Cody & Brandi Rhodes Leave AEW

In some shocking news, founding members of All Elite Wrestling, Cody Rhodes and his wife Brandi, have departed the promotion. AEW President Tony Khan released a statement confirming the news today via AEW's social media pages, while Cody also issued a statement thanking AEW for the time spent.

Not only were Cody and Brandi on-screen talent, but Cody also worked backstage as an EVP, while Brandi worked as the Chief Brand Officer. It was reported around Christmas time that Cody was working without a contract- which was problematic as he was the TNT Champion. Cody's last appearance saw him lose the TNT Championship at the Beach Break special to Sammy Guevara in a thrilling ladder match.

Rumours are abound that the Rhodes family will re-join WWE, and it is currently unknown exactly what prompted this departure, but any updates will be posted here on The Arena.

Thoughts: Cody & Brandi felt like they were on the outside looking in a lot of the time through their AEW run, with many online joking about the Cody-verse, as it felt like all Cody's feuds and stories existed separately from everything else going on in the company. There was frequent talk about friction between Cody and the other EVPs- Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks- but to see Cody actually depart the company is a shocker.

Would also be weird to see Cody back in WWE after all the anti-WWE rhetoric he put out there. Of course, we remember the throne breaking, but even as recently as that rambling promo he did on Dynamite setting up the ladder match with Sammy, we saw a few shots at WWE throughout that incoherent mess. But you never say never in wrestling.

One of the first big departures from AEW is one of the EVPs and founding members. Crazy times. A very interesting story to follow.