$4 Million isn't a lot to pay, to protect the brand.

Now, an ex-EVP is gone. What does that say about the internal workings of AEW? Maybe it's nothing and they just parted ways, but there's always going to be that doubt there.

I hate Cody like everyone else does, but these guys started this together, The Elite bought the talent and the experience and the all important know-how. If it wasn't for them, TK would just be a money-mark playing booker with Daddy's cheque book with half the success.

But the other angle is, Cody knew AEW would only be so big, and used it to raise his profile and return to WWE some day on a big money contract.

Feb 16, 2022 7:23:24 GMT RT said:

Feb 16, 2022 6:59:43 GMT NATH45 said:

I let Cody's contract expire as I felt his wrestling wasn’t good enough. #AEWRampage Street Fight TONIGHT!”

- Tony Khan, Twitter.

Honestly it would be fucking sick if he tweeted this

Michael Cole screaming " the forbidden door! " when Cody returns would be hilarious. If we're throwing shade that is.

" where we're going, we don't need Rhodes "

- Tony Khan, Twitter.

Cody probably costed Brandi her job too since she probably won't get a position like that again. And apparently some sites are now saying she wasn't liked backstage anyways so she leaving isn't a lost.

Part of me thinks this all has nothing to do with Cody but Tony refusing absolutely to pay Brandi 2 million a year going forward.  The power couple together was paid 5 million.  Replacing them with business people saves AEW at least 4 million alone.  

But yeah Brandi was making more than everyone in the female elimination chamber on the WWE PPV combined.  I believe Brandi was the second highest paid female period.  Only Becky made more.  Brandi was making what Ronda was making in WWE.

Feb 16, 2022 14:40:55 GMT c said:

Part of me thinks this all has nothing to do with Cody but Tony refusing absolutely to pay Brandi 2 million a year going forward.

Tony probably regretted that decision pretty early.

Experieced Woman Wrestler "She doesn't know anything about wrestling why do you have her telling new girls bad advice. "

Tony Khan "I know I know but Cody wanted her to have a title. Can you please just put up with her for Cody?"

I mean, how can you justify paying her the same that Vince paid Ronda? It is insane.

Bucks and Omega likely will keep their high pay, but Cody and Brandi were not justifying the price. And I think everyone should have realized sooner or later Tony would have to run AEW like a business. And that means no more sweetheart deals for friends.

Ouch Kellar's take was Cody was becoming unliked in the company and wanted to be Tony's equal and guide the direction of the company towards his take on wrestling where Tony wanted to go a different way. Cody also wanted to be a top wrestler and top executive like his dad, but there may be the seem negative feelings towards him that his dad had, moreso when Brandi is more ambitious than even he is. Also the money was an issue as like Dusty, Cody spends the money he will make not the money he has, so he needs to keep it coming in at high levels.

So TL:DR, the marriage between Cody and Tony became loveless and Cody simply wanted more and WWE is actually a better fit for what he wants than AEW is right now.

Not to speculate too much because I’d be a hypocrite, but my hazy take was always that Cody wanted to an alternative in the NWA kind of way, whereas the Bucks and maybe Kenny wanted a ‘pinnacle of the indies’ type of alternative which is pretty much what’s happened. Cody wants to be NWA in presentation and is probably closer to WWE than AEW most of the time.

Lots of women coming to Brandi's defence on twitter now. Comments about her might be exaggerated. That, or there is a big divide backstage amongst the female roster. Either way not good.

Someone on wreddit speculated that Jericho might be next. He's not going to take a pay cut, they're breaking up the Inner Circle, and he teased reuniting with Kevin Owens on instagram the other day. If Vince is going to give Cody a huge pay day just to get him out of AEW, he'd definitely do the same for Jericho.

The Brandi thing is awkward. It’s never going to be a good look for a massively white massively male company to criticise a female black executive on her way out. With that being said, what had she ever done in the wrestling business to warrant her executive status? Let’s be honest

Feb 16, 2022 16:22:42 GMT Todd said:

Not to speculate too much because I’d be a hypocrite, but my hazy take was always that Cody wanted to an alternative in the NWA kind of way, whereas the Bucks and maybe Kenny wanted a ‘pinnacle of the indies’ type of alternative which is pretty much what’s happened. Cody wants to be NWA in presentation and is probably closer to WWE than AEW most of the time.

Exactly my take.  Cody wanted traditional wrestling, Bucks alternative wrestling.  

And if this is so, WWE is where Cody should be, moreso if he wants to work in the back.  WWE will exist in 10 years.  AEW not likely since wrestling feds all rise and fall like the tides except for Vince.  

Just realized his whole “delusional face getting booed out of the building,” wasn’t a work and he was actually just being stubborn as hell. I gave him far too much credit. I wouldn’t pay him either.

Remember when he did the whole stip of never challenging for the world title again and it came out that Tony didn’t want him to do that? That had to be the beginning of the end.

