Brian Danielson gave AEW a big nod. This celebrates the promotion that helped transform Cody Rhodes into one of WWE’s top stars.
In a recent interview with Kairouz Bros, Danielson reflected the overall impact of AEW on the wrestling business, noting in particular that the company’s presence has shaped the rise of talent like Cody, bringing back CM Punk.
“If AEW doesn’t start, will Cody Rhodes be where he is now? No, they have a megastar because aew is there. Could CM Punk be back?
Danielson’s point is not to strip Cody of his credibility, but to recognize that competition between promotions forced both sides. AEW has given talent new opportunities, new platforms and new leverage.
AEW launched Cody Rhodes in 2019 as one of the Executive Vice Presidents. Cody helped build the brand before departing in 2022, then returned to WWE and eventually headlined WrestleMania. But according to Danielson, if AEW hadn’t been created in the first place, that would have been impossible.
“It’s good for wrestlers, both in AEW and WWE. It’s good for them.”
Whether you’re a Cody fan or not, Danielson is reminding the world how important AEW is to rebuild the power structure of wrestling, whether it’s WWE’s biggest star.
September 9, 2025, 10:37pm
