SEScoops

Tag: Cody Rhodes

  • WWE Expected Cody Rhodes Would Be Seen As ‘A Martyr’ With WrestleMania Switch-Up

    WWE Expected Cody Rhodes Would Be Seen As ‘A Martyr’ With WrestleMania Switch-Up

    The Rock returned to WWE so he could take Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania match against Roman Reigns. Fans are not happy about this, and they’re rallying behind Cody. That was apparently WWE’s plan.

    WWE’s Plan For Cody Rhodes’ Replacement

    During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer stated that WWE expected to make a martyr out of Cody after The Rock took his spot. That intention to turn him into an even bigger babyface was there, but the end result of The Rock getting booed might not have been in the cards.

    I don’t know what they were expecting, but they were expecting for Cody Rhodes to turn into Daniel Bryan, yes. That one, they were expecting, to make Cody Rhodes into a martyr and make him a bigger babyface out of that. Were they expecting people to boo Dwayne, I don’t know, because you know, I’ve asked that one, and I haven’t gotten a straight answer. 

    WWE fans have been quite open about the fact that they do not 100% approve of The Rock coming back to take Cody Rhodes’ match. This might not have been something WWE really planned for, but they certainly expected for fans to love Cody Rhodes even more coming out of this situation.

    WWE’s Response To The Backlash

    Fans are speaking out in a big way about this WrestleMania match, but that doesn’t mean it will do any good. I was explicitly told that this match is still happening.

    After asking around, I received an additional note that said, “No chance this changes unless The Rock backs out. This has been The Rock calling the shot since January 1st.” That is when Rock showed up on the Day 1 episode of RAW and made his first head of the table comment.

    SE Scoops will have continued coverage of this story as more information breaks. The Rock is one of the biggest names in entertainment, but WWE fans were already set on seeing Cody Rhodes take on Roman Reigns on the grandest stage of them all again this year.

  • NXT Star Says Pro-Cody Rhodes Spamming Is Sending the Wrong Message

    NXT Star Says Pro-Cody Rhodes Spamming Is Sending the Wrong Message

    Are fans of Cody Rhodes sending the wrong message by spamming various WWE accounts in support of the American Nightmare? One NXT Superstar thinks so. 

    On last week’s SmackDown, Rhodes graciously stepped aside to allow The Rock to challenge Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. This booking decision has been reviled by fans. Despite being one of the most popular Superstars of all time, The Rock’s return is now WWE’s most-disliked YouTube video. It’s not just online that this disdain has been shown. At a WWE live event, fans booed a video showing The Rock’s return on SmackDown. 

    DIJAK Comments

    WWE Superstars, for the most part, have been silent about the backlash to the booking decision. With that said Logan Paul recently threw his support behind Rhodes, while Ricochet has stated that fans are showing a toxic side. 

    Now, NXT Superstar DIJAK has shared his two cents on the response from fans to this controversial booking. Taking to Twitter, DIJAK spoke about fans spamming the comments section of NXT: Vengeance Day in support of the American Nightmare. DIJAK argued that fans are sending the wrong message and if they insist on spamming accounts, they should stick to the relevant ones. 

    What’s Next? 

    The Rock and Roman Reigns will be at a WrestleMania 40 press conference later this week. Cody Rhodes will be on this week’s Raw where he’ll face Shinsuke Nakamura in a Bull Rope match. The American Nightmare will also be at Elimination Chamber: Perth later this month, an event neither The Rock nor Reigns are expected to be at. 

  • The Rock’s WWE WrestleMania 40 Hype Post Flooded By Angry Cody Rhodes Fans

    The Rock’s WWE WrestleMania 40 Hype Post Flooded By Angry Cody Rhodes Fans

    WWE fans have reacted in a big way after The Rock made his return to television, skipping over Cody Rhodes in the process to claim a match against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania. It seems that Dwayne Johnson can’t post anything at this point without getting flooded by upset fans.

    The Rock’s Latest WrestleMania Post

    Although it hasn’t been 100% confirmed yet, the current WrestleMania match is The Rock vs Roman Reigns. This match was booked for WrestleMania 37, but they couldn’t get things lined up. Now they will finally hold the match at WrestleMania 40, but fans’ aren’t happy.

    The Rock posted on Instagram to include a few reactions to his WWE SmackDown return. There were a couple live reaction videos, and it was overall positive. The caption he picked let everyone know that he is playing the long game as the People’s Champion.

    This is gonna be so much fun.Long game.~ people’s champ

    https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C27CCdhu-c5

    That post wasn’t up for very long before Cody Rhodes’ fans flooded it. The top reaction was “We Want Cody,” and many others commented to show their disapproval. This is not the kind of response that The Rock is used to getting.

    The Rock’s Recent Activity

    The Rock had a few big losses in a row. The XFL failed to make money, and Black Adam was panned in the box office. Young Rock was also cancelled by NBC after only three seasons.

    Then his WWE return was met with a huge backlash. As of this writing, it appears that Dwayne Johnson is playing the “long game,” but fans don’t seem to be 100% down with how he’s playing.

    WWE Sticking To WrestleMania 40 Plan (Exclusive)

    As I previously reported, this match is locked in. The Rock wanted the contest against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania, and it is happening, no matter what fans think. CM Punk’s injury caused WWE to pivot and put Seth Rollins vs Cody Rhodes instead. A triple threat match with Cody vs Rock vs Roman was never on the table, either.

    After asking around, I received an additional note that said, “No chance this changes unless The Rock backs out. This has been The Rock calling the shot since January 1st.” That is when Rock showed up on the Day 1 episode of RAW and made his first head of the table comment.

    SE Scoops will have continued coverage of this story as more information breaks. The Rock is one of the biggest names in entertainment, but that doesn’t seem to sway WWE fans who were set on seeing Cody Rhodes finish his story.

  • The Thrill Of The Chase Continues: Cody Rhodes Will Come Out On Top, No Matter What Happens At WrestleMania (Editorial)

    The Thrill Of The Chase Continues: Cody Rhodes Will Come Out On Top, No Matter What Happens At WrestleMania (Editorial)

    Cody Rhodes not facing Roman Reigns at WrestleMania is at bare-minimum, bittersweet, but to a great deal of the WWE fanbase, it’s much more than that.

    The Rock stepping the line to face his nephew had to feel like an “American Nightmare” scenario for Cody Rhodes fans on Friday. The full video clip of the segment on SmackDown has already become WWE’s most disliked YouTube clip of all time and so from a creative standpoint, that should give WWE a cause for pause if it hasn’t already. WWE clearly has a “Yes Movement Pt. Deux” on its hands. But as Cody mentor DDP once quipped, “that’s not a bad thing, but a good thing.”

