Cody Rhodes is set to make his in-ring return at AEW Dynamite Grand Slam when he faces Malakai Black.
Black defeated Rhodes on the August 4 episode of AEW Dynamite. After the bout, Rhodes teased retirement but was further attacked by Black.
During Cody's absence, the landscape in AEW changed with CM Punk, Bryan Danielson, and Adam Cole entering the mix.
Participating in a Bleacher Report AMA, Cody was asked about the toughest challenge in his career.
"The music has broken my heart far more than it has cheered me up so far. I started a bit smaller and today in our industry I'm like a giant. Currently, I'm in a position where they think I book the show and book myself which has created tension for some fans. I’m of the belief that if you pay your money you can cheer, boo, etc. To go from a warm reception to an adversarial reception...i’ll retire before I become a heel. I’m not going to make decisions that are bad for our youth to see. That’s the challenge, how do I maintain where I’m at when the crowd wants to get a different flavor," he said.
Due to a stipulation at AEW Full Gear 2019, Cody cannot challenge for the AEW Championship. Rhodes officially returned on the September 15 episode of AEW Dynamite to brawl with Black.
Fightful will have live coverage of AEW Dynamite Grand Slam beginning at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
