Cody Rhodes Reveals 'Bad Blood' and Disrespect Led to AEW Departure

In a preview clip of Rhodes' interview with Bill Simmons, he revealed that it hurt him harder to be disrespected in AEW because he created the company with his friends, The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, and, of course, Tony Khan. The American Nightmare also shared that his wife, Brandi, was also unhappy with the company and had the same feelings.

There’s clearly bad blood, but there’s also clearly respect and love. In the end, the way I see it is, if I felt disrespected ever at WWE, that’s one thing. That’s a company that was built…that’s the Yankees. That’s the flagship of it all. If I ever felt (at WWE) that I was a number on a sheet, maybe, but feeling disrespected at something I built with my friends. That we built. Feeling disrespected there, I wouldn’t stand for it. Brandi and I both, I’m so blessed to have her. It was one of those where it was, f—k it. ‘I did way more here than you think, and you’re going to find out the moment I’m out the door.’ I don’t believe in the cold-hearted back-stabbing type of revenge. The greatest revenge on Earth is success. I felt like we were sitting on something wonderful. Something great. A huge, potentially, what I was doing with the American Nightmare, as a bad guy, as a good guy, something in between. We’re sitting on some magic. If I’m not going to do it in the house that I literally, with Matt, Nick, and Kenny built, then buddy, I’m going elsewhere.”

Did The Young Bucks Respond To Cody?

In an interesting turn of events, it appears that Matt and Nick Jackson replied to Rhodes via their official Twitter account on Wednesday night. The former AEW Tag Team Champions seemed to be mocking Rhodes with their cryptic tweet:

“You know what hurts the most is the... the lack of respect. You know? That's what hurts the most.”

Last year, there seemed to be no bad blood when the Young Bucks revealed to Sports Illustrated in a February 2024 interview that they “will always have a lifetime bond” with Rhodes, and even noted that they “talked to him at least every week.” Have things changed for the once friends?