    Bryan Danielson was the fan-appointed favorite and for good reason. Just like Cody, the 2014 Daniel Bryan had synergy with wrestling fans and there was no denying riding with him was the move that should have been done. Poor Batista found himself in The Rock spot and he, along with Orton, became the unfortunate conduits for fan ire. Could that segment on SmackDown do the same for The People’s Champion?

    The moment has gotten a lot of heat from fans, but how it was executed from all parties involved was beautifully done. Reigns immediately re-established the ability to hang with anyone behind the stick, but Cody became the main man to lay the groundwork for everyone involved. Sure, Roman went scorched earth on Rollins and his ‘Big Gold,’ but that can simply be chalked up to his manipulative ways. Plus, Seth did the same to Roman’s hardware on Monday, calling it a “Hollywood” championship.

    It was Cody who helped bring Roman’s Title back to relevance, conjuring up the lineage from the Bruno Sammartino days. If WWE wants to make both titles feel equally desirable, a confrontation between Roman and Seth would do wonders.

    Fans are hung up on Rhodes willingly calling an audible with The Rock usurping him in Philly, but Cody’s story ties perfectly into that match up that fans feel scornful of: the aspect of family.

    Why does The Rock want Roman? His nephew has corrupted the Maivia and A’noai legacy and turned it into something self-serving. Cody knows all about legacy. The loving ties he has to his late father have been something fans have cherished throughout Cody’s story, so Cody would be the perfect man to understand The Rock’s intentions of wanting to end Roman’s reign. This is all the reason you need to have those respective matches at WrestleMania 40. Which leads me back to “Yes Movement Part Deux”

    Can The Rock really be the recipient of boos in Philadelphia? The City of Brotherly Love have shown they aren’t above throwing batteries at Santa Claus, so yes, absolutely. However, it’s a match that has to happen and no matter what, despite what’s being said, it is the proper stage for it to go down on. The fans are who can ultimately change the course of what truly transpires at WrestleMania. Perhaps this feedback will force WWE’s hand in Cody really finishing his story, not just against Seth, but Roman too or maybe even The Rock.

    At the very least, it will continue to add an unexpected chapter to Cody’s story: “‘The Thrill Of The Chase’ Continues” – a chapter Dusty originally penned. These hard times will pay off for The American Nightmare, because he has the fans on his side.

  • Ricochet Calls Pro Wrestling Fans Online Toxic In Response To WrestleMania Backlash

    Ricochet Calls Pro Wrestling Fans Online Toxic In Response To WrestleMania Backlash

    The Rock’s return to WWE caused some fans to unleash fury online. They are not happy at all about how Cody Rhodes lost his spot to Dwayne Johnson, and, while he is a constant Cody Rhodes supporter, Ricochet is speaking out about this.

    Ricochet Speaks Out

    Initially expected to be in the main event of WrestleMania 40 against Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal championship, Cody Rhodes shifted gears on a recent episode of SmackDown, opting to bring out The Rock instead, passing the torch for that WrestleMania main event match. Now Roman Reigns is in for a showdown with The Rock instead. 

    This decision sparked a strong reaction from the Internet Wrestling community, with overwhelming support for Rhodes and negative comments directed at The Rock and WWE. This was noticed by everyone, and WWE even realizes that fans aren’t happy. The match with Rock is on now, and that’s not changing. Ricochet had to speak out after seeing his timeline full of disgruntled fans.

    Taking note of the situation, Ricochet shared his perspective on social media. While acknowledging himself as Cody Rhodes’ supporter, he labeled the Internet Wrestling Community as a toxic space. This is something he said he saw amplified in recent memory.

    First, let me say there is no bigger Cody supporter than me, ask @SamanthaTheBomb

    2nd, you guys have shown me how truly toxic the IWC is haha

    Ricochet then sent out a second tweet a short time later, one where he made things very clear about how he feels about The Rock taking Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania spot.

    WWE Won’t Be Changing Their Plans

    Although fans may want to cry out for a change, that is not happening. Now, it is The Rock vs Roman Reigns. As I previously noted, I was told that there is “no chance in hell” that they’ll give that match back to Cody Rhodes. That exact wording was used, but unlike Vince McMahon’s regime, who was known to make calls along this line, the fact is that The Rock is behind this as a massive power play. 

  • Backlash Over Cody Rhodes Losing WrestleMania 40 Spot To The Rock Will Not Change WWE’s New Plan

    Backlash Over Cody Rhodes Losing WrestleMania 40 Spot To The Rock Will Not Change WWE’s New Plan

    The Rock showed up during the February 2nd episode of WWE SmackDown, and the backlash has been considerable. The YouTube video of the segment, although it has now topped 4 million views, is also the most disliked video in the history of their YouTube channel. Now, another notable name has joined the crusade. That won’t change their plan, because Dwayne Johnson is back to get his match at WrestleMania against Roman Reigns.

    Backlash After The Rock’s Return

    Fans were not happy about The Rock taking Cody Rhodes spot, no matter how WWE booked it. That moment in the ring where Cody and Rock shook hands has been analyzed by many, and few have drawn a positive conclusion.

    Hashtags started and fans cried out for The Rock to give that match back, one that Rhodes earned after winning his second Royal Rumble match in a row. That hasn’t happened, but it’s not because of lack of support. 

    Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select that there was a sense of shock backstage when The Rock showed up to take Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania spot. There was also a hope that fan backlash might sway WWE’s decision for The Rock vs Roman Reigns at WrestleMania. Sadly, that is not happening and WWE is continuing with their plan.

    Cody Rhodes Gets Backup From Gabriel Iglesias

    Comedian Gabriel Iglesias is a super-fan, and he’s been spotted at WWE and AEW shows. He loves pro wrestling, and it appears he is also a member of the Nightmare Family.

    The famously Fluffy comedian posted on Twitter/X to drop a photo of himself with Cody Rhodes. Along with this photo, he included a very simple message that he wanted fans to retweet.

    #WeWantCody was the message, and he also included three clapping hands emojis for good measure.

    WrestleMania 40 and The Rock (Exclusive)

    For what it’s worth, I asked around about this situation with The Rock. I was told that this is a complete “power play” on Dwayne Johnson’s behalf. Upon asking if this situation is like when he tried to muscle his way into the DC Cinematic Universe with Black Adam, I was told that is a “great analogy.”

    When asking if the fan backlash is noticed within the company, that was also confirmed. It’s impossible to ignore at this point, as USA Today, TMZ and more have already run headlines about how fans are upset about The Rock taking Cody Rhodes’ spot on the show of shows.

