During the latest episode of his podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Arn Anderson opened up about the real reason behind his 2024 departure from AEW. Brought in primarily to support Cody Rhodes, Anderson saw his role lose focus once Rhodes returned to WWE. Although AEW attempted to pair him with Wardlow, the veteran admitted the alignment felt forced and random. Praising Tony Khan’s first-class treatment of talent, Anderson expressed no bitterness, describing his exit as a simple case of bad timing once the original purpose for his involvement disappeared.
“The angle with Cody, he took it with him, and it was just a matter of time because, you know, I did a couple of shows with, what’s the guy that was the big jacked-up guy? Wardlow. And, you know, it was just kind of out of left field, out of nowhere … Tony treated us really well. I’ll never say anything about Tony Khan. He’s a class act, he used me the best he could in the situation. Just one of them things. Timing is everything, it was just bad timing.” – Arn Anderson
Anderson joined All Elite Wrestling in late 2019 as Cody Rhodes’ personal advisor and head coach. He made an immediate impact with a surprise spinebuster at All Out and quickly established himself as a respected on-screen mentor and backstage producer. Additionally, he played a key role in launching his son Brock’s career within the Nightmare Family. However, following Rhodes’ 2022 departure to WWE, Anderson’s television presence diminished. Short-lived alignments, including the one with Wardlow, failed to resonate. His five-year tenure with the company ended amicably in May 2024, leaving him with no regrets.
