Cody Rhodes has entered the conversation surrounding Avery Styles, offering a different perspective on the criticism recently directed at AJ Styles’ 19-year-old son.

The situation gained attention over the weekend after independent wrestler and promoter Arik Cannon publicly criticised Avery for allegedly failing to help with setup duties at a recent GCW event. Cannon suggested the young wrestler had not yet learned the importance of "paying his dues" in the wrestling business.

The debate eventually reached Rhodes after Cannon shared an older photograph showing Cody sweeping up broken glass while working an independent wrestling event.

Rhodes responded on Tuesday and argued that Avery's circumstances should be viewed differently, pointing to the sacrifices AJ Styles made throughout his son's childhood while building his wrestling career.

“Arik my friend, no shade intended, but my outlook…Avery is 19. His Father was paying dues and making sacrifices throughout that young man’s youth that some people may never understand. When you’re the family holding down the fort,” Rhodes wrote. “To simplify…he already set up the fn’ chairs.”

Rhodes' comments add another notable voice to a discussion that has spread across wrestling social media, particularly over whether traditional expectations surrounding rookies and "paying dues" should still be applied in the same way today.

GCW Owner Brett Lauderdale Addresses Avery Styles Situation

GCW owner Brett Lauderdale has also spoken publicly about the controversy, calling for Avery to be given room to develop during the earliest stages of his wrestling career.

Lauderdale acknowledged both Cannon and AJ Styles while stressing that Avery remains a teenager entering a demanding industry with considerable attention already surrounding him because of his famous father.

“I respect arik cannon & i respect aj styles. Regardless of which side of this situation you’re on…Avery Styles is a kid and he deserves the same grace that would be afforded to any other teenager being thrown in to the deep end at this early stage in his career (and LIFE). hes gonna make mistakes along the way just as all rookies in this business will, but the difference is he will be held to a higher standard because of who his dad is from talking to avery personally, im certain hes going to learn from them all and continue to grow on his journey,” Lauderdale wrote.

The comments follow GCW's previous clarification that Cannon does not speak on behalf of the promotion and was expressing his own opinion regarding the situation.

Avery is still at the very beginning of his professional wrestling journey. He made his in-ring debut in June, defeating Ashton Martin at an independent event in Georgia.

With Cody Rhodes and Lauderdale now weighing in, the discussion has developed beyond one incident and into a wider debate about wrestling traditions, expectations placed upon second-generation performers, and how much of the industry's old-school mentality should continue with today's newcomers.

What do you make of Cody Rhodes' argument? Should Avery Styles be expected to pay his dues like every other rookie, or does Cody make a fair point about the sacrifices already made by the Styles family? Let us know your thoughts in the new WNS comments section.