    I was also able to confirm that Brian Gewirtz was brought back to the company, but only to work on The Rock’s things. He was a head writer for WWE until Rock took him to work at Seven Bucks Productions, where he is currently the SVP of Development. 

    After asking if any of this fan backlash will change these prospective WrestleMania plans, I was told, “there’s no chance in hell.” Yes, that was the exact wording used. No, Vince McMahon is not involved in this picture at all, but The Rock is definitely flexing in a huge way.

    Seth Rollins vs Cody Rhodes is the new match, something that was booked after CM Punk was taken out of action with an injury during the Rumble match. Now, fans have a much different WrestleMania 40 ahead, and they have yet to warm up to the idea.

    Update: WrestleMania Continues To Evolve

    I was further told that the only person who could change this match is The Rock himself. I was told by a tenured member of the creative team that, “We have not been told of any change. That doesn’t mean the plan hasn’t changed. Or won’t change. Or this is all a plan anyway. It just means we’re not being told.”

    Cody Rhodes went on to make a decision to face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania. This caused The Rock to slap him during the company’s Las Vegas WrestleMania kickoff event in the T-Mobile arena. 

    SE Scoops will have continued updates as more information is made known. The Rock is not out of this picture yet, and he still wants the match.  He told Triple H to “fix” things as the Las Vegas event closed out.

  • Watch: Cody Rhodes’ Heartwarming Gesture Towards Impaired Fan at Live Event

    Watch: Cody Rhodes’ Heartwarming Gesture Towards Impaired Fan at Live Event

    WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes has yet again shared a heartwarming moment with a fan.

    ‘The American Nightmare’ has earned a reputation for his genuine kindness and memorable interactions with fans throughout his career. Despite being a larger-than-life figure in the world of pro wrestling, he has always made an effort to connect with his fans on a personal level.

    Cody Rhodes often takes time to meet fans, sign autographs, and take photos at events. Whether it’s a major wrestling show or a small indie event, Cody’s humble nature has left a lasting impression on fans. He certainly goes out of his way to make each encounter special and ensures that fans feel appreciated and valued.

    Cody Rhodes interacts with an impaired fan

    At a Saturday’s live event at Knoxville Civic Coliseum in Knoxville, TN. Cody Rhodes spotted a fan who was impaired. In a video clip that surfaced on Twitter, ‘The American Nightmare’ read out the fan sign saying: 

    “Legally blind but trying to see Cody Rhodes”

    Cody then left the ring, went over the barricade, and hugged the fan before signing an autograph as the fans cheered on.

    Cody Rhodes recently won the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match. While everybody though that he would challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion,The Rock entered the fray. 

    ‘The Great One’ made his huge return on Friday’s episode of SmackDown and it stirred new controversy. The Rock took Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania main event spot against Roman Reigns.

    We previously reported how WWE fans have spoken out against The Rock taking Cody Rhodes’ spot and they have even started a trend of Justice for Cody on social media as well as bombarding WWE’s posts on the matter.

  • Logan Paul Weighs In On The Rock’s WWE Return: “We Want Cody”

    Logan Paul Weighs In On The Rock’s WWE Return: “We Want Cody”

    WWE United States Champion Logan Paul has thrown his support behind Cody Rhodes following The Rock’s return to the promotion. 

    On SmackDown, The Rock confronted Roman Reigns, teasing a match at WrestleMania 40. Though fans have been eager to see the two face off for some time, this match comes at the expense of Cody Rhodes. Fans have taken issue with WWE essentially moving Rhodes to the side to give The Rock the match with Reigns. The consensus is that after last year’s loss to Reigns and all the work he does year-round, Cody deserves to finish the story by beating Reigns at WrestleMania. 

    Logan Paul Weighs In

    WWE’s YouTube video of The Rock’s return has scored a record number of dislikes in just one example of the WWE Universe’s opinion on this situation. At a recent live event, fans booed a video featuring The Rock, in what is a far cry from the usual response the fans give the People’s Champion. 

    The WWE Superstars, for the most part, have kept quiet about The Rock being shoehorned into Cody’s spot at WrestleMania 40. Taking to Twitter, however, Paul made his views clear on who should be facing the Tribal Chief in Philadelphia. 

    The Rock & Logan Paul 

    It’s quite something for Paul to side with Cody Rhodes over The Rock, given his past friendship with the Brahma Bull. The pair teamed up for several videos from The Maverick before Rock cut ties with Paul following the latter’s controversial video taken from Japan’s ‘suicide forest’ back in 2017. On a recent edition of his Insight podcast, Paul admitted that it greatly hurt for The Rock, a personal hero of his, to cut ties with him.

    What’s Next? 

    The Rock and Roman Reigns will appear at an upcoming WrestleMania 40 press event, though there’s no word on whether Cody will be a part of the show. Cody will be at the Elimination Chamber: Perth event this month, a show neither The Rock nor Roman Reigns are expected to appear at. Logan Paul has also been confirmed for the event. 

    Cody is out and The Rock is in. How did we get here… 

  • WWE Roster Reportedly Opposed To The Rock Taking Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania 40 Spot Against Roman Reigns

    WWE Roster Reportedly Opposed To The Rock Taking Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania 40 Spot Against Roman Reigns

    The Rock made his big WWE return on Friday’s episode of SmackDown, and that sparked a new controversy within the fan base. The Great One swooped in and took Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania main event match against Roman Reigns, and it’s hard to find someone who is incredibly happy about that right now.

    Internal Reaction To The Rock’s Return

    A report from Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select also detailed the internal reaction after Cody Rhodes lost his WrestleMania spot to The Rock. We previously noted that there was a sense of shock over the move.

    “I’ve known Dwayne a long time,” a wrestler reportedly shared with Fightful. “Not only did the look on Cody’s face tell a story, the look on Dwayne’s told a story. I think in that moment he knew that this decision wasn’t going to work out quite the way that he imagined it. He was experiencing the same thing that he and Roman experienced in Philadelphia. He was being co-signed for something the vast majority didn’t want.”

    WWE Roster Is Seemingly Against This Booking

    Everyone that reportedly discussed this situation with the outlet understood the business implications of running the match, but they also believed it wasn’t a good decision for long-term WWE business.

    “The Rock vs. Roman made sense several years ago when we were running back Roman and Lesnar repeatedly. It could have made sense this year had Cody won the title last year. This is one of the few years it just doesn’t make sense in any capacity.”

    A source in creative reportedly said that many on the team were deflated, and it felt like a decision they’d hear about being made under the previous regime at the expense of helping cultivate new crossover talent.

