Bully Ray Believes Cody Rhodes Leaving AEW Started the Downturn of the Company

– During a recent edition of Busted Open Radio, WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray spoke about AEW, noting that Cody Rhodes leaving the company was the start of a downturn for the promotion. Bully Ray also evaluated the unsanctioned match between Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens scheduled for Elimination Chamber. Below are some highlights (via WrestlingInc.com):

Bully Ray on Rhodes leaving AEW: “Cody [Rhodes] leaving AEW was a major, major blow to that company. Cody leaving AEW is what started the downward trend. Go back and look at any number, any metric, any talk on social media. Cody is the first crack in the wall.”

Bully Ray on Tony Khan needing to develop thicker skin like Vince McMahon: “Vince has programmed himself to not take things personally.”

His thoughts on Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens at Elimination Chamber: “It’s got show-stealer written all over it, and unsanctioned just means anything goes. No rules, no nothing. Referee doesn’t even have to be there.”

On who the winner will be: “The winner of the match is the guy that’s left standing. I would leave one of them standing, and one of them is down on the mat or down in the arena, and the other guy can walk away.”

Cody left the company in early 2022, returning to WWE at WrestleMania 38. Meanwhile, Owens vs. Zayn in an Unsanctioned Match will take place at WWE Elimination Chamber on Saturday, March 1. WWE Elimination Chamber Toronto will be held at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It will be broadcast live on Peacock in the US and streamed internationally on Netflix.