WWE 2016 news: Cody Rhodes on leaving WWE

Professional wrestling fans are very aware of how Cody Rhodes was immediately released from World Wrestling Entertainment only before WWE's pay-per-view event, Extreme Rules, earlier this year.

Under the character of "Stardust," Rhodes requested the company that he be released and it was approved by Vince McMahon and the heads.

Recently, Inquisitr revealed some insight on what happened upon Rhodes' release and what his plans are for the future.

With the real name of Cody Garrett Runnels, Rhodes is best known as the son of WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes and the half-brother of current WWE star, "Goldust."

While employed at WWE, Rhodes won the Intercontinental Championship twice, and the WWE Tag Team Championship and the World Tag Team Championships three times each.

However, lacking the push he wanted, and playing a character he wanted nothing to do with, Rhodes felt that leaving the company was the best thing to do. He spoke about this on Ric Flair's show and claimed: "There are a lot of motivations for my departure from WWE, but, certainly, like, wanting to prove something. I can tell you 100% that WWE and myself have gone separate ways. I saw even there was a rumor about, like, a merchandising contract, but I think that might extend from the fact that the only discussion, post-WWE, was about my dad's books and it was very important to me that they granted me the rights to write his book before I left, but it was important. I knew that was one of the big risks I was taking with leaving."

As he said, there had been talks that Rhodes' departure was pre-determined and that it would make way for his return as a different character, but Rhodes ultimately denied that fact.

Now that he is officially out of the company, news has come out that Rhodes is lining up for independent bookings for matches and he can now wrestle against opponents like Zack Sabre Jr, Mike Bennett and Kurt Angle.

With a name and an established star in Rhodes, it remains to be seen which big wrestling company will acquire his services next.