    Another source that had worked with the Rock was much more stern, saying, “The Rock eroded his trust with the comic and superhero community, with the film community, maybe with the football community, and might do it with the one he has almost universal goodwill with. He’s not a bad guy, don’t mistake that or get me wrong – he’s a great guy. However, bad timing and overexposure and fatigue will make fools of us all. You have to know when to take a back seat.”

    Fans Do Not Approve

    We previously reported how WWE fans have spoken out against The Rock taking Cody Rhodes’ spot at WrestleMania 40. They have started a trend of Justice for Cody on social media as well as flooding WWE’s posts on the matter.

    The Rock and Roman Reigns’ segment from last night’s SmackDown has now surpassed 300,000 dislikes in under 15 hours with 2.5 million views. It is now the most-disliked video that WWE has ever put on their channel. Brandi Rhodes and others have reacted to The Rock taking Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania spot. Fans have voiced their displeasure as well.

    WrestleMania 40 Plans Could Change Again

    It is important to note that WWE has not made Rock vs Roman official at WrestleMania 40 just yet. The fact that they are set to have a face-to-face during a WrestleMania kickoff event in Las Vegas certainly paints that picture.

    Fightful also noted that plans in pro wrestling can always change, and “there are many in the company that are cautiously optimistic that if the reaction that WWE received Friday night” could cause them to shift. 

    As it stands right now, Cody Rhodes will challenge Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Title at Mania. This comes right after Reigns buried that title on SmackDown, calling it a “losers bracket title,” because he’s already beaten anyone in the running for that belt. 

  • The Rock’s WWE WrestleMania 40 Story: When & How Roman Reigns Main Event Match Came To Be

    The Rock’s WWE WrestleMania 40 Story: When & How Roman Reigns Main Event Match Came To Be

    The Rock is returning to the ring to face Roman Reigns. This move on WWE’s part left many shocked backstage. There is a lot to unpack in this situation as well.

    New Details On How The Rock vs Roman Reigns Was Booked For WrestleMania 40

    While Cody Rhodes expressed his intent to challenge Roman Reigns at the Royal Rumble, as he pointed at the Tribal Chief and talked smack as his Kingdom song played on, Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select that there were reports circulating within the company on the afternoon of the Royal Rumble suggesting that The Rock had agreed to face Reigns. 

    The existence of Rock-themed WrestleMania merchandise prototypes, ones that had Rock in a Head of the Table graphic, further fueled speculation.

    Sources reportedly indicated that The Rock not only advocated for the match, but some believe he was pushing for a victory. TKO maintains that this move wasn’t driven by malice toward Rhodes, acknowledging his talent, but recognizing that the audience’s patience had worn thin on the situation.

    When Cody Rhodes Found Out

    Concerning the timeline, Cody was reportedly informed of the decision on Friday, ensuring he was aware before traveling to Smackdown. Talent, including The Rock, had already been booked for the February 8 press conference in Las Vegas, although The Rock’s involvement was not initially clear.

    It is also interesting to note, that not too long ago, Cody openly stated that he wasn’t worried about losing his WrestleMania spot to The Rock.

    While not directly associated with the scandals that Vince McMahon finds himself in now, any mainstream publicity was seen as potentially beneficial. It was noted that Rock was pulling for this match against Roman Reigns prior to Janel Grant’s earth-shattering lawsuit dropped. 

    The early word is that The Rock plans to work a full-length match at WrestleMania, although his willingness to continue wrestling beyond WrestleMania remains uncertain, given the face that he’s one of the busiest men on the planet. 

    SE Scoops will have continued coverage of this tricky situation as WWE makes their way down another road to WrestleMania. Things seemed to be going well, but The Rock’s return definitely stirred up a controversy that Triple H will have to book around now.

  • WWE Discussing Title Unification Win for Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam

    WWE Discussing Title Unification Win for Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam

    The WWE Universe may have to wait until SummerSlam 2024 to see Cody Rhodes dethrone Roman Reigns, in a match that could see huge championship possibilities.

    On this week’s SmackDown, Rhodes, the winner of the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble, said that he wouldn’t be facing Reigns at WrestleMania. Reigns was immediately confronted by The Rock, teasing a showdown between the two at the April supershow. This booking decision has been reviled by fans, who believe Cody’s story should finish by standing tall over Reigns at WrestleMania.

    Unification at SummerSlam? 

    Instead of Roman Reigns, it now appears that Cody will challenge World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40. PW Insider reports that there have been talks of Rhodes winning the title at WrestleMania 40, in the first of two huge title wins for the American Nightmare. The idea would be for Rhodes to challenge the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion at SummerSlam in a title unification match.

    WWE’s Unifying History 

    If this goes ahead, it’ll come just over a year after WWE introduced the World Heavyweight Championship in May of 2023. The title’s inception came about due to Reigns’ dominant tenure as Champion and his part time schedule. WWE unified the WWE and Universal Championship at WrestleMania 38. In the main event of Night 2 of the April 2022 event, Reigns defeated Brock Lesnar to unify the gold. 

    Randy Orton unified the WWE and World Heavyweight Championships at WWE: TLC 2013 with a victory over John Cena. At Vengeance 2001, Chris Jericho unified the WWF and World Championships by defeating ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin and The Rock on the same night. 

  • The Rock Taking Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania 40 Spot: Internal Aftermath Within WWE

    The Rock Taking Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania 40 Spot: Internal Aftermath Within WWE

    Cody Rhodes was just about to proclaim that his 2024 Royal Rumble win would result in an Undisputed Universal Title match against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania. Then that match was swiftly taken away when he introduced The Rock’s big surprise for the Tribal Chief.

    Backstage Reaction to The Rock’s Return

    Sean Ross Sapp noted on Fightful Select that The Rock was around SmackDown all day prior to his big surprise return.

    It was also noted that, “One person at Smackdown said it was the most outside faces they’ve seen there in a long time.” The night was certainly a special one in Alabama this week.

    When The Rock returned during SmackDown to confront Roman Reigns, the WWE Universe wasn’t the only people who were surprised. Sapp noted that, “The reaction backstage to The Rock taking Cody’s spot was one of shock.”

    WWE Bringing in Former Writer for The Rock

    PW Insider reported that Brian Gewirtz will play a role as the voice representing The Rock in the WWE Creative process moving forward. He is not only a former lead writer for WWE, but he is also the current SVP of Development for Seven Bucks Productions.

    Some anticipate Gerwirtz’s presence during major shows, potentially serving as a “Plan B” if Endeavor ever decides to shift WWE’s direction towards a Dwayne Johnson-backed creative team in the future.

    How This Match Came About

    As we previously reported, according to Dave Meltzer on the F4W Online forum, The Rock passionately lobbied for the match against Reigns. Meltzer noted that the anticipated high-profile showdown between the Hollywood star and the Tribal Chief is likely to divert attention from the ongoing Vince McMahon scandal.

