In an unveiling dialogue with DDP Yoga, the victor and reigning Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, Cody Rhodes, explicitly articulated why he had to opt for an abrupt departure from WWE in 2016. Rhodes feared he would gradually lose his skills in the ring if he stayed.
Marking an end to his era as Stardust, Rhodes took the plunge in the year 2016, redefining himself through an independent wrestling career and participation in various different wrestling promotions later on.
Reflecting on his decision to leave WWE during the interview, Rhodes admitted to the public why he made that tough call. He stated,
“I rushed to exit, something they rarely allow. Apologies. Quite frankly, I drafted a post indicating my departure even before finalizing my release papers. I was done. I needed to make the decision official, to hold myself accountable to it. Go ahead, sue me if you want. … It was a struggle for me to be in this spot.”
“Detachment was my path towards betterment. I was deteriorating, whether it was my basic wrestling skills, mental health, and also expressive abilities. Every key aspect was negatively affected. I refused to be the guy who, ‘Oh, he just managed to pull it off. Oh, he is really giving his heart and soul into it.’ On the contrary, I wanted to offer more than simply my heart and soul. … There was no option left but to exit. That’s why my departure transpired so abruptly.”
Following his venture out of WWE, Rhodes embarked on a transformative journey, capturing the ROH World Championship title in 2017 and playing a pivotal role in kickstarting AEW at the dawn of 2019.
Rhodes made a U-turn to WWE in April 2022, after bidding farewell to AEW in February the same year. His triumphant return was marked by winning the Undisputed WWE Title at WrestleMania 40 in April 2024.
First Conversation with WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes Reflecting on Finishing the Story
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