Sometimes WWE stars make exits from the company, and that doesn’t mean the end of their mainstream wrestling career anymore. In fact, there is a large and lucrative market on the indie circuit as currently composed and acts like the Young Bucks and Hardy Boyz are proof.Some do eventually fall off the radar and the really unlucky ones end up in various professions to make ends meet outside of the ring.However, there are those that have been established as big names already and they’re going to be successful anywhere they go. That popularity can be so strong that either fans want them back in WWE or the company eventually calls on their services again.The biggest name in recent years to make a comfortable presence on the independent circuit is Cody Rhodes. He is just competing as Cody on the indy circuit, but he’s been in the headlines a lot in recent times for simply having fun doing as he pleases with the decreased restrictions outside the WWE.In his time away, he’s had incredible matches with the likes of Kurt Angle, he missed a moonsault off a steel cage earlier this year and gave a heckler the bird in ring. None of this action would fly with his former employer.However, he’s leaving the door open to returning to the biggest wrestling company in the world, though, and he recently spoke to 411Mania about the plans that were in place for him post brand split in the WWE.Cody said: “At one point the plan was for me to be Stardust on one brand, and Cody Rhodes on another brand. I thought that was a really good idea. Absolutely wanted to do it! Everybody wanted to do it except for one person who will remain nameless, but that one person has the main vote.”As a second-generation professional wrestler, Rhodes is no stranger to the business and he would have been willing to put his body out there like that. The person who he is referring to is Vince McMahon and what the boss says goes when it comes to the on-camera product.

Now, in the independent circuit, he doesn’t have to worry about that kind of meddling and can focus on wow-ing audiences in his own way. Still, McMahon’s judgement might have been well intentioned because the travel schedule for performing on both brands would be hairy.

Along with that, there would be two times the abuse for him to take in the ring and if there’s one thing the WWE is big on, it’s protecting their investments.

The second episode of GiveMeSport’s WWE podcast is here! Check out the inside info from our coverage in Orlando. https://soundcloud.com/user-818579649/givemesport-inside-wrestlemania-33