Cody Rhodes and WWE Executive Bruce Prichard Talk Backstage Details of His 2022 Return from AEW

Set in the WWE warehouse with iconic memorabilia behind them, Rhodes and Prichard discussed the pivotal 2022 meeting that resulted in Cody re-signing with WWE, just weeks after appearing on AEW Dynamite.

"We were not leaving until we had at least a handshake agreement," Prichard said.

Former WWE CEO Vince McMahon flew to Georgia with Prichard just one day after television to meet with wrestling's hottest free agent. The agreement came together "very quickly," as Prichard recalled, "we didn't want any grass to grow under our feet before we got a chance to meet with you in person."

The WWE higher-ups wanted Cody to come home. According to Prichard, they were glad he went away [to the independent scene and AEW], but felt the best place for him to be was WWE.

While Rhodes came to the meeting "structured and prepared" with things he wanted to talk about, he shared that, "once I got out of that room, I became a little kid again."

Rhodes was not expecting his return match to be against Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 38, using the entrance music and monicker he made famous outside of the company.

"It hit me like a car wreck," Rhodes said, "one where you're not hurt, you're shocked." When Rhodes called his wife Brandi after the meeting, he expressed that returning to WWE was not the plan, but he knew what he was supposed to do.

An argument can be made that the return of Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 38 is the moment that began the current era of WWE we're in now.

Next to the return of CM Punk, the moment when "wrestling has more than one royal family" echoed throughout AT&T Stadium changed the trajectory of the entire industry.

Rhodes has headlined every WrestleMania since, notably "finishing his story" by winning the WWE Undisputed Championship from Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia, then losing that same title to John Cena, who won for a historic 17th time, at WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas.

Rhodes has not been seen on WWE television in 3 weeks, after being written off by an attack from rival Drew McIntyre, which gave him time to upcoming film "Street Fighter" and welcome his second child. It is expected he will return soon to set up a match against McIntyre at WWE's upcoming PLE WrestlePalooza on ESPN.