Contract talks between Cody Rhodes and WWE officials reportedly haven't gone so smoothly.Last month, Cody and Brandi Rhodes parted ways with AEW. It was reported soon after that Cody would eventually return to the WWE, but nothing has happened up to this point. Wrestling fans hoping to see the 36-year-old back in WWE shouldn't get their hopes up too high, because a new report suggests that the two sides are far apart in contract talks.As previously noted, Dave Meltzer reported in this week's edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that WWE creative "is working on stuff" for Cody. In an update on Saturday, however, Meltzer reported that there has been a "change in" Cody's WWE status, and that things are "uncertain" on that front.In a message board at F4WOnline.com (h/t WrestlingNews.co) Ryan Frederick offered an update. He reported it's "obvious" that WWE submitted "a big offer" to Cody after his AEW contract expired.According to Frederick, the initial offer wound up getting scrapped, and Cody was subsequently "offered less to the point where he might not even go." finally, Frederick noted that Rhodes "lost his leverage" when AEW announced that he was leaving the company.RELATED: Chris Jericho Comments On Cody Rhodes' AEW Departure So the bottom line is that Cody remains a free agent, and a highly-expected WWE return may not come to fruition after all. Needless to say, the clock is ticking on Vnice McMahon and company to reach an agreement with Cody. The former AEW TNT Champion shouldn't be a free agent much longer, to say the very least.

Cody Rhodes Would Be A Marquee Addition For WWE

WWE could use more main event stars to lead the roster, and a world-class talent like Cody doesn't come around too often. He was greatly underused in his final years with WWE, but that hopefully wouldn't be the case this time around. Cody has all the makings to be a perennial main event star in WWE, and McMahon should do whatever it takes to sign the second-generation wrestler.

With WrestleMania 38 just a month away, it's an ideal time to bring a new talent like Cody into the fold.