Cody Rhodes’ tenure in AEW sparked a range of opinions, with some fans embracing him while others found him polarizing. Nonetheless, his time there elevated him to such prominence that WWE decided to bring him back into a prominent role.
During his stint with AEW, Rhodes was under the guidance of Arn Anderson. Reflecting on this period in a recent “Foundation Radio” podcast appearance, Anderson described their collaboration as “remarkable,” though he acknowledged that some of their storylines, like burning Rhodes’ attire and making extreme threats, were somewhat excessive.
“Given my history with Dusty, Dustin, and then Cody, it was clear that his departure had a significant impact,” Anderson said. “It took a little while for people to fully grasp that he was really gone.” Anderson noted that fans frequently inquired about a potential reunion with Rhodes after his exit, though this eventually subsided. He believes their partnership was well-received and left a lasting impression.
Additionally, Anderson shared his advice for up-and-coming wrestlers, emphasizing the importance of storytelling in the industry. He pointed to his brief WWE SummerSlam appearance as an example of how effective long-term storytelling can be, bridging the gap between his AEW days and the present. “Someone managed to connect all the way from AEW’s start to now in a brilliant way; that’s what I call long-term storytelling,” Anderson remarked.