Mike Chioda Was “Shocked To See” Cody Rhodes Return To WWE

Speaking recently on The Universal Wrestling Podcast, Mike Chioda talked about the pattern of movement by talent between WWE and AEW and his particular surprise with Cody Rhodes’ choices therein (via Wrestling Inc). The general motif has been one of released WWE wrestlers migrating toward the younger promotion, but sometimes things do go the other way. You can read a few highlights from Chioda and watch the full episode below.

Cn Rhodes choosing to return to WWE from AEW: “AEW’s got a hell of a lot of talent over there right now. I was shocked to see Cody go back, I really was. When Cody started with Tony Khan, this whole starting AEW, I was just shocked that Cody went back and Tony Khan let him go. So you knew there was things going haywire up on the top already before all this.”

On what Chioda thinks AEW needs for talent management going forward: “I think they’ll work it out. You got a lot of old-school talent. You got Big Show. You got Regal there! You know, make somebody the Head of Talent Relations. I wouldn’t bring in Johnny Laurinaitis, but you need a guy that’s always been there to take the heat like Johnny Laurinaitis or Jim Ross and so forth to handle your talent. And that’s what Vince did, he always had somebody to handle the talent.”