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Newsweek
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Cody Rhodes And Brandi Rhodes Address AEW Departure
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Cody Rhodes, a foundational figure in the launch of All Elite Wrestling and a former WWE Champion, recently opened up alongside his wife, Brandi Rhodes, about the portrayal of their departure from AEW in early 2022. Speaking on the premiere episode of Cody's podcast, What Do You Wanna Talk About?, which debuted this week, the couple briefly touched upon how they felt the narrative surrounding their exit was handled. Cody and Brandi were a huge part of AEW's formation in 2019, with Cody serving as an Executive Vice President and Brandi as the Chief Branding Officer. Their decision to leave the company after three years was a big moment in the wrestling landscape, leading to Cody's eventual return to WWE at WrestleMania 38. While they didn't delve deeply into all the specifics of their departure on the podcast, Cody suggested their story was altered after they left. "We're not gonna get too far into it, but when we left the alternative promotion, we were also slightly rewritten," Cody stated. He then added that they "[We] were portrayed very Dark Knight-esque." More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation This "Dark Knight-esque" allusion refers to the 2008 Batman film, where the hero takes the fall for crimes to protect the city's image, becoming a hunted figure despite his heroic deeds. Cody seemed to imply a similar scenario where their public view was shaped into a more villainous or misunderstood light following their AEW exit. Brandi Rhodes, also present on the podcast, appeared to embrace this darker portrayal with a touch of humor. "No. Believe it all for me. Let the darkness in. Just enhances my beauty. I'm like the wicked stepmother or something," Brandi commented, playing into the "Dark Knight-esque" comparison. Cody Rhodes and Brandi Rhodes of TNT's All Elite Wrestling attend the WarnerMedia Upfront 2019 arrivals on the red carpet at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on May 15, 2019 in New York... Cody Rhodes and Brandi Rhodes of TNT's All Elite Wrestling attend the WarnerMedia Upfront 2019 arrivals on the red carpet at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on May 15, 2019 in New York City. More The couple primarily shared stories from other promotions during the rest of the podcast episode and did not expand further on their reasons for leaving AEW. While Brandi has not officially signed with WWE, she has made several appearances on WWE programming, notably celebrating with Cody when he won the WWE Championship at WrestleMania XL in 2024. Cody made his own impactful return to WWE television at Saturday Night's Main Event on May 24, 2025, setting up a major tag team match for Money in the Bank. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Time of India
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
This is how AJ Lee saved Bayley's WWE career and inspired the Hugger Era
(Image Via WWE) Bayley is one of the most popular WWE Superstars , but her journey was not always easy. Before becoming the 'Role Model,' she had to work hard to find her place. She did not always feel confident or sure about her character. But with some good advice and fan support, Bayley found her famous 'Hugger' gimmick that made her stand out. Bayley has now opened up about her early days in WWE. She spoke about the struggles she faced and how WWE legend AJ Lee helped her in a big way. That moment helped Bayley grow and build the character that fans loved for years. Bayley's match with AJ Lee fueled the "Hugger" movement Bayley did not plan to become the 'Hugger.' It started during a match with AJ Lee on NXT. Something simple she did in the ring got a big reaction from the fans, and everything changed after that. In a chat on Insight with Chris Van Vliet , she shared: by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo "It was actually my match with AJ, we were doing something where I literally went to hug and I was just going to hug her as a fan, and then just me hugging her got a crazy reaction ... the next match, they just started chanting like 'Bayley's gonna hug you,' and that was never my thought of being like 'Oh I'm gonna be a hugger,' ... but it was from that match." Cody Rhodes talks to Bayley about the state of women's wrestling: What Do You Wanna Talk About? Bayley said the crowd helped shape her character. She also shared that the idea for her 'Hugger' style came from a movie character she loved growing up. "My character came from Superstar Molly Shannon, Superstar the movie. That's where I stemmed it from. I was like, 'Okay I can have all the nervous antics like her and then I could just be a super fan.' And Dusty [Rhodes] loved it." AJ Lee's advice has changed everything When Bayley first joined WWE, she felt out of place. She did not dress like the other women and was scared that she might lose her job. That is when AJ Lee stepped in to help her feel better and stay true to herself. "I thought I was going to get fired my first month because I wasn't girly enough, cause I didn't dress the part ... one of my bosses I guess asked AJ to talk to me because I was not dressed appropriately as in like, I didn't look presentable enough," Bayley recalled. AJ did not agree with the criticism and gave Bayley advice that made a big difference. "She looked at him, kind of annoyed at him, and was like 'I got it.' And then grabbed my arm and talked to me for an hour ... basically told me, 'You don't have to change yourself to get to where you want to be, but you do work for this company, so you need to meet them halfway' ... that again changed everything for me and that was when I started figuring out the hugger stuff." Also Read : Becky Lynch set to compete in a huge title match at WWE Backlash 2025 Bayley's story shows how tough the start can be, but with help, belief, and fans by her side, she found her way. Thanks to the advice of AJ Lee and her own creativity, the 'Hugger' became one of the most loved characters in WWE history.
