Bryan Danielson Says Cody Rhodes Wouldn’t Be a WWE Megastar Without AEW

Bryan Danielson just gave AEW a major nod — crediting the promotion for helping turn Cody Rhodes into one of WWE’s top stars.

In a recent interview with the Kairouz Bros, Danielson reflected on AEW’s overall impact on the wrestling business and specifically pointed to how the company’s existence shaped the rise of talent like Cody and even brought back CM Punk.

“If AEW wouldn’t have started, would Cody Rhodes be where he is right now? No, they have a megastar because AEW exists. Would CM Punk ever have come back? Probably not.”

Danielson’s point isn’t about taking credit away from Cody — it’s about recognizing how the competition between promotions has forced both sides to elevate. AEW gave talent new opportunities, new platforms, and new leverage — and Rhodes capitalized in a way few others could.

AEW launched in 2019 with Cody Rhodes as one of its Executive Vice Presidents. Cody helped build the brand before departing in 2022, returning to WWE and eventually headlining WrestleMania. But according to Danielson, none of that would’ve been possible if AEW hadn’t been created in the first place.

“It’s good for the wrestlers, both in AEW and in WWE. It’s good for them.”

Whether you’re a Cody fan or not, Danielson is reminding the world just how important AEW has been for reshaping wrestling’s power structure — even for WWE’s biggest stars.

Do you agree with Danielson that AEW made Cody Rhodes a bigger star? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.

September 9, 2025 10:37 pm

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