Report: Shane McMahon's Departure A Factor In WWE Wanting To Sign Cody Rhodes

It’s believed that WWE would see the signing of former AEW EVP Cody Rhodes to a deal  as a coup and a major win for the company, suggesting the sports entertainment giant had gotten one over on AEW.

However, according to Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, another possible reason for the likely impending signing of Rhodes is to change public perception of the company after the fallout of the Royal Rumble:

“There was also the belief that WWE, with the recent perception by fans as to the firing of Shane McMahon, probably was looking to make a major perception move and Steve Austin and Cody Rhodes, for two very different reasons, both fit into that category,” wrote Meltzer. “Cody would be a huge coup for WWE right now, and with so many going the other way and Jeff Hardy expected to follow, he likely came at a good time for a deal and for maximum interest in his return given it’s WrestleMania season.”

Meltzer further speculated that Cody Rhodes in WWE would be a far bigger deal than Vince McMahon would realise, theorising that the crowd reaction to Cody would be akin to that of AJ Styles debuting in the Royal Rumble, itself reportedly a bigger reaction than McMahon expected.