    “Dwayne pushed super hard for it. Read last week’s issue and this week’s. The card changed when Punk & Brock were out and all the dominoes fell. Dwayne already wanted it and they felt they now needed it as well. Felt this was better to change the news flow away from Vince.”

    The Rock also just joined TKO Group Holdings’ Board of Directors. This came just before Vince McMahon resigned from the company due to the damning allegations in Janel Grant’s lawsuit.

    This Was Not A Burial Of Cody

    PW Insider reported that everyone is expected to consider The Rock’s ideas in WWE. The decision to involve him in the main event was not driven by malice to sideline Cody Rhodes, but rather based on the belief that Johnson would be the most lucrative choice, considering his new role within the company’s parent company.

    It was a strategic move aimed at bolstering Johnson’s overall political influence and demonstrating Endeavor’s confidence in his engagement. One source reportedly suggested that even Paul “Triple H” Levesque would “lose that power struggle with Johnson at this point.”

    Public Backlash Over WrestleMania Card

    Brandi Rhodes and others have reacted to The Rock taking Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania spot. Fans have voiced their displeasure as well.

    Fans also banded together online to voice their discontent. The Rock and Roman Reigns’ segment from last night’s SmackDown has now surpassed 300,000 dislikes in under 15 hours with 2.5 million views. It is now the most-disliked video that WWE has ever put on their channel.

  • WWE’s Plan For Cody Rhodes At WrestleMania 40

    WWE’s Plan For Cody Rhodes At WrestleMania 40

    Cody Rhodes may not get to finish his story with Roman Reigns at WrestleMania, but the American Nightmare will still be on the show. After winning the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match, he punched his ticket to Mania already, and now we know his match.

    WWE’s Plan for Cody Rhodes

    The Rock’s shocking return to WWE television meant that Cody is not facing Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. Although Dwayne Johnson’s return to the picture shuffled the Mania card, Rhodes will still get a title match.

    According to PW Insider, Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins will throw down at WrestleMania. The two already have a lot of history with each other, as Rollins was Rhodes’ first feud out of the gate upon his return two years ago, and now they have more story to write.

    As far as the future for Cody, the current plan is for him to face Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40, a direction change that a lot of readers we’ve heard from resent given that he’s been pushing to “finish his story” all year, that finishing that story was in reach after a Royal Rumble win and that even the WWE 2K24 video game (which Cody is on the cover for) is themed in part around fans “finishing” their own story.

    Public Response To Cody Losing Mania Spot To The Rock

    Fans expressed discontent with the recent booking choice, particularly the decision to have Cody Rhodes lose his WrestleMania spot to The Rock. This dissatisfaction manifested in a surge of dislikes on WWE’s YouTube video and ongoing discussions throughout the night regarding the significant segment.

    Compounding the situation, supporters initiated the ‘Justice for Cody’ campaign to amplify their stance. In a recent WWE live stream video titled “Best of Cody Rhodes full matches marathon,” they flooded the comments section, rallying behind the American Nightmare.

    WrestleMania Shake-Up

    The WrestleMania card was already getting a shake-up. Brock Lesnar was pulled from creative due to his association with the damning allegations in Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon, WWE and John Laurinaitis. CM Punk was also pulled from the show of shows due to a triceps injury.

    Since Lesnar and Punk were off the show, where they were set to face GUNTHER and Seth Rollins respectively, WWE brought The Rock in for that match against Roman Reigns that fans have talked about for years. 

  • Chris Jericho, DDP, Cody Rhodes & More Contribute Big Money To Ice Train’s GoFundMe Campaign After His Passing

    Chris Jericho, DDP, Cody Rhodes & More Contribute Big Money To Ice Train’s GoFundMe Campaign After His Passing

    The pro wrestling world is like a family in many ways. When someone is taken from us, many times the community steps up to help those who were left behind. After Ice Train’s passing, many of those who knew him are now helping his family through this trying time.

    Ice Train’s GoFundMe

    Ice Train passed away at 56-years-old, and many who worked with him during his days in the ring spoke out to grieve the loss. As of this writing, his cause of death has not been publicly disclosed, but he had health issues. Now, his family is in need of assistance. 

    The description for the GoFundMe, written by Diamond Dallas Page, explains how the money will be used to help Ice Train’s family. The two had a 30-year friendship, and now DDP wants to make sure that Harold Hogue’s family is taken care of to the best of his ability.

    Ice Train was born with congenital heart disease, so he couldn’t get insurance. Due to this, his family is in a terrible circumstance right now.

    Harold Hogue aka “Ice Train” aka “Smooth” (to me he was always “H”) was a warrior and one of the kindest people I’ve ever known. Our 30 year relationship was filled with laughter & brotherhood. We were always there for each other.

    Our families are one family.

    Harold was born with a congenital heart disease and passed away unexpectedly on January 23, 2024. Because of his condition, he was unable to get life insurance, leaving his wife Tiana and his 7 kids too soon…without their rock, and their primary provider.

    Please consider donating in honor of Harold, to help support his family after losing such a great husband, father, and friend. I love you H – DDP.

    As of this writing, they have raised $17,990 of their $50,000 goal. Some notable names have already contributed substantial donations for the campaign. 

    Notable Donations Already

    Several figures from the wrestling community have contributed to Ice Train’s GoFundMe campaign. Dallas Page donated $10,000, Chris Jericho contributed $5,000, and Cody Rhodes put in $1,000. 

    Our thoughts are with Ice Train’s family, friends, and fans at this time. We hope that they reach their goal, because his family could certainly use the assistance. You may visit the link here for more information on Ice Train’s GoFundMe account.

  • Fans Show Disapproval Of The Rock Taking Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania 40 Spot

    Fans Show Disapproval Of The Rock Taking Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania 40 Spot

    Cody Rhodes may not get to finish his story at WrestleMania, and some fans don’t seem to be very happy about that. After The Rock returned during the February 2nd episode of SmackDown, they have not been shy about making their opinion known.

    The Rock’s Big SmackDown Return

    The Rock returned during SmackDown this week as a big surprise. Cody Rhodes was just about to announce who he is facing at WrestleMania, when he said that he won’t be the man taking on Roman Reigns.

    Suddenly, The Rock’s music hit and he came down to the ring. After shaking hands with Cody, the American Nightmare took off to leave himself alone in the ring with Roman Reigns.

    SmackDown closed out this week with the two staring each other down. No match was made official, but it’s pretty clear that WrestleMania 40 will see The Rock vs Roman Reigns.

    Some Fans Are Not Happy

    While some fans are over the moon with happiness due to The Rock’s return to WWE television, they aren’t all thrilled. Some are standing behind Cody Rhodes, and they are not impressed with a storyline that doesn’t see him finish his story.