This thread is weird and confusing. It feels like people are reading stuff on social media and posting their thoughts without any context or source material.

Feb 16, 2022 16:45:31 GMT RT said:

Remember when he did the whole stip of never challenging for the world title again and it came out that Tony didn’t want him to do that? That had to be the beginning of the end.

That was like two years ago. The beginning of the end, two years ago? Not long after that he became the first TNT Champion and had a lengthy run. Seems unlikely Tony and Cody were against each other back then.

Feb 16, 2022 16:40:19 GMT c said:

Feb 16, 2022 16:22:42 GMT Todd said:

Not to speculate too much because I’d be a hypocrite, but my hazy take was always that Cody wanted to an alternative in the NWA kind of way, whereas the Bucks and maybe Kenny wanted a ‘pinnacle of the indies’ type of alternative which is pretty much what’s happened. Cody wants to be NWA in presentation and is probably closer to WWE than AEW most of the time.

Exactly my take.  Cody wanted traditional wrestling, Bucks alternative wrestling.  

And if this is so, WWE is where Cody should be, moreso if he wants to work in the back.  WWE will exist in 10 years.  AEW not likely since wrestling feds all rise and fall like the tides except for Vince.  

Is it strange that it gives me confidence in Khan that he’s willing to let a big star go to make the business sustainable? This kind of thing gives me hope AEW is actually being managed financially, something I have had major doubts over from the start.

Feb 16, 2022 16:53:17 GMT Todd said:

Feb 16, 2022 16:40:19 GMT c said:

Exactly my take.  Cody wanted traditional wrestling, Bucks alternative wrestling.  

And if this is so, WWE is where Cody should be, moreso if he wants to work in the back.  WWE will exist in 10 years.  AEW not likely since wrestling feds all rise and fall like the tides except for Vince.  

Is it strange that it gives me confidence in Khan that he’s willing to let a big star go to make the business sustainable? This kind of thing gives me hope AEW is actually being managed financially, something I have had major doubts over from the start.

TK proved he's not a total push-over, but I'd be more confident if TK just let their contract expire instead of engaging in a long drawn out negotiation deal. It sounds like TK would have preferred to have kept him, but they couldn't come to an agreement and for all we know Cody is set to return the WWE. If the WWE made Cody an offer that was too good to refuse, I find it difficult to applaud TK - if anything I'd have to give Cody credit for building his profile that high he managed to get the WWE crawling back to him.

Imagine going from Stardust to potentially this.

Feb 16, 2022 16:25:08 GMT RT said:

Lots of women coming to Brandi's defence on twitter now. Comments about her might be exaggerated. That, or there is a big divide backstage amongst the female roster. Either way not good.

Someone on wreddit speculated that Jericho might be next. He's not going to take a pay cut, they're breaking up the Inner Circle, and he teased reuniting with Kevin Owens on instagram the other day. If Vince is going to give Cody a huge pay day just to get him out of AEW, he'd definitely do the same for Jericho.

I think it is the divide option because the ones that came to her defense are the ones I assume would. If she and Omega had different ideals for the division then the ones who she supported probably would back her up. And the ones who Omega supported or the ones not supported by either probably feel other wise. But it definitely is not the first reports of no one having anything good things to say about her backstage.

Feb 16, 2022 16:50:09 GMT Emperor said:

This thread is weird and confusing. It feels like people are reading stuff on social media and posting their thoughts without any context or source material.

Feb 16, 2022 16:45:31 GMT RT said:

Remember when he did the whole stip of never challenging for the world title again and it came out that Tony didn’t want him to do that? That had to be the beginning of the end.

That was like two years ago. The beginning of the end, two years ago? Not long after that he became the first TNT Champion and had a lengthy run. Seems unlikely Tony and Cody were against each other back then.

You’re right, I didn’t realize it was that long ago.

Feb 16, 2022 17:37:36 GMT Big Pete said:

Feb 16, 2022 16:53:17 GMT Todd said:

Is it strange that it gives me confidence in Khan that he’s willing to let a big star go to make the business sustainable? This kind of thing gives me hope AEW is actually being managed financially, something I have had major doubts over from the start.

TK proved he's not a total push-over, but I'd be more confident if TK just let their contract expire instead of engaging in a long drawn out negotiation deal. It sounds like TK would have preferred to have kept him, but they couldn't come to an agreement and for all we know Cody is set to return the WWE. If the WWE made Cody an offer that was too good to refuse, I find it difficult to applaud TK - if anything I'd have to give Cody credit for building his profile that high he managed to get the WWE crawling back to him.

Imagine going from Stardust to potentially this.

I agree. Cody is ambitious and he goes after what he wants - one of the reasons AEW exists. I can imagine he believes he can be a big star in WWE. I can see it as well although time will tell obviously.

