All Elite Wrestling and development partner Yuke's remain hard at work at the pro wrestling promotion's first major game release, AEW Fight Forever. Yet wrestling fans know that the volatility of the wrestling business can dramatically impact plans for a wrestling game. There's no better example of that than the early 2022 departure of Cody Rhodes, one of AEW's founders, to WWE. Fans worried Rhodes won't be a part of AEW Fight Forever can now rest easy, though, as Rhodes is confirmed for the game.In a recent Sports Illustrated interview with AEW star Kenny Omega, the currently inactive wrestler shared some exciting information about AEW Fight Forever. Omega says explicitly that Rhodes is still in the game. He has not been removed. Omega says that he knows that will surprise a lot of people, which is perhaps why he decided to publicly confirm Rhodes' inclusion ahead of any official roster reveal.RELATED: Stone Cold Steve Austin and Cody Rhodes Pick Their Favorite Zelda GamesAs for how and why Rhodes is able to be a part of AEW Fight Forever while now being signed with WWE, Omega explains that it's simply always been part of the plan. Omega says that he, as a producer from AEW's side of development, was always passionate about "making sure [Rhodes'] legacy and position within the company were preserved." In other words, while Rhodes left AEW, Omega still wanted him to be remembered as one of its founders and a key part of the promotion's early success.

Further elaborating on Rhodes' role in the game, he details that AEW Fight Forever will "coincide with the birth of [AEW]." More specifically, Omega explains that players will get to experience the creation of AEW from "day one" as part of the game. Rhodes will obviously be a key part of that story, which is why he's being kept in the game despite skipping town on AEW.

Omega doesn't delve into the financial or legal aspects of the situation, but given his comfort talking about the subject, everything must already have been dealt with contractually. When Rhodes left AEW, he likely already knew just how involved with AEW Fight Forever's story he was. As such, he'd have included any legal complication it would create in his contract negotiations with WWE.

There's still plenty of information regarding the situation that's left to be revealed at a later date. Cody Rhodes may be part of AEW Fight Forever's story as an NPC, but not as a playable character. Or perhaps he'll be prominently featured as one of AEW Fight Forever's roster like AEW fans are certain to want. It's a complicated situation, but hopefully Rhodes and AEW have been able to make it happen.

AEW Fight Forever is tentatively planned for release in 2022.

MORE: 5 Details the AEW Game Has to Absolutely Nail