Below are some top news stories of the day, involving All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and Cody Rhodes.
• All Elite Wrestling has confirmed the departure of four names from its roster. The following individuals have been removed from the AEW website:
– Arn Anderson
– Jake Hager
– Mark Henry
– Paige VanZant
The contracts of Arn Anderson, Jake Hager, and Mark Henry have expired, leading to their departures. Although the specifics of former UFC fighter Paige VanZant’s situation are less clear, it is widely believed that her contract may have also expired.
VanZant has not appeared on AEW television for an extended period, with many speculating that her tenure with the company effectively ended last year.
These exits come at a time when AEW might be looking to reallocate resources. The departure of these established names could free up significant funds, potentially to secure new talent, particularly those from WWE who may soon become free agents. Notably, Becky Lynch recently became a free agent over the weekend, adding to the pool of high-profile talent available.
WATCH: AEW Star Paige VanZant Completely Exposes Her Buns:
• Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes has cemented his place as one of WWE’s most beloved superstars. Despite The Rock and Roman Reigns’ hiatus, Rhodes’ appeal has kept attendance at WWE shows robust, and merchandise sales are soaring, achieving levels not witnessed in decades.
During a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer discussed Rhodes’ remarkable popularity and the impressive business metrics surrounding him. According to Meltzer, Rhodes is currently the most popular babyface since Stone Cold Steve Austin’s heyday in the Attitude Era.
“Cody Rhodes outside of the ring is everything. Like he is one of the best babyfaces they’ve ever had and he’s drawing like it too. Look, his numbers are bigger than Cena’s. I mean that would make him the biggest, most successful babyface since the Austin-Rock era,” Meltzer stated.
Further highlighting Rhodes’ commercial success, Fightful Select reported an internal memo from April revealing that Rhodes sold over $1 million in merchandise during WrestleMania 40 weekend, breaking his own record from the previous year.
