Cody Rhodes Tries To Retire On AEW Dynamite

Cody Rhodes' professional wrestling career may be over.

The American Nightmare was squashed by Malakai Black on the August 4 'Homecoming' edition of AEW Dynamite and the former NXT Champion annihilated Cody with a Black Mass before pinning him with one foot.

Following the match, Rhodes cut a promo and said all he wanted to do was win the championship that was taken away from his father. He then reflected on establishing All Elite Wrestling and admitted that while there had been in-fighting, he will always love his friends in The Elite.

The two-time TNT Champion thanked the fans and was about to leave his boot in the ring but he was suddenly attacked from behind by Malakai Black, who decked him with a crutch and walked off with the boot. After Dynamite went off the air, Cody took off his other boot and left it in the ring before he headed backstage.

Cody also hinted at retirement ahead of the show, writing on AEW's community app (H/T WrestlingNews.co): "Whichever way it goes tonight (hopefully mine) - I just wanted to share where i'm at in this moment. This has been a marvelous almost 3yr run - I've been incredibly lucky to be one of a few to carry the banner for this genuine revolution. When this all started... some laughed at myself (some laughed at The Bucks/Kenny also) and now it's just become a given that this show is destination programming. The table has been set, others can eat. I say this with no bitterness in my heart, thank you for all of this. This is a legacy. This lives forever."

Few believe Cody is genuinely retiring, though, and many suspect he is just taking time off to film the second season of The Go Big Show.