WWE Rumors: Cody Rhodes Could Return For WrestleMania 2022 After AEW Departure

Cody Rhodes shook up the world of professional wrestling Tuesday by announcing that he was parting ways with AEW. The news was immediately followed by rumors that the wrestler could return to WWE as the company gears up for WrestleMania 38.

Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp reported on Jan. 17 that Rhodes was a free agent and working with AEW without a contract. One month later, Rhodes is discussing going back to WWE, TMZ reports.

“I have loved my time at AEW. Amazing locker room. Amazing fans. Amazing people. The ‘revolution’ was indeed televised, and I’ve been incredibly lucky to be part of that,” Rhodes said on social media, thanking AEW President Tony Khan and several AEW wrestlers.

Rhodes left WWE in 2016 after a decade-long stint with the company. He helped launch AEW in 2019 and was named one of the company’s executive vice presidents.

According to TMZ, there was a recent fallout between Rhodes and Khan as the president has gained more visibility. Arguably AEW’s most popular wrestler two years ago, Rhodes leaves the promotion as a much bigger star than when he was last with WWE.

WrestleMania 38 is only a month and a half away. Set to take place at AT&T Stadium on April 2 and 3, it’s WWE’s biggest show of 2022. Looking to fill a stadium in back-to-back nights for the first time, it would make sense for WWE to sign Rhodes and put him in one of the event’s marquee matches.

WWE is already trying to bring Stone Cold Steve Austin out of retirement for WrestleMania, according to Sapp. A match between Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar is expected to headline WrestleMania 38.