Cody Rhodes has reflected on his major 2016 WWE departure, telling The Rich Eisen Show that the entire post-WWE phase of his career was a “big bluff” that only stopped being a bluff once fans publicly stood behind him.
Rhodes requested his WWE release on May 21, 2016, after several years of creative differences and an unsatisfactory main roster run. The release was granted shortly after, and Rhodes went on to reinvent himself across multiple independent and international promotions before becoming one of the founders of AEW.
“When I left, when I put my statement out, when I hadn’t even signed my release papers, when I just walked, when the world mobilized on social media to support me, and then the list comes out, here’s who I’m going to be wrestling. Not only did they support me on socials, they did so with their own wallets and came to these small shows. It was a very big bluff, this is a big card game, and it was a big bluff.”
“The suit and ties, the braggadocio, the confidence, all of it ceased being a bluff the moment the fans actually stood behind me. I’m very much propped up by that fandom, and I’ve continued to be through every endeavor I took. The only thing I can say for those who are out there and they’re wanting to do more, it’s easy for me to say it now having got to the top of the mountain in the wrestling space and trying to build a new mountain. Then, it was a matter of surrounding myself with people who would support me.”
Rhodes is scheduled to defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against GUNTHER at Clash in Italy on May 31.
If you use quotes from this article, please credit The Rich Eisen Show and include a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
