Cody Rhodes Reiterates He Won't Go Back On AEW World Title Stipulation
“That stuff was real. It hurts. It is a large regret that that ever happened, but it did happen and I can live with it.”
AEW EVP Cody Rhodes has reiterated that he will never challenge for the AEW World Championship.
Back in 2020, Rhodes faced off with Chris Jericho for the gold, with the caveat that if Cody lost, he could never challenge for the belt again. Alas, Jericho won, and Cody has so far stuck to his word.
Now, in a recent interview with Popculture, Rhodes has doubled down:
"This will disappoint so many and maybe it won't, maybe this will excite, but two things I can guarantee you, and I'm not saying this to wave one hand while you're not looking at the other. I'm telling this from the most honest standpoint, I am not going to turn heel on this company. And I would retire before I did that. Now I'm the head of the community outreach group. I have a little girl now. I'm not going to be doing heel stuff on TV.
"I am not turning heel and I'm not going back on my word to challenge for the title. That stuff was real. It hurts. It is a large regret that that ever happened, but it did happen and I can live with it. And I got to do that dance with Chris Jericho, and I will not go back on that stipulation, me personally. If Tony wanted to change things he could. And again, you can never say never in wrestling, but I do think there's this idea that evil corporate need would turn the stipulation around and challenge for the world title, that I can say never will happen."