All Elite Wrestling and development partner Yuke’s remain hard at work at the pro wrestling promotion’s first major game release,AEW Fight Forever. Yet wrestling fans know that the volatility of the wrestling business can dramatically impact plans for a wrestling game. There’s no better example of that than the early 2022 departure of Cody Rhodes, one of AEW’s founders, to WWE. Fans worried Rhodes won’t be a part ofAEW Fight Forevercan now rest easy, though, as Rhodes is confirmed for the game.In a recent Sports Illustrated interview withAEW star Kenny Omega, the currently inactive wrestler shared some exciting information aboutAEW Fight Forever. Omega says explicitly that Rhodes is still in the game. He has not been removed. Omega says that he knows that will surprise a lot of people, which is perhaps why he decided to publicly confirm Rhodes' inclusion ahead of any official roster reveal.RELATED:Stone Cold Steve Austin and Cody Rhodes Pick Their Favorite Zelda GamesAs for how and why Rhodes is able to be a part ofAEW Fight Foreverwhile now beingsigned with WWE, Omega explains that it’s simply always been part of the plan. Omega says that he, as a producer from AEW’s side of development, was always passionate about “making sure [Rhodes'] legacy and position within the company were preserved.” In other words, while Rhodes left AEW, Omega still wanted him to be remembered as one of its founders and a key part of the promotion’s early success.
Further elaborating on Rhodes' role in the game, he details thatAEW Fight Foreverwill “coincide with the birth of [AEW].” More specifically, Omega explains that players will get to experience the creation of AEW from “day one” as part of the game.Rhodes will obviously be a key part of that story, which is why he’s being kept in the game despite skipping town on AEW.
Omega doesn’t delve into the financial or legal aspects of the situation, but given his comfort talking about the subject, everything must already have been dealt with contractually. When Rhodes left AEW, he likely already knew just how involved withAEW Fight Forever’s storyhe was. As such, he’d have included any legal complication it would create in his contract negotiations with WWE.
There’s still plenty of information regarding the situation that’s left to be revealed at a later date. Cody Rhodes may be part ofAEW Fight Forever’s story as an NPC, but not as a playable character. Or perhaps he’ll be prominently featured as one ofAEW Fight Forever’s rosterlike AEW fans are certain to want. It’s a complicated situation, but hopefully Rhodes and AEW have been able to make it happen.
