Bully Ray took AEW fans to task for their treatment of Cody Rhodes prior to his exit from the company.
Rhodes was instrumental in the formation of All Elite Wrestling and served as one of the company’s EVP’s. However, in February of 2022, the world was shocked to learn that Rhodes and his wife Brandi would be leaving AEW. In an August 2023 interview, Cody Rhodes admitted that leaving AEW was an easy decision for him and hinted at a “personal issue.”
Speaking on a recent edition of Fight Nation, WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray gave his own thoughts on Cody Rhodes’ AEW exit, saying that fans pushed him out of the company. When AEW was formed, Rhodes was one of the biggest babyfaces in the company, but toward the end of his time there, he was mercilessly booed, and Ray believes this reaction played a factor in Cody taking his leave.
”AEW fans have nobody to blame but themselves for the Cody situation. It’s as if AEW fans welcomed Cody with open arms and pushed him away. In my eyes, and don’t tell me about the Anthony Ogogo situation because Ogogo has f***** gone gone.
Those fans pushed that man out of that company. I’m not saying that’s the #1 reason why Cody’s out, there’s other reasons, but those fans started to boo him out of the buildings.
[Imitating fans] ‘We want Cody to turn heel and we’re not getting what we want, waaah.’
AEW fans know better than Cody does, than we do. The guy was the savior and all of a sudden he was public enemy #1.” (h/t WrestlingForum)
When Did Cody Rhodes Return To WWE?
Cody Rhodes returned to WWE at WrestleMania 38 the following April, serving as Seth Rollins’ hand-picked opponent from Vince McMahon. Rhodes was victorious in his return, and the following year, he main evented WrestleMania 39 in an unsuccessful attempt to unseat Roman Reigns as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.