Bryan Danielson has a clear take on Cody Rhodes’ main event run in WWE: it wouldn’t have happened without All Elite Wrestling.
In a recent interview with the Kairouz Bros, the AEW star argued that the competitive landscape created by his current promotion was the essential ingredient for Rhodes’ ascension. “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 is that AEW’s launch in 2019, where Rhodes served as an Executive Vice President, provided a crucial alternative that gave talent new platforms and leverage across the entire industry. He believes Rhodes capitalized on that shift to build the momentum that would eventually carry him back to a WrestleMania main event.
This perspective on the industry’s power structure is consistent with Danielson’s own career choices. He famously honored a verbal agreement with AEW over a last-minute offer from Vince McMahon to remain in WWE ahead of his debut at All Out in 2021. Danielson recounted telling McMahon: “Sir, I already agreed to this thing… One of the things you respect me for is that I honor my word.“
Ultimately, Danielson sees the competition as a win for everyone involved, concluding that the ripple effect of AEW’s existence benefits performers on both sides of the fence. “It’s good for the wrestlers, both in AEW and in WWE. It’s good for them.”