Feb 16, 2022 16:22:42 GMT Todd said:

Not to speculate too much because I’d be a hypocrite, but my hazy take was always that Cody wanted to an alternative in the NWA kind of way, whereas the Bucks and maybe Kenny wanted a ‘pinnacle of the indies’ type of alternative which is pretty much what’s happened. Cody wants to be NWA in presentation and is probably closer to WWE than AEW most of the time.

If there's any validity to that divide, I side with Kenny & The Young Bucks.

Feb 16, 2022 17:37:36 GMT Big Pete said:

Feb 16, 2022 16:53:17 GMT Todd said:

Is it strange that it gives me confidence in Khan that he’s willing to let a big star go to make the business sustainable? This kind of thing gives me hope AEW is actually being managed financially, something I have had major doubts over from the start.

TK proved he's not a total push-over, but I'd be more confident if TK just let their contract expire instead of engaging in a long drawn out negotiation deal. It sounds like TK would have preferred to have kept him, but they couldn't come to an agreement and for all we know Cody is set to return the WWE. If the WWE made Cody an offer that was too good to refuse, I find it difficult to applaud TK - if anything I'd have to give Cody credit for building his profile that high he managed to get the WWE crawling back to him.

Imagine going from Stardust to potentially this.

You always negotiate until someone walks away.  No reason to shut the door. 

Not gonna lie, gonna laugh so hard when Cody and Brandi are released for cost cutting in 9 months.  We all know Vince also will not be paying him main event money for long.

Feb 16, 2022 19:55:17 GMT c said:

Feb 16, 2022 17:37:36 GMT Big Pete said:

TK proved he's not a total push-over, but I'd be more confident if TK just let their contract expire instead of engaging in a long drawn out negotiation deal. It sounds like TK would have preferred to have kept him, but they couldn't come to an agreement and for all we know Cody is set to return the WWE. If the WWE made Cody an offer that was too good to refuse, I find it difficult to applaud TK - if anything I'd have to give Cody credit for building his profile that high he managed to get the WWE crawling back to him.

Imagine going from Stardust to potentially this.

You always negotiate until someone walks away.  No reason to shut the door. 

Not gonna lie, gonna laugh so hard when Cody and Brandi are released for cost cutting in 9 months.  We all know Vince also will not be paying him main event money for long.

I don't think he'll get $4 Million from WWE, and I doubt he ever expected to.

He's worth more to AEW as a founder and plays a much more integral role in AEW and likely expected to be paid for it. And likely " if you want me TK, the number is 4 " probably doubling a potential WWE ballpark figure to work as an upper-mid card guy similar to a Sami Zayn/Nakamura level performer.

WWE will easily match AEW to take away their eVP. Sign him for three years, then release him a year later. We will know for sure soon, but the issue likely was not that Tony wanted cut his pay, but he would not give Cody a raise. Cody was making 3 but sounds like he wanted at least 4. I assume WWE gave him that to jump or he would have just caved to Tony with no one else willing to pay him remotely close to his AEW salary.

And he will come in making as much as the top people in WWE even at 3. That is Becky and Seth money.

Reports circling now is Cody said he was worth more than Punk, DB or Cole and expected to be paid as such since they came in making more than him.

None of these guys are worth big money.

The needle hasn't moved since signing Punk, Danielson or Cole. Dynamite scraps together 1 Million a week, and Rampage is barely doing 500k. Rampage has gone backwards in viewership.

Ratings don't matter? No, they don't matter if you're pulling $1.02 B in revenue in 2021.. but from what we know, AEW hasn't turned a profit. You cant keep shelling out big dollars for the next toy to play with and not see growth or a return on the investment. Hashtags and Hugs aren't gunna keep this thing afloat forever.

How does everyone know how much these guys are being paid?

Is it publicly available or just dirtsheet gossip?

They are worth what they were paid. And they were paid big money.

And no AEW does not have to become profitable and it is better if they do not. Shahid is using it as his tax write off after his old ones he in trouble for using. AEW now is a fed running deep into the red, and the deeper it goes, the more tax free investing the Khans get to do. They are using the same loopholes that Trump is and AEW is their trigger to go hard and legally shield themselves. AEW starts to make profit this all goes away though.

Feb 16, 2022 21:55:00 GMT Emperor said:

How does everyone know how much these guys are being paid?

Is it publicly available or just dirtsheet gossip?

Original people had their deals leaked when AEW was formed.   WWE downsides and what not are around as they are publicly traded and a matter of shareholder interest.  WWE can deny to give that information, but it looks bad and really they have no reason to hide it.  

The only way Cody will become salvageable is if he turns into Vince & starts booking himself in high-profile matches out of nowhere.

Well, for the price Vince is paying for him, he will come in just under the main event and come in hot. Cody is no longer AEW and until WWE fires him he will not be back.

More info. Cody has been upset about that after he won the title, Tony started to phase away his booking power until he was cut out of the loop entirely. Cody feels booking is in his blood and wanted a much heavier role in booking.

Also WWE is only offering Cody a contract. Brandi will not be WWE bound.