Is Dustin Rhodes Leaving AEW Too?

By Connor Casey

Dustin Rhodes took to Twitter on Tuesday morning shortly after it was announced that both Cody and Brandi Rhodes would be leaving AEW. "The Natural" was one of the first wrestlers to sign with AEW when the company launched back in 2019, wrestled at its first pay-per-view (Double or Nothing 2019) and has been a consistent presence on TV ever since. He wrote that he has no intention of leaving, stating, "No I am not leaving. I like it here in @AEW."

Cody and Brandi have both since released statements regarding their departure, though neither revealed why they were choosing to leave. Cody's full statement can be seen below.

"I have loved my time at AEW. Amazing locker room. Amazing fans. Amazing people. The 'revolution' was indeed televised, and I've been incredibly lucky to be part of that. First, I want to thank Tony Khan. He's taken the baton and run with it, and it was an honor to work for him and to know him on a personal level. He's a beautiful soul. Obviously need to thank my incredible wife and the mother of my baby girl, Brandi, for all of her love and support throughout this journey together and the amazing relationships she fostered with Kulture City and the American Heart Association. I also need to thank Nick and Matt Jackson (these two, whether they know it or not, took an undesired and not confident lir cub and gifted me the confidence to become a leader of the pack), Kenneth Omega, Chris Jericho, Chicken...we started the fire. I must thank Tim W/Keith M/Greg W and the amazing production crew who understood and captured the vision with such grace. I can't name everybody, but thank you to Megha, Margaret, Harrington, Jeff Jones, Dana, Tony Schiavone, Bern, Raf, and the hardest worker in the game, QT Marshall, for propping me up and kicking me in the ass when I was running on fumes. I must thank all my kiddos... MJF, Jade, Sammy, Darby, Lee, Ricky, Tom, The Gunns, Brock, Velvet, Nyla, Aubrey, Turner, Vanilla, Solo, Spears, Julia, Anna, Will, Wardlow, Sonny, Fuego 1 and of course, -1. While we're at it, give Jade the Codyvator!

"Also need to take a moment to thank the great partners at Warner Media including Brett, Sam and the rest of the team," he continued. "I have so many milestones and beautiful memories of this renaissance...through sweat, blood, tears, literal fire, and all that...I left it all on the mat. Everything pales in comparison to the final contribution I was empowered to lead at the company, the community outreach team. In the most inward moments, your outward behavior and your ability to take fame/influence and do something of value for the communities you visit (whether the cameras are on or off) is the highest honor. I am confident Amanda Huber will lead the department with style. I'm so proud of my creations and contributions and the items I supported or collaborated on with such wonderful professionals. Thank you, fans. Y'all did the work! Let's live forever."

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