    The YouTube upload of The Rock & Roman Reigns’ segment from SmackDown this week has received over 50% more dislikes than likes. It also has well over 1.5 million views at this point. That is a very high percentage of dislikes.

    How This Match Came About

    As we previously reported, according to Dave Meltzer on the F4W Online forum, The Rock strongly advocated for the match with Reigns. Meltzer mentioned that the high-profile clash between the Hollywood star and the Tribal Chief is expected to shift the focus away from the current Vince McMahon scandal.

    “Dwayne pushed super hard for it. Read last week’s issue and this week’s. The card changed when Punk & Brock were out and all the dominoes fell. Dwayne already wanted it and they felt they now needed it as well. Felt this was better to change the news flow away from Vince.”

    SE Scoops will have continued coverage of the road to WrestleMania. Fans definitely didn’t see this new development coming, and they might not be 100% for it, either. Needless to say, it will be an interesting showcase of the immortals this year.

  • CM Punk, The Rock & McMahon: How Cody Rhodes Lost His Spot Against Roman Reigns

    CM Punk, The Rock & McMahon: How Cody Rhodes Lost His Spot Against Roman Reigns

    Cody Rhodes is on the Road to WrestleMania 40, but his final destination won’t see him face Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. 

    On the February 2, episode, The Rock confronted his cousin Roman Reigns in the closing moments of the broadcast. Prior to this, Cody Rhodes spoke about what it means to ‘finish the story’ and added that though he’s coming for Roman Reigns, it won’t be at Wrestlemania 40.

    How Cody Rhodes Lost His Spot

    On the forum board of F4W Online, Dave Meltzer explained that The Rock pushed hard for the match with Reigns. He added that the blockbuster showdown between the Hollywood megastar and the Tribal Chief will hopefully turn attention away from the ongoing Vince McMahon scandal. 

    “Dwayne pushed super hard for it. Read last week’s issue and this week’s. The card changed when Punk & Brock were out and all the dominoes fell. Dwayne already wanted it and they felt they now needed it as well. Felt this was better to change the news flow away from Vince.”

    Meltzer added that Rhodes was supposed to face Reigns at WrestleMania in the original plan and that a showdown with The Rock was set to happen at a later date. It was also stated that CM Punk’s injury was a decisive factor in WWE’s change of plans.  

    “Cody was the plan. Dwayne was going to face him later, maybe next year’s Mania, maybe Saudi. Shit happens with Vince and Punk, the Vince thing ends up worse than they thought and they changed the plan. I literally didn’t know until yesterday that it could change and then I was told it’s under lock. But 100% it was Punk vs. Seth and Cody vs. Reigns until Punk got hurt.”

    This massive change of plans as seen on SmackDown has had the wrestling world talking… 

  • Brandi Rhodes & More React to The Rock Taking Cody Rhodes’ Spot at WWE WrestleMania 40

    The return of The Rock during this week’s episode of WWE SmackDown has certainly had the wrestling world talking about this unique booking decision. 

    On the February 2, episode, The Rock confronted his cousin Roman Reigns in the closing moments of the broadcast. Prior to this, Cody Rhodes spoke about what it means to ‘finish the story’ and added that though he’s coming for Roman Reigns, it won’t be at Wrestlemania 40.

    The Wrestling World Reacts

    Cody and The Rock shared an embrace during SmackDown, in what many have seen as confirmation that Rock will face Reigns at WrestleMania instead of Rhodes. Many online have disagreed with the idea, given Rhodes’ heartbreaking loss to Reigns last year and how his story has always been about winning the WWE Championship (now part of the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship) that his father never captured. 

    On Twitter, Brandi Rhodes referred to her husband as a quarterback, indicating that he is a reliable hand that WWE can count on. 

    Mr. Money in the Bank Damian Priest of the Judgment Day found the situation interesting and is excited for WrestleMania 40. 

    Danielle Moinet, better known to WWE fans as Summer Rae, was far from pleased, stating that after two years of build, this twist doesn’t make sense. 

    Amanda Huber, who worked with Cody in AEW, used Dr. Cox from Scrubs to make her views clear on this twist. 

    Echoing Cody’s comment about taking everything from Reigns, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful said that this storyline is doing much more harm to the American Nightmare. 

    Drew McIntyre used an old GIF of Cody to share his take on the situation. 

    Filthy Tom Lawlor suggested another way Cody could finish his story. 

    Hopefully, we all get a clearer picture on this situation on next week’s episode of WWE Monday Night Raw. 

  • The Rock Returns To Confront Roman Reigns For Epic WrestleMania 40 Challenge During WWE SmackDown

    The Rock Returns To Confront Roman Reigns For Epic WrestleMania 40 Challenge During WWE SmackDown

    Cody Rhodes won the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match, marking a back-to-back win achievement in the big annual match. This week on SmackDown, he made a big announcement about what’s next for him. Little did they expect that so much more was going to happen.

    SmackDown’s Final Segment 

    WWE gave Cody Rhodes’ big announcement the final segment of the night for SmackDown to make his big WrestleMania decision. This was a choice that Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins were both very interested in, but that’s not all.

    Roman Reigns made his way to the ring first to start the twenty-minute closing segment. The Tribal Chief took a chance to bury Seth Rollins and his title. He made a point that Rollins is an injured workhorse, and he called the World Heavyweight Championship the “losers bracket title,” since he’s already beaten everyone going for that title.

    Then Cody Rhodes came out, with all of his pyro, and fans were ready to see him answer the Head of the Table. Cody asked Roman, “what do we want to talk about?” He asked if they can have the ring to themselves, which caused Solo and Jimmy Uso to step outside, but Paul Heyman stayed.

    Cody Rhodes said he still wants Roman’s Undisputed Universal Title, because of what it represents. To him, it is still the same title that Bruno Sammartino defended and Dusty Rhodes himself held for a brief moment before it was yanked from his hands. Cody wondered if finishing his story would mean taking everything from Roman Reigns.

    The Rock Returns

    The American Nightmare then said that he wants to take that title from Roman Reigns, but it won’t be at WrestleMania. He said that he’s been seeking council, and it was with someone who knows him very well.

    That is when The Rock’s music hit, and The Great One came out to a huge pop in Birmingham, Alabama. The Rock and Cody hugged, and then Rhodes left.

    The Rock and Roman Reigns just stood in the ring for a moment, as fans soaked in the scene. Fans chanted “this is awesome” and “holy sh*t” as Rock and Roman approached each other in the ring. The show ended with a silent stare-down without another word being said.

