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Also the whole Cody/TK deal reads like a relationship where both people realized the magic was gone and just decided to part ways with no hard feelings.

I don't see how Brandi would fit anywhere in WWE, they don't need her as a wrestler, and they don't really do the manager/valet role she's good at. Plus they probably only see her as a ring announcer because that's what she did for them before and once you're in a role in WWE it's quite the uphill battle to change their perception of you.

Speaking of Kenny, he should probably be on his way back soon unless there was some setback with his injury recovery. Knowing how AEW works, probably the first Dynamite after the PPV.

Famously the "every decision would be made by all the EVPs" led up to creatively the worst TV they've done and caused Tony to pull rank and basically name himself head of creative. Also Cody did get some unfair heat at times too. Since they kept it secret that Ogogo was getting another eye surgery, it made Cody look like he was Hunter-ing him by going over, when in retrospect it made perfect sense for him to win.

The funny part is it's going to pretty much be impossible for WWE to push him as any sort of big deal without at least somewhat acknowledging AEW is the legit competitor they keep saying they aren't. Cody's not going to be buried if he signs for the amount of money WWE will likely offer just to get the PR win, and since in WWE canon the last we saw him he was just some geek dressing like his brother's gimmick from the 90s. Him being ackowledged as a top guy is an implicit acknowledgement of AEW.

Armando was great for the role he was in, but I don't think it would have worked for anyone other than Umaga. Forgot about Prince Nana too, I'm surprised he hasn't come back to some indy in this recent boomlet going on.

Yeah it took a while to get established since the tone shift was so abrupt, but they've really got the ball rolling now.

Melo vs Pete? Don't mind if I do.

In that shirt, WALTER looks like that one gym teacher who took that shit way too seriously.

IMO Bivens is the greatest manager wrestling has seen since the Heenan/Hart/Cornette era.

Also it looks like the ROH announcer/wrestler formerly known as Quinn McKay debuted as an announcer for whatever they are turning 205 Live into.

You never heard the jokes? The family trees don't always fork.

I figured it wasn't gonna be popular with the bubba, but Pete Dunne shouldn't be losing to Tony Baggadonuts right now. Also MSK/Creeds is gonna bang.

I don't see any of the top people going to WWE except Jericho, since he's a guy who can probably avoid most of the usual toxic bullshit. I could maybe see Mox leaving AEW one day, but I don't think there's a check large enough in the world to get him to go back to WWE. This all seems to come down to Cody and TK realizing their philosophies were at odds and deciding to part ways as amicable as possible.

It should be remembered that AEW will most likely get a huge increase in TV money by the time MJF's deal comes up. I don't see them letting any of their young talent go without a fight.

This all reads like Cody just wanted to leave and made a stupidly high money request to TK knowing he would say no (or if he said yes he'd get stupid money). The writing has been on the wall for a while, his programs seem bolted on to AEW TV and clearly there has been a change in the relationship between him and the other VPs. From comments all of them have made, it seems like they are personally getting along but clearly had different business visions for the future.

Well to be fair to WWE, Cody's like 10-15 years younger than the other established stars they bring back because they can't get any of the current talent other than Roman over so it's progress.

Jokes aside, as serious as Hunter's heart issue seems to have been, I don't see WWE clearing him to compete anytime soon if ever. Also I'm not sure if Cody coming back after it became clear the company he helped create has moved on without him is the victory lap WWE and their stans think it is. Having said that, having Cody present the Dusty Cup sure would be something.

Having said that, I do recall after Dusty died people were commenting about folks wearing polka dots in honor of him that Dusty hated the gimmick and wouldn't want to be remembered for that.

The polka dots were 100% meant to be a purposely embarrassing gimmick for the guy who was booking the competition. The fact Dusty got it over was a testament to his abilities more than any understanding on Vince's part. Dusty knew what the deal was and him getting the gimmick over was his way of saying FU. I don't think Dusty had any bad feelings about it though. He knew the game.

One thing Cody would have going for him is that for one Vince usually protects people he pays big money to, and also that he might be motivated by spite against AEW. Of course that can go both ways and it might be one of those "WCW guys have to job for years after the purchase so Vince can prove WWE was better all along" deals.

The only part that's surprising to me is that someone with a Rhodes ego would go back to WWE after he went so hard taking shots at them. He has to know Vince has an elephant's memory for that kind of shit, so there's a very good chance that after the "we got one of their guys" victory lap, he could be Stardust 2.0 or worse.

It seems clear Cody was no longer on the same page as....well everyone really. He was on his own island storyline wise, the last thing he did of substance was establishing the TNT title with the weekly defenses. After that it was increasingly going off the rails culminating with the Cody Solved Racism By Having A Biracial Child promo that seemed to torpedo him with the AEW fanbase. This actually seems like a win for everyone. WWE gets the chance to stem the "everyone is choosing AEW over us" narrative, Cody presumably gets a fat contract, and AEW can do addition by subtraction by removing the Codyverse from their shows.

Speaking of, Brock's interview on Pat McAfee's radio show was awesome. He's at a place in his life where he's happier than he's been and he's having the most fun. Also the story of how his ponytail came to be was that basically his kids were like "bet you won't wear your hair in a ponytail" and he was like "bet you I will".

It's odd that Vince apparently thinks enough of Austin Theory to do skits with him, yet throws him out there for Brock to use him as a coat rack before laying him out.