Report: Warner Bros. Discovery Tried To Persuade Cody Rhodes To Stay In AEW

While Cody Rhodes exited All Elite Wrestling earlier this year, that doesn't mean the promotion's TV partner wanted him to go.

Cody and wife Brandi Rhodes departed AEW in February, three years after they helped found the company. After his exit, Warner Bros. Discovery made several efforts to keep Cody in AEW and the conglomerate inquired, completely separate of AEW, about Rhodes' interest in staying with Tony Khan's promotion after the Warner Bros. Discovery merger, according to Fightful Select.

Sam Linskey, the Associate General Manager and Senior Vice President of Scripted Original Programming for TNT, TBS, and TruTV was one executive who reached out to Cody, but Rhodes told those who got in touch that it was "time to leave the territory."

Rhodes had developed a good relationship with WarnerMedia from his roles on AEW TV, Rhodes to the Top, and the Go Big Show and Warner Bros. Discovery would have loved for The American Nightmare to stick with Tony Khan's promotion. Rhodes leaving wasn't a dealbreaker, though.

Following his AEW exit, Cody would return to WWE at WrestleMania 38 in April, being revealed as Seth Rollins' mystery opponent. The three-time TNT Champion is currently out of action, though, have suffered a torn pectoral muscle in June. He is expected to be out for the remainder of 2022 ahead of a possible return in early 2023.