Cody Rhodes' decision to leave AEW for WWE has been a game-changer in the professional wrestling industry.

In a surprise, AEW announced back in February that Cody and Brandi Rhodes were leaving the company. Aside from wrestling, Cody served as an Executive Vice President in AEW, and Brandi was employed as the company's chief brand officer. The two played instrumental roles in building up AEW as a powerhouse, and they were successful in recruiting plenty of other marquee wrestlers to the company.

Several reports suggested that Cody would eventually return to the WWE, and that turned out to be just the case. He was revealed as Seth Rollins' mystery opponent at day one of WrestleMania 38 weekend. The second-generation wrestler went on to defeat The Architect in a highly-acclaimed match, which was also his first WWE bout in six years.

During an interview on SiriusXM’s Busted Open Radio (h/t WrestlingInc.com), The American Nightmare discussed the moment he knew when he was leaving AEW.

"(The moment) I knew that it was going to and needed to happen for me was the Loews Hotel over by Rosemont, which is by Allstate Arena. Allstate, where WWE regularly runs for Chicago," Cody Rhodes said. "But I looked at Brandi and I told her. And the last time I told her something like that was when I told her I was leaving WWE. I just – I kind of had done it all in my mind. I was just sitting there at that little bar to the right side in a little corner booth, and I knew."

RELATED: Backstage Details On Where Cody Rhodes Is Listed Internally In WWE [Report]

Rhodes' decision to return to WWE has served as a compelling chapter in the WWE-AEW rivalry. Cody, of course, had spent three years trying to help Tony Khan's promotion reach the level of Vince McMahon's. But in less than two months, the 36-year-old found himself wrestling on the other side of the rivalry.

AEW has recruited plenty of former notable WWE stars, including CM Punk, Keith Lee, Bryan Danielson, Chris Jericho, Jon Moxley, Samoa Joe, Ruby Soho, Malakai Black, and Kyle O'Reilly, among others. But this time, it's McMahon who's celebrating a major acquisition from the rival company.

Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins Will Meet Again At WrestleMania Backlash

Fans won't have to wait long for Rhodes' next WWE pay-per-view bout. He and The Architect will go one-on-one in a WrestleMania rematch at the May 8 WrestleMania Backlash pay-per-view. The event will be held at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island, and it will feature several rematches from the WrestleMania 38 card.

TheSportster Podcast has returned! Check out latest episodes of the show where Jim Parsons and Norman Quarrinton cover the latest news and events happening in the worlds of WWE, AEW and more!

Listen to TheSportster Show here