Home Sport Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens’ ‘complex’ relationship explained ahead of WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event, it led to the formation of AEW

Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens’ ‘complex’ relationship explained ahead of WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event, it led to the formation of AEW

Sport — 13/12/2024 · 0 Comment

Kevin Owens and Cody Rhodes have a lengthy history together dating back to the American Nightmare’s initial run in WWE.

Cody Rhodes was a dissatisfied mid-carder, while Kevin Owens was a brash up-and-comer who had become an independent wrestling legend during his time for PWG and Ring of Honor.

As Triple H and WWE NXT’s ‘Black and Gold’ era continued to envelop the independent scene, Rhodes’ options were not as significant as they were now.

So when Rhodes requested his WWE release in 2016, Owens took it upon himself to help the future WWE Champion forge his own path in the independent wrestling world – and it’s arguably the breeding ground for AEW.

Kevin Owens introduced Cody Rhodes to The Young Bucks

As Rhodes’ middling first run with WWE came to an end, and he said goodbye to Stardust for good, Owens introduced the American Nightmare to his pals The Young Bucks.

Speaking to Shak Wrestling, Owens said: “Cody left [WWE] in 2016, and it sucked. It sucked to lose my friend at [that] time. So I really wanted him to have the best possible introduction to the independent scene, because he had never been around.

“So I just guided him in the right direction and put him in touch with The Young Bucks [who would] take care of him.

“And I knew they’d hit it off, you know? They did, I was right. And that just helped him get the right platform, I guess.

The Young Bucks did, indeed, get along famously with The American Nightmare and just two years later they would produce a wrestling show that would change the landscape of the industry.

Rhodes and The Young Bucks would conjure up All In in 2018, the biggest independent wrestling show in history with over 10,000 fans in attendance and a buy rate of 50,000.

This event was the forebearer for All Elite Wrestling as Tony Khan would jump at the chance to invest in a wrestling promotion following the event and sign up Rhodes, The Young Bucks, and Kenny Omega amongst others to create the biggest competitor to WWE in nearly two decades.

Owens’s simple gesture ended up creating a whole new company with The Young Bucks and Rhodes creating magic.

In their book, ‘Killing The Business’, The Young Bucks wrote: ” I knew that whatever he touched turned to gold.

“He was a hype man and one of the best promoters I’d ever worked with. He was the wildcard, the one missing piece to the puzzle.”

Of course, Rhodes would leave AEW in 2022 to return to WWE to become their poster child and ‘quarterback’ and reunite with Owens but he still keeps in touch with The Young Bucks.

Speaking to Fightful, Rhodes said: “Matt, Nick, and I have a great relationship, Kenny and I have a great relationship. We’re bonded forever.

“If we never step into another ring together, I would have their back and I hope they have mine and I really wish them the best in whatever they do but again.”

Kevin Owens and Cody Rhodes’ current WWE feud

Before their relationship deteriorated on-screen after Bash in Berlin, Rhodes and Owens were full of praise for each other.

Speaking ahead of their match at Bash in Berlin, Rhodes told Shak Wrestling: “It’s great to see him get all his flowers if you want to say that. And to see him in the position he’s in now.”

Rhodes, meanwhile, claimed he’s in awe of Owens and suggests the star is head and shoulders ahead of him in his career.

Speaking of their relationship on the Bash in Berlin post-show, Rhodes said: It’s incredibly deep, incredibly complex, I’ve never told him this before, but I often feel like I’m chasing behind him.

“Again, when he showed up on the scene, he’s picking fights with John Cena and the top stars. I was still painting my face and just so far behind the eight ball,” said WWE Champion Rhodes.

“That feels good as a competitor, a performer, where you can be in the ring and let them know and show them, even your friends.”

His popularity has surged so much, many WWE fans believe Cody Rhodes vs Kevin Owens was kept off Survivor Series because Rhodes may have been booed.

Owens character turn has been so impressive many fans want the star to dethrone the American Nightmare at Saturday Night’s Main Event, even if it’s just until the Royal Rumble when Rhodes wins it back.