhodes’ defining title defenses.
🎙️ Wrestling.news | Backstage Take
Cody Rhodes’ honesty highlights just how unpredictable the wrestling business can be. AEW helped elevate his profile, but when WWE came calling with an authentic “American Nightmare” presentation on the grandest stage, the decision became inevitable. That WrestleMania match against Rollins wasn’t just a return — it was a career reset that’s propelled him to the very top of WWE. For Rhodes, the meeting that was supposed to be routine ended up rewriting his destiny.
