Jerry Lynn’s in-ring career has been over for more than a decade, but Cody Rhodes apparently saw enough in the former ECW World Heavyweight Champion to repeatedly make a pitch for one final match.
Lynn discussed Rhodes’ interest in facing him during an appearance on What Happened When?, where he joined Tony Schiavone and Conrad Thompson. The conversation highlighted Lynn’s standing among peers and fans alike, both for his years as one of the most technically respected wrestlers of his generation and for the work he has continued to do behind the scenes in AEW.
During the discussion, Lynn revealed that Rhodes regularly encouraged him to consider stepping back through the ropes while they were both with AEW. It was not presented as a single casual suggestion. Lynn made clear that Rhodes brought it up often.
“I couldn’t tell you how many times Cody asked me, ‘Come on, one more match,’” Lynn said on What Happened When?. “I told him I would need a good divorce lawyer.”
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The response brought humor to the exchange, but it also spoke to how firmly Lynn’s retirement has been established. His final match took place in 2013, marking the 25th anniversary of his 1988 debut. Since then, Lynn has remained involved in professional wrestling without returning to active competition, becoming a valued figure in AEW in roles outside the ring.
Rhodes’ desire to wrestle Lynn is notable because it fits an established part of his identity as a performer. Throughout his career, Rhodes has consistently shown an appreciation for wrestling history and for the veterans whose work influenced the modern generation. His time outside WWE, including his central role in AEW’s early years, gave him opportunities to interact with wrestlers from many different eras and styles.
For Rhodes, a match with Lynn would have represented far more than a nostalgia attraction. Lynn was a foundational name in the evolution of the independent and alternative wrestling scene, particularly through his work in ECW and his acclaimed rivalry with Rob Van Dam. He was known for blending crisp technical wrestling with fast-paced, high-impact offense, earning a reputation as someone capable of excelling against a wide range of opponents.
Lynn’s Retirement Has Not Ended His AEW Presence
Although Lynn has not wrestled since 2013, AEW viewers have still seen him on television at various points. His appearances have generally been tied to stories that use his credibility and history in the business rather than suggesting an in-ring comeback.
One prominent example came in 2023, when Lynn appeared in connection with Rob Van Dam’s arrival in AEW. The angle involved an effort to take the FTW Championship away from Jack Perry, pairing Lynn once again with a longtime associate from a defining period of both men’s careers. The appearance gave AEW an opportunity to draw on the shared history between Lynn and Van Dam while also placing that history into a current storyline.
Lynn’s value to the company has extended well beyond those occasional on-screen moments. He has been widely regarded as a respected voice around the promotion, with his experience making him an important resource for wrestlers at different stages of their careers. That kind of work can be especially significant in a company with a deep roster of performers looking to refine their instincts, structure matches, and understand the small details that separate a good bout from a memorable one.
The fact that Rhodes continued asking about a match is an indication of the regard he held for Lynn. It is also a reminder that retirement in wrestling can invite endless speculation, particularly when a veteran remains close to the industry and still appears physically capable in limited settings. In Lynn’s case, however, he has remained retired despite the interest of a major modern star.
A Practical Price for “One More Match”
Schiavone jokingly asked whether Lynn’s wife, Pam, was particularly strict when it came to keeping him retired. Lynn responded by suggesting that the issue might be less about an absolute refusal and more about the financial terms attached to any hypothetical return.
“Well, you know, it probably all comes to how much,” Lynn said. “I’m sure if it would, you know, pay off her car, she’d be fine with it.”
The comment was clearly delivered in a lighthearted spirit, and Lynn did not indicate that he has plans to wrestle again. Still, it gave the exchange an appropriately wrestling-specific answer: while a comeback is not being announced, the idea of a sufficiently large payday has always been part of the broader mythology surrounding retirement in the industry.
There is an important distinction between a wrestler being asked to return and a wrestler actively preparing for a return. Lynn only disclosed Rhodes’ repeated requests and offered a humorous answer about what it might take to change his household’s mind. Nothing in the discussion establishes an upcoming match, a previous serious negotiation, or a concrete plan for Lynn to wrestle in AEW.
That uncertainty matters, particularly because Lynn’s retirement was not an abrupt disappearance from the wrestling world. He has stayed connected to the industry, making appearances and contributing his knowledge without needing to revisit the physical demands of active competition. For many retired performers, that is a sustainable way to remain part of wrestling while protecting the decision to step away from the ring.
Why a Rhodes-Lynn Match Would Have Carried Meaning
Had it ever happened, a match between Rhodes and Lynn would have been driven by respect as much as spectacle. Rhodes has often sought connections to wrestlers and traditions that came before him, while Lynn’s body of work has long made him a wrestler’s wrestler. The appeal would not simply have been that a retired name returned for a special appearance. It would have been that a prominent star wanted to share a ring with someone whose influence reaches across multiple generations.
Lynn’s legacy is especially tied to a period when ECW offered an alternative vision of major American wrestling. His performances helped establish him as one of the promotion’s most reliable and versatile athletes. He could work the kind of athletic, innovative contests that became synonymous with the company, but he was also capable of grounding matches with structure, intensity, and believable struggle.
That versatility has helped keep his name relevant long after his final bout. A younger generation may know Lynn from AEW appearances or from stories told by wrestlers who worked with him, while longtime fans remember the matches that made him one of the most respected figures of the 1990s and 2000s.
Rhodes is no longer in AEW, which means the possibility of that particular AEW-era dream match never materialized. Lynn’s comments nevertheless offer a revealing glimpse into the sort of match Rhodes hoped to make when the two were together in the company. They also reinforce the esteem Lynn continues to command within the business.
For now, Lynn remains a retired wrestler whose influence is felt in other ways. And while his answer about paying off Pam’s car leaves the door open for jokes about the right offer, it does not amount to a return announcement. What is clear is that Cody Rhodes saw enough value in Jerry Lynn’s work to ask again and again for one more match—and Lynn had a memorable response ready every time.
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Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.