Cody Rhodes reacts to his long-time friend shockingly leaving AEW after nearly five years of service

The American Nightmare has opened up on Shawn Spears' AEW departure.

Cody Rhodes reacts to his long-time friend shockingly leaving AEW after nearly five years of service

Cody Rhodes in AEW [via- BR Wrestling on X]

Even after leaving AEW nearly a couple of years ago, Cody Rhodes still keeps up with what’s going on over there. Last afternoon, a report from Fightful Select evinced an imminent AEW departure. Shortly after, it was revealed that the company’s long-term prospect, Shawn Spears, was the one leaving. He even jotted down a long note on social media, thanking AEW and Tony Khan for letting him be a part of the promotion’s instrumental phase.

Shawn’s departure wasn’t expected at all and has engendered a plethora of reactions from wrestling fans and even Cody Rhodes. Not many people know that Rhodes and Spears go way back in history. In 2006, the two first met in WWE’s former developmental territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW).

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The duo even captured the tag team titles twice, and their camaraderie blossomed. While Cody Rhodes was one of the founding members of All Elite Wrestling, Shawn also signed with the company in May 2019. And just so everyone felt those tremors, that Attitude Era-reminiscent, unprotected chair shot on Rhodes’ head courtesy of Spears still blows the air out of anyone’s socket.

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Love The Chairman, a great man @ShawnSpears
Cody Rhodes via X

Their blistering feud was one of the first big stories AEW produced. Rhodes and Shawn collided at the inaugural All Out pay-per-view in 2019. And after a 16-minute tussle, The Prodigal Son was able to fend off The Perfect 10.

Having said that, there’s no word on whether the Canadian wrestler plans to continue taking bumps inside the squared circle. He and his wife, Cassie Lee, are about to welcome their second child into this world, and Spears will be a free agent by January 1, 2024.

Will Cody Rhodes drive Shawn Spears’ WWE return?

Before arriving in All Elite Wrestling, Shawn Spears was known as Tye Dillinger when he worked for WWE. Despite being immensely talented, Vince McMahon and his creative team didn’t see much in the 42-year-old. However, a couple of factors might propel Tye’s return to WWE.

Cody Rhodes and Shawn Spears
Cody Rhodes and Shawn Spears [via- AEW]

First and foremost, he has close ties with Cody Rhodes, who’s the company’s top babyface. Secondly, Vinnie Mac is no longer calling the shots in WWE. Triple H‘s ascension to the throne has completely transmogrified the backstage ambience and overall perception of the promotion.

More superstars are willing to plot a comeback over there under the belief that they would be used better with The Game overseeing the creative. Who knows if Shawn Spears pops up at next month’s Royal Rumble match?

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