Cody’s reason for not working ROH’s Madison Square Garden show points to All Elite Wrestling

Cody Rhodes, who will main event Final Battle for Ring of Honor (ROH) on Friday night, Dec. 14 in New York City when he faces Jay Lethal for the ROH World title, was already on record saying he didn’t plan to work the company’s WrestleMania weekend show at Madison Square Garden next spring.

In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Rhodes explains why he’s not interested in working the G1 Supercard event, which ROH is promotion alongside partner promotion New Japan. His answer indicates he plans to skip the whole weekend, which means not only not re-signing with ROH or NJPW (where he’s scheduled to face Juice Robinson in the Tokyo Dome next month at Wrestle Kingdom 13), but also means not going back to WWE.

“It would take a lot for me to be part of the Garden show. I’ve had some special moments in the Garden. Survivor Series was a highlight of my career, my first Rumble, moonsaulting off the cage onto Cesaro. I have a massive amount of respect for Joe Koff and [GM] Greg Gilleland. My exclusivity with Ring of Honor ended a while back and they’ve maintained everything on a handshake deal. I think Greg is a revolutionary in how he allows talent to play with without overproducing. But I can’t imagine me being on that particular show.

After two ‘Supercards’ and breaking my back essentially against Kenny last year, it still can’t change the fact that people are in town for WWE. ROH and NJPW sold that building out and that is massive and special and I love that they did it, but had they did it on another weekend, I’d be more likely to be featured on it. After 10 years with WWE doing ’Mania weekend and two more with ROH, I am leaving that weekend for the boys and girls of the WWE.”

Cody’s already said he turned down a WWE offer, so this is really just more confirmation of what we already knew. But with fans watching Final Battle tonight for signs that All Elite Wrestling - the promotion Cody is rumored to be starting with The Young Bucks, financed by the billionaire Khan family - is right around the corner?

Take this as another sign.