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Cody Rhodes granted release from WWE

By Wade Sheridan
WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes, recently known as Stardust, has left the company after requesting a release. Photo courtesy of WWE/Youtube
1 of 2 | WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes, recently known as Stardust, has left the company after requesting a release. Photo courtesy of WWE/Youtube

STAMFORD, Conn., May 23 (UPI) -- Cody Rhodes has officially parted ways with the WWE after he requested a release from the company.

"WWE has come to terms on the release of Cody Rhodes as of today, May 22, 2016. WWE wishes Rhodes the best in all his future endeavors," the company said in a statement Sunday.

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Rhodes, the son of deceased WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes and brother of current Superstar Goldust was most recently competing under his cosmic alias Stardust. Debuting in 2006, Rhodes is a two-time Intercontinental Champion and six-time Tag Team Champion with four separate partners.

After WWE announced his departure, Rhodes used social media to say farewell to his fans and give his side of the story as to why he asked for a release. "My one&only statement on the matter. No podcasts or tell-all nonsense. Thank you friends," he captioned his lengthy post on Twitter which discussed his clashes with WWE creative, how he wanted to cease appearing as Stardust, and how he may potentially continue his career elsewhere.

"At this point, most folks know that I have indeed asked for my release from World Wrestling Entertainment, but it's paramount in my mind for the fans of pro-wrestling to have some answers and not be left with questions," Rhodes began.

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"My goal in pro-wrestling has always been to win the WWE Championship (the one accolade in the game my father never obtained), and for a decade I tried to convince both Vince and HHH that I could be their star player, their varsity quarterback if you will, but it seems we have reached the point where neither saw that in me," he said, referring to WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon and Chief Operating Officer Triple H, after thanking them.

"In the past six months I had pleaded with WWE Creative and both of my bosses to let me roll the dice and once again be Cody Rhodes. I had pitched to every writer on staff like a door-to-door salesman," Rhodes wrote of being unable to leave behind the Stardust persona.

After discussing the death of his father, Rhodes then hinted at trying his hand at acting or competing for a different company. "This is not goodbye. There's a whole world of film and television and the stage that I might find I have a knack for (maybe I even already got an offer). As far as the future is concerned though, I'm a wrestler. So that's what I'll do...wrestle."

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Rhodes was famously "fired" on-screen on Raw in September of 2013 after losing a match to Randy Orton with his career on the line. Rhodes would earn his job back along with his brother Goldust and their father after they defeated The Shield members Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins in a tag-team match at Battleground.

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