    WWE’s Previous Creative Plan For The Rock at WrestleMania

    I exclusively reported WWE’s current situation with The Rock vs Roman Reigns. While some were saying that the match may be moved to Saudi Arabia, that is not the case. Those plans were kept very close to the vest. Now, it appears that the match is going to take place at the show of shows this year, and fans will not have to wait.

    Another WrestleMania 40 Match Confirmed

    Earlier in the night, Bayley made her big WrestleMania decision. She will take on IYO Sky, which was a move that caused Asuka and Kairi Sane to jump her from behind. Now, Bayley is without Damage CTRL, but she’s got a Mania main event in her future.

    SE Scoops will have complete coverage of the road to WrestleMania. The show will go down on April 6th and April 7th in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania’s Lincoln Financial Field.

  • Brandi Rhodes Reveals If She Takes Delight From Seeing Karma Come to Those Who Wronged Her in Pro Wrestling Business

    Brandi Rhodes Reveals If She Takes Delight From Seeing Karma Come to Those Who Wronged Her in Pro Wrestling Business

    Brandi Rhodes has been busy since departing from the pro wrestling world. As wife of Cody Rhodes, she will always be a part of the business, and today she had quite a statement to make.

    Brandi Rhodes Makes Bold Statement

    The pro wrestling world can be a difficult place to operate at time, and women in the industry have faced certain struggles time and time again. Although not all stories need to be detailed, it is apparent that Brandi Rhodes went through a lot in the pro wrestling business. 

    Brandi shared that during her time in wrestling, a few individuals made things unnecessarily difficult for her. However, she expressed having no joy in learning about the karma they have faced. She then used that statement to provide her daughter with an example of what a lie is.

    “There were a handful of legit idiots who made my time in wrestling harder than it needed to be. But when I hear of the cold dishes of karma they’ve been served, it gives me absolutely no pleasure.

    (This was me giving my daughter an example of what a bold faced lie is).”

    Recent Allegations in Pro Wrestling

    Although it has not been confirmed who Brandi is talking about in this post, there is a lot of karma getting cashed in throughout the pro wrestling business. Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis were both called out in an earth-shattering lawsuit from Janel Grant, one that caused McMahon to resign from WWE.

    Brandi Rhodes’ Career In Pro Wrestling

    Brandi Rhodes started her wrestling journey as a WWE ring announcer under the name Eden Stiles. She met Cody Rhodes during that time in her life. However, she departed from WWE in 2016, around the same time that Cody left the company in the middle of his Stardust run.

    The pair then took off to tackle a global wrestling journey, showcasing their talents in various promotions, eventually landing in AEW. Cody and Brandi left AEW in 2022, and then the American Nightmare returned to WWE.

    Although Brandi has not signed with any pro wrestling company since, she has been busy. She opened up a yoga studio, NakedMind, in Roswell, Georgia.

  • Winner Takes All? Cody Rhodes Interested in Massive Triple Threat WrestleMania Match

    Winner Takes All? Cody Rhodes Interested in Massive Triple Threat WrestleMania Match

    Could WrestleMania 40 go off the air with Cody Rhodes holding both the World Heavyweight Championship and the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship? 

    While it’s known that Cody will challenge for a World Championship at WrestleMania 40, there has been plenty of speculation as to which champion he’ll face. Ever since his loss at WrestleMania 39, it was expected that Cody would face Roman Reigns this year and get his win back, ending the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion’s historic run in the process. When The Rock returned during the Day 1 Raw, he teased coming for Reigns’ spot as Head of the Table. 

    CM Punk’s Injury

    During the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble, CM Punk suffered a torn triceps. Punk has confirmed that he will miss WrestleMania 40, leaving World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins without an opponent. On this week’s Raw, Rollins encouraged Rhodes to challenge him at WrestleMania 40. After Rhodes told Rollins he’d think about it, the Architect continued his campaign on social media. A Rhodes-Rollins match would in theory leave Reigns free to face his cousin. 

    Winner Takes All? 

    While it’s expected that Rhodes could challenge for one championship in Philadelphia, the American Nightmare wouldn’t say no to leaving with both titles. When a fan on Twitter suggested a ‘Winner Takes All’ stipulation featuring Reigns, Rollins, and Rhodes, Cody made it clear he was interested in the idea. 

    Cody Rhodes will appear on tonight’s episode of WWE SmackDown. The American Nightmare has also confirmed a role at this month’s Elimination Chamber event. 

  • Cody Rhodes Set for Elimination Chamber: Perth, Rhea Ripley Wants Title Chamber Match

    Cody Rhodes Set for Elimination Chamber: Perth, Rhea Ripley Wants Title Chamber Match

    Cody Rhodes’ road to WrestleMania will see the American Nightmare travel to Perth, Australia for this month’s WWE Elimination Chamber event. 

    The February 24, show will be WWE’s first Premium Live Event in Australia in over five years. The Optus Stadium will play host to the event, though no matches have been confirmed at this time. On Twitter, Rhodes shared his schedule for February and confirmed that he will be at Elimination Chamber: Perth. 

    Fans hoping to see Rhodes earlier than Elimination Chamber won’t have to wait long. Despite being a Raw Superstar, the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble winner is being advertised for tonight’s episode of SmackDown in Birmingham, Alabama. 

    Rhea Ripley Wants an Elimination Chamber Match

    Few Superstars will receive a bigger reaction when WWE travels down under than Rhea Ripley, who is a proud Australian. In a recent interview with Sam Roberts, Ripley spoke about the possibility of defending her WWE Women’s World Championship inside the Elimination Chamber.

    “I’d be down for it. I’ve done it before. Let’s be honest here. I love a bit of brutality. Give me some steel. Give me some weapons. Give me some pods. I don’t care. I love all that stuff. I live for this.”

    Ripley does have a small history inside the Elimination Chamber. She competed inside the barbaric structure in 2022, but failed to win the match. The Eradicator would eliminate former ally Nikki A.S.H. in the match before being eliminated herself by eventual winner Bianca Belair. 

  • Seth Rollins Continues to Persuade Cody Rhodes For WrestleMania 40 Match

    Seth Rollins Continues to Persuade Cody Rhodes For WrestleMania 40 Match

    WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins has continued to urge the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes to pick him at WrestleMania 40.

    Cody has been determined to challenge ‘The Tribal Chief’ at ‘The Show of Shows’ after winning the Royal Rumble for the second time in a row last Saturday night. However, this week on Raw, Rollins challenged ‘The American Nightmare’ and explained why the latter should face him. This gave Rhodes something to think about ahead of his massive opportunity. 

