Add as a preferred source on Google Dustin Rhodes has once again shut the door on a possible WWE return after responding to a fan on X who asked whether the character could ever appear on WWE programming again.
Dustin replied with the following:
“Worked too hard for my legacy to be tarnished by 50% less pay. NOOOOO! Won’t say it again. Love ya and ty for asking though.”
he comment reinforces the stance Dustin has been taking in recent months. Back in February, he also dismissed the idea of returning to WWE, saying he never received a raise during his time with the company and suggesting that he feels more valued in AEW.
The veteran is locked into a long-term deal with Tony Khan’s promotion. According to Fightful, Rhodes signed a six-year contract with AEW that includes work as a wrestler, coach, consultant, and company ambassador.
Dustin has been out of the ring since July 2025, when he lost the AEW TNT Championship to Kyle Fletcher. Not long after, he underwent double knee replacement surgery and also vacated the ROH World Tag Team and World Six-Man Tag Team Championships.
Even so, his return appears to be getting closer. In March, Rhodes told Fox News that he expected to be back within two or three weeks, while PWInsider reported that he had been backstage at AEW working as a producer.
As of now, however, AEW has not officially announced when Dustin Rhodes will wrestle again.