Cody Rhodes Recalls Emotional Moment He Decided To Return To WWE

Cody Rhodes’ initial meeting with Bruce Prichard and Vince McMahon about returning to WWE hit him “like a car wreck.”

After leaving WWE in 2016, Cody Rhodes wrestled all over the world on the independent scene and in companies like Ring of Honor, TNA, and NJPW. It was during this time that he joined Bullet Club and became close to The Elite’s Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks.

Ultimately, the group’s friendship led to the 2018 All In event in Chicago, and subsequently to the formation of All Elite Wrestling with Tony Khan. Rhodes, The Bucks, and later Omega were named EVPs in the organisation, as well as being the top-billed stars.

In 2022, everything changed, as Rhodes made the shock decision to leave the company he helped create and returned to WWE at WrestleMania 38.

Cody Rhodes “Felt Like A Kid” After Meeting With Bruce Prichard & Vince McMahon

On the latest edition of his podcast, What Do You Wanna Talk About?, Cody Rhodes looked back on the conversation that changed his trajectory with his guest Bruce Prichard.

Prichard recalled flying down to meet Rhodes alongside Vince McMahon, and said the only thing he had in mind was telling The American Nightmare it was time to “come home.”

“Our anticipation and our expectation, frankly, was one of, ‘Hey, man, Cody, we want you to come home.’ And that was our sole purpose, to say ‘come home.’ The door’s open and we’re glad you went away and did what you did, we’re very happy for you.

“We feel that the best place for you is back home, and come do it with us,” Prichard said. He added, “There was a feeling on our side (that) we were not leaving until we had, at least, a handshake agreement as far as what the future was going to be and what the future was going to be with you.”

Despite going into the meeting “structured and prepared,” those words hit Rhodes “like a car wreck.”

“What was funny was even though I was really well structured and prepared and had things I wanted to talk about and also wanted to be there in the moment, it hit me like a car wreck.

“It hit me like a car wreck in one where you’re not hurt, one where you’re shocked. But once I got out of that room, I became a little kid again. And as a little kid, I remember asking you, ‘what do I do?’

Prichard responded, telling him, “I think you know what you should do.” The meeting changed everything for Rhodes, who then had to tell his wife the news.

“When you call your spouse, when you call your wife, and you’re like, ‘Hey, something happened,’ cause that wasn’t the plan.”

The decision proved to be a good one for Cody Rhodes, who has become one of the top stars in WWE and was the man to end both Roman Reigns’ record 1316-day World Title reign and John Cena’s final run with the gold.

Do you think Cody Rhodes was right to return to WWE? Would you have preferred him to stay in AEW? Let us know your thoughts below!

H/T to WrestlingNews.co for the above transcription.