    During WWE Raw this past Monday, Rollins, who has been Cody’s arch-rival, interrupted the 2024 Royal Rumble winner right before he was going to make an official announcement about facing Reigns. Rollins hails himself as the appropriate opponent for Rhodes. The WWE World Heavyweight Champion has been actively attempting to convince Cody to face him on social media as well.

    Seth Rollins wants Cody Rhodes to finish his story

    Rollins recently made a short video package for ‘The American Nightmare’. Rollins took to Twitter and posted a video clip addressing Cody Rhodes. In the video, Rollins questions Rhodes about his aspirations. His caption read:

    ”If your past has been your North Star, then the path to finishing your story is right in front of you.”

    This isn’t the first time Rollins has done something like this. While The WWE World Heavyweight Championship doesn’t have a direct link to the original World Heavyweight Title in WCW, it has quite a resemblance. Recently, WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair also got into the fray amid Rollins’ appeal.

    It seemed that Cody Rhodes would face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 but Seth Rollins’ proposal adds a new layer to the storyline and it is to be seen how this pans out.

  • Latest on Cody Rhodes’ Royal Rumble Win: Original Plans, Top-Selling Merchandise

    Latest on Cody Rhodes’ Royal Rumble Win: Original Plans, Top-Selling Merchandise

    The 2024 WWE Royal Rumble Premium Live Event was a special night for the American Nightmare Cody Rhodes, both in and out of the ring. 

    Rhodes won this year’s match from the #15 spot, last eliminating CM Punk to score the hard-earned victory. With this win, Rhodes becomes the fourth man in WWE history to have won back-to-back Royal Rumble matches. 

    Cody’s Special Royal Rumble Night

    Cody was the last man standing in the Men’s Royal Rumble match and also proved to be on top when it comes to merchandise. Fightful Select reports that Rhodes was the top-selling superstar at the WWE Superstore at Tropicana Field. Cody’s ‘Rumble Winner’ shirt was also the top seller on WWEShop.com. 

    Despite speculation by some fans, Cody was always scheduled to win the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match. This puts to bed any rumors that Punk was going to win but his torn triceps led to the pair calling an ‘audible.’

    What’s Next? 

    Before this year’s Royal Rumble, Cody’s path was obvious: win the Men’s match and dethrone Roman Reigns as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion at WrestleMania 40. On this week’s Raw, however, Seth Rollins confronted Cody and stated Rhodes should challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40. Seth Rollins’ originally scheduled opponent for WrestleMania, CM Punk, will miss this year’s two-night mega show in Philadelphia. Cody told Rollins he’ll think about it. 

    This segment from Raw was a change of plans for WWE and was specifically caused by CM Punk’s injury. It is unclear when Cody will declare his plan for WrestleMania 40. 

    Is a victory for Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania written in the stars…

  • WrestleMania 40 Lineup Update: WWE Creative Team Awaiting Final Card Details

    Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania will host WrestleMania 40 on April 6 and 7, 2024. The show of shows promises to be an amazing experience for WWE fans, with The Weeknd pulling a 5-pete, but the card needed to change. 

    WWE’s WrestleMania Booking Issues

    WWE saw a few issues that they needed to address when it came to their WrestleMania lineup. Two big matches needed to change due to completely different reasons. Now we are in a waiting game before we know what is really planned for the showcase of the immortals this year.

    Brock Lesnar was taken out of the WrestleMania equation after his name was associated with the damning lawsuit that Janel Grant filed against Vince McMahon. Those heinous allegations involving Lesnar claimed that a sexual play date with the victim was a part of his contract renewal. It was also alleged that the Beast Incarnate wanted a video of her urinating, so his dream match against GUNTHER at Mania isn’t taking place. 

    CM Punk, on the other hand, is injured. His planned match against Seth Rollins isn’t going down at WrestleMania now. So, WWE needs to figure out a new direction for the top of the Mania card this year, with Cody Rhodes vs Roman Reigns remaining unaffected. 

    WWE’s Current WrestleMania Lineup Plans (Exclusive)

    A tenured member of the WWE team told me that Triple H and a number of people, including Bruce Prichard, lead writers, and some high level associates, met at the Royal Rumble to discuss WrestleMania. They also spoke about this on a conference call Sunday, and the lineup has been determined. 

    I was told, as of last night, that the updated WrestleMania lineup has not distributed to talent or the rest of the creative team yet. Any report saying that there are “card variations” of the lineup is incorrect. 

    It was reiterated with me that the WWE creative team has not been informed of the re-shuffled Mania lineup yet. They will be informed of that later this week.

    What’s Next

    As I previously reported, Bron Breakker did get a main roster call-up with his Royal Rumble appearance. He filled in for Brock Lesnar in the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match, but he isn’t getting the matches that WWE had planned for Lesnar at this time.

    When it comes to The Rock, that doesn’t seem to be happening at this year’s WrestleMania, but Dave Meltzer reported that Rock vs Reigns is still possibly going down this year. 

    I was told that any plan for The Rock is being kept “very close to the vest,” so, the only people who really know what is going on are kept to a very close circle.

  • Seth Rollins Asks Cody Rhodes If He Wants To Be Ultimate Warrior Or Ric Flair, Nature Boy Responds

    Seth Rollins Asks Cody Rhodes If He Wants To Be Ultimate Warrior Or Ric Flair, Nature Boy Responds

    Seth Rollins further makes his case for Cody Rhodes to challenge him instead of Roman Reigns at WrestleMania and Ric Flair has taken note.

    Rollins continued his campaign for Cody on social media as a compelling video package was put together by WWE with Rollins doing the narratiion and asking Rhodes what road he wants to take in finishing his story.

    “Cody Rhodes – look in your heart and ask yourself what kind of champion do you want to be? Do you want to be like the Ultimate Warrior or do you want to be like The Nature Boy Ric Flair? Tell me, Cody, what kind of champion do you want to be?”

    During the clip, it was highlighted how “The Nature Boy” was a staunch defending champion of the “Big Gold” during his Jim Crockett Promotions prime and although unprompted, Ric Flair looks to be in support of Cody choosing Rollins over Roman.

    “The answer to that question is obvious! Just look at how Cody Rhodes styles & profiles! WOOOOO!”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C2xGYcROC80

    During WWE Raw this past Monday, Rollins interrupted the 2024 Royal Rumble winner right before he was going to stake his claim for the WWE Undisputed Universal Title and pitched himself to The American Nightmare as the appropriate opponent for him at WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia. 

    While The WWE World Heavyweight Championship doesn’t have direct lineage to the original World Heavyweight Title in WCW, it sure bears a resemblence. Rollins may have invoked Ric Flair’s name during the video package, but he also spoke of Dusty Rhodes as someone whom held the “working man’s” title.