WCW Legend Feels Top AEW Star Is Running Out of Favor Because of His Relationship With Cody Rhodes: “That Could Be Heat”

It is no longer a secret that Cody Rhodes nurtured many talents during his time in AEW. The American Nightmare held an official-athlete role in the promotion and used his time to hone the skills of his wrestling colleagues. Several members on the AEW roster also formed a good bond with the 37-year-old. In 2022, Rhodes jumped ship to WWE, severing his ties with AEW.

However, his friendship with other AEW stars remained. Unfortunately, this may have caused a severe problem for a 33 -year-old male star, according to a WCW legend. He said the star has fallen out of favor with AEW top brass due to his friendship with Rhodes.

Konnan shares his views on AEW star’s booking

Konnan, who is revered for his time in WCW, recently spoke about AEW star Ricky Starks on his Keepin’ It 100 podcast. The 59-year-old discussed Starks’ friendship with Rhodes and said it might be a reason for his recent placement on the card.

Of late, the 33-year-old has feuded with Juice Robinson, a mid-carder in AEW. However, just months prior to that, he was going toe-to-toe with Chris Jericho and MJF, the promotion’s top-tier wrestlers. According to Konnan, Starks’ backstage appearance at the 2023 WWE Royal Rumble might have triggered his perceived demotion.

“That could be heat. Because if he were to do that in Mexico you would have mega heat, and depending on who you are, probably fired. You’d have the competitors like ‘what are you doing there?” Konnan said on his podcast.

Meanwhile, Starks had responded to his presence at the WWE event soon after it became a topic of discussion. Starks said he didn’t care what others thought about his WWE visit. Referring to Cody Rhodes as a friend, Starks said he was always going to support people who stood by him during his testing times.

He also said he was there to support the guy who was on the biggest chapter of his career, referring to Rhodes and his quest to finish his story. While that might have been a motivation for Rhodes to come back to WWE, that’s not all of it. Let’s find out.

Why did Cody Rhodes leave AEW?

Cody Rhodes is a second-generation star in WWE, the promotion that gave him a start. However, creative differences crept in and in 2016 it culminated in his departure. This proved to be good news for many pro-wrestlers as his time outside Vince McMahon’s company played a major factor in the formation of the AEW. But why did he desert his own creation?

Read More: “He’s Been Nothing but Truthful” – Cody Rhodes Made WWE Agree to a Special Condition Before Returning at WrestleMania 38

Earlier this year, Rhodes opened up about his departure from AEW during a chat with Rich Eisen on The Rich Eisen Show. He said an unexpected change in Tony Khan’s behavior played a part in his decision-making. The 37-year-old worked as the executive vice president in Tony Khan’s promotion. He said the role distanced him from “being just a wrestler”. Rhodes also stated that he was too young for the job.

On the contrary, he has no such power in his current employment. And while it would deter someone who has been at the helm of things previously, the 2023 Royal Rumble winner enjoys it. But Rhodes’ move doesn’t seem to have gone down well with Tony Khan.

What do you make of Ricky Starks’ booking? Do you agree with Konnan’s views? Let us know in the comments.

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