Journalist Ariel Helwani of The MMA Hour is reporting that Cody Rhodes is in discussion with WWE for a shocking return to the company.

The news that both Cody and his wife Brandi departed All Elite Wrestling today sent shockwaves throughout the wrestling industry, a scenario which many thought would not happen just over two years since they co-founded the promotion they worked so hard to build.

Sources indicated that negotiations between Cody and AEW broke down totally yesterday at which point it was decided that all parties would part ways. One of the biggest sticking points was money, as Cody wanted a certain amount and Tony Khan was not ready to spend as much to keep him. Sean Ross Sapp from Fightful also adds that Cody had already talked to WWE before yesterday’s decision to completely leave AEW.

As Vince McMahon says, never say never in the wrestling business and even the company’s harshest critics such as Bret “Hit Man” Hart, the late Ultimate Warrior, Goldberg, and many others, all returned to the company at some point.

The former two-time TNT champion never held back in criticizing WWE on live television, most recently taking a jab at the company when they renamed Walter to Gunther. He also famously destroyed a throne with a sledgehammer in his first entrance for AEW, a dig at Triple H.

The news of Cody negotiating a potential return with WWE was later confirmed by other sources. If Cody does end up in WWE, it would be the first AEW defection as traffic has been only the other way round so far.