Swerve Strickland Claims AEW Boosted CM Punk & Cody Rhodes’ Value

Previously AEW stars CM Punk and Cody Rhodes have seen an increase in their worth following their return to WWE, as suggested by ex-World Champion Swerve Strickland. After departing from WWE in 2016, Cody Rhodes built a reputation for himself on the independent circuit.

He significantly contributed to the commencement of AEW and rose to prominence within it. However, during his tenure with AEW, he primarily featured in secondary storylines. Eventually, Rhodes made a comeback to WWE at WrestleMania 38 in the year 2022.

Currently, it’s almost three years since then, and Rhodes has solidified his position as a prominent figure in WWE. He’s graced the main event of WrestleMania on no less than three occasions and is scheduled to do so again this year, going up against John Cena for the WWE Championship.

CM Punk departed from WWE back in 2014 due to disagreements over creative decisions, choosing to stay away from the organization for several years. In 2021, he made an official move to AEW and stayed there until his termination in 2023, concluding his contentious tenure with Tony Khan’s promotion.

This year marked Punk’s comeback to WWE following almost a decade away. Ever since his return, WWE has been rapidly elevating him among their leading performers, with rumors indicating a potential match against Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 41.

There’s talk among fans that the victor of this match might join Cody Rhodes and John Cena in their WrestleMania 41 bout on Night Two. With Punk and Rhodes being major players in the WWE today, Swerve Strickland (former AEW World Champion) suggests that they, along with other stars, have seen a career boost due to their time spent in AEW, which seems to have positively impacted their performances in the WWE.

Swerve Strickland believes AEW increased CM Punk & Cody Rhodes’ value

In the Bootleg Kev podcast, Swerve Strickland shared insights about how All Elite Wrestling (AEW) has substantially boosted the market value of stars such as CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, and others. He emphasized that AEW’s emergence has opened up more bargaining possibilities for wrestlers, allowing them to secure improved contracts and enhance their overall worth.

He expressed the idea that Sasha Banks was valuable, but Mercedes VoteCarlo has become more valuable due to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Similarly, Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, and Jon Moxley have gained more value since joining AEW. Ricky Starks moving to the Saints is another example. Mercedes has made a significant impact for the women’s division, which makes some question Becky Lynch’s position. The same uncertainty arises when considering New Day and Charlotte Flair – it makes one wonder if they might also consider a change. (Source: pwmania)

Apart from CM Punk and Cody Rhodes, other notable talents like Jade Cargill, Mercedes Moné, and Becky Lynch have all experienced a significant boost in their worth due to AEW. Just lately, Swerve Strickland secured a substantial new deal with the organization as well.

For the last six years, Tony Khan’s promotion has significantly boosted the careers of many wrestlers by offering them improved chances.

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2025-03-20 14:10