Cody Rhodes has officially had enough of the recent retirements in the professional wrestling industry. The WWE locker room has seen several legendary competitors hang up their boots in recent months. The departure of these iconic figures has left a noticeable void on the roster.
On the February 23 episode of WWE Raw, AJ Styles officially said goodbye to the world of wrestling. He appeared in front of the live crowd to deliver an emotional farewell speech. He had his final match at the WWE Royal Rumble event in January, losing to the current King of the Ring.
This emotional television moment came just weeks after John Cena wrapped up his own in-ring career. Cena concluded a year-long retirement tour that allowed him to wrestle across the globe. Speaking with ESPN’s First Take for a new interview, Rhodes discussed the changing of the guard.
He noted that wrestling is saying goodbye to way too many people right now. “I don’t want any more retirements. We’re saying goodbye way too much to too many people,” Rhodes stated. He took a moment to praise his former colleague.
“AJ is incredible, he’s one of the few people who wrestled not just me but me, my brother, and my dad,” he explained. He highlighted the unique generational impact that Styles had on his family. “He’s really a game changing type performer,” Rhodes added.
He also commented on the surprising end to the television broadcast. “I love how WWE did it and the inclusion of The Undertaker, which was a complete surprise to everyone to then say, ‘You’re going to the Hall Of Fame,’” he noted. The Deadman’s appearance created a truly memorable segment.
“It was a really beautiful way to go out. I mean, it’s never easy,” Rhodes confessed. He then reflected on the physical toll the business takes on its top stars. “To see John tap out, to see AJ go down like that, Gunther is really turning into the career killer,” he remarked.
“It’s more than just a moniker. Hopefully someone can put an end to that,” he challenged the locker room. Rhodes wants to see the focus shift to the future of the company. “I don’t want any retirements for a while, let’s do debuts. New blood, new beginnings,” he ended.
The industry will always evolve as older stars step aside to make room for the next generation. The company is actively pushing younger talent to fill the main event positions. WWE fans are eager to see who will step up to carry the banner forward.
While veterans like AJ Styles and John Cena step away, the active roster is currently focused on the road to Las Vegas. The WWE superstars are preparing for the Elimination Chamber event on February 28, 2026, in Chicago. CM Punk will defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Finn Balor, and the chamber matches will dictate the final lineup for WrestleMania 42 on April 18 and 19.
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