Cody Rhodes Says He Felt Disrespected In AEW & ‘I Wouldn’t Stand For It’ But There is Still Love He Has for AEW

The Ringer recently released a teaser clip for today’s episode of The Bill Simmons podcast featuring Cody Rhodes as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Rhodes’ thoughts about his departure from AEW in 2002 and how he had felt disrespected for his reason for leaving but still has some love for the company.

“There’s clearly bad blood, but there’s also clearly respect and love. In the end, the way I see it is, if I felt disrespected ever at WWE, that’s one thing. That’s a company that was built…that’s the Yankees. That’s the flagship of it all. If I ever felt (at WWE) that I was a number on a sheet, maybe, but feeling disrespected at something I built with my friends. That we built. Feeling disrespected there, I wouldn’t stand for it. Brandi and I both, I’m so blessed to have her. It was one of those where it was, fuck it. ‘I did way more here than you think, and you’re going to find out the moment I’m out the door.’ I don’t believe in the cold-hearted back-stabbing type of revenge. The greatest revenge on Earth is success. I felt like we were sitting on something wonderful. Something great. A huge, potentially, what I was doing with the American Nightmare, as a bad guy, as a good guy, something in between. We’re sitting on some magic. If I’m not going to do it in the house that I literally, with Matt, Nick, and Kenny built, then buddy, I’m going elsewhere.”

“There’s clearly bad blood, but there’s also clearly respect and love.”

Cody Rhodes discusses what led to his departure from AEW. pic.twitter.com/U8RYZ90rHD

— The Ringer (@ringer) July 31, 2025

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com