Cody Rhodes was one of All Elite Wrestling's pillars. Its influence was not limited solely to what happened within the quadrilateral: it was also a key part in creative development, in the media projection and in the construction of the initial identity of the company. His departure to WWE marked a before and after for him and for AEWleaving a symbolic and strategic vacuum in the young company.
When Rhodes left WWE in 2016, he did it with a clear conviction: Someday he would return, but he would do it as a figure of greater relevance than Vince McMahon saw in him at the time. In the independent circuit, in NJPW, Roh and finally in AEW, Cody He consolidated his reputation as a versatile, charismatic and business vision fighter. The strategy worked. In 2022, his return to WWE was not that of a simple return, but that of a consecrated superstar. Since then, its position has grown to 2025, into the undisputed face of the company and in a centerpiece of its television product.
► Cody Rhodes, prodigal son?
This inevitably feeds a recurring question among fans: Could Cody Rhodes return to AEW one day? The history of wrestling has shown that nothing is impossible, and the doors rarely close completely. However, the present does not seem to point towards that direction. Current relationships between Rhodes and AEW do not cross their best moment, and With the growing corporate and media rivalry between AEW and WWE, The possibility of a return is further complicated.
In the end, the decisive factor It seems to be Cody's personal dream. WWE was always his main objective, the place where he wanted to write the most important pages of his legacy. And, along the path he is touring, Everything indicates that your name will be recorded in the history of the company Not only as a fighter, but perhaps also as a key figure in his management and creativity after racks.
A return to AEW, although not impossible, It seems unlikely in the short and medium term. Rhodes is more focused than ever in cementing his legacy in WWE, and if something has demonstrated throughout his career he knows how to turn his goals into realities. The question is no longer whether it will return to AEW, until where its impact on WWE will come before hanging the boots.
