 Nothing would matter at this point.’ I let the burn get too bad before I said anything, if that makes any sense.” 

After he left WWE, Rhodes continued working under his real name on the independent circuit, but often hesitated from using it in order to avoid conflict with WWE.Rhodes' first post-WWE match was for Evolve in Joppa, Maryland on August 19 at Evolve 66, defeating Zack Sabre Jr. by submission.After the match, Rhodes called out Drew Galloway.