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In a stunning development, Cody Rhodes (Stardust) announced Saturday on Twitter that he asked for his release from WWE.
“The past ten years have been quite the trek, but as of earlier today I have asked for my release from WWE,” Rhodes tweeted.
“I’ll speak further on the matter shortly. Thank you to all the pro-wrestling/sports entertainment fans worldwide. Thank you.”
Rhodes’s wife, ring announcer Eden Stiles (Brandi Rhodes) tweeted that she “could not be any prouder or more supportive.”
Rhodes had been floundering as the Stardust character over the past year or so, mostly landing on Superstars or Main Event, with occasional appearances on Raw or Smackdown.
Rhodes took time away from WWE last year after his father, Dusty Rhodes, died. However, he returned to TV as the Stardust character, not wanting to transform back into Cody Rhodes, believing it might come across as exploitative.
WWE is also going through a roster transition introducing new wrestlers in 2016 who will soon be mixing with several big-names returning from injury. It points to someone in Rhodes’s position being squeezed out of main TV time.
(1/2) The past ten years have been quite the trek, but as of earlier today I have asked for my release from @WWE
— Hyrule Husky (@PrinceCGR) May 21, 2016
(2/2) I'll speak further on the matter shortly. Thank you to all the pro-wrestling/sports entertainment fans worldwide. Thank you
— Hyrule Husky (@PrinceCGR) May 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/RealEdenWWE/status/734078962050072577
Super talented and under appreciated. Farewell Cody – hope to see you back someday!!