More than a year after leaving All Elite Wrestling (AEW), the upstart wrestling promotion isn't about to forget Cody Rhodes' contribution. As a matter of fact, AEW's debut video game will still have Rhodes on its roster.
In a twist capturing the wrestling community's attention, Rhodes will be one of the playable characters in Yuke's AEW Fight Forever, which is due for release later this year.
This was initially spotted by fans in the game's earlier trailers before being confirmed by Kenny Omega, the AEW executive vice president.
Here's what Omega said to Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated:
This may come as a surprise to people, but Cody is still in the game.
I was very passionate about making sure his legacy and position within the company were preserved.
Rhodes' inclusion in AEW's upcoming video game may seem unusual to some fans, given that he's already one of WWE's biggest superstars following his successful return at WrestleMania 38 last year.
Rhodes' status within the WWE ranks continues to grow following his unsuccessful attempt to unseat Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39 and his ongoing injury-filled feud with Brock Lesnar. Even so, it only seems logical to include Rhodes in AEW Fight Forever as he was one of the people who helped bring the idea of the wrestling promotion to life.
Interestingly, Rhodes also featured in WWE 2K23, his first return to WWE 2K video games following a multi-year absence.
The fact that Rhodes will appear in two wrestling video games from different promotions released in the same year adds a unique layer to his Hall of Fame-worthy career.
It's clear that both the AEW and WWE recognize Rhodes' career with his inclusion in both games underscoring how much The American Nightmare means to both promotions.
AEW Fight Forever is currently slated for June 29 while WWE 2K23 has been out since March 14 with roster updates having been added already to beef up its lineup.
As for Rhodes' future in the WWE, it's clear Triple H has positioned him to still be the No. 1 contender for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship, that's currently being held by Roman Reigns. However, Rhodes' shot at the belt might have to wait until WrestleMania 40. For now, he'll have to end his feud with Brock Lesnar while Reigns will need to settle things with The Bloodline, which may or may not culminate in multiple title defenses at Money in the Bank (July 1) and SummerSlam (August 5).
