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 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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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… 

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. 

Quarterback

— Brandi Rhodes (@TheBrandiRhodes) February 3, 2024

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

Interesting… #WrestleMania gonna be good! #Señor

— Damian Priest (@ArcherOfInfamy) February 3, 2024

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. 

Imagine handing over your Wrestlemania match that you beat 29 other ppl for…AFTER a two year build

I’m all for twists & turns but make it make sense! Gosh I hope we are ALL wrong. I hope it all makes sense next Fri in a Rock Roman promo, that is if either of them show up to tv

— Summer Rae (@DanielleMoinet) February 3, 2024

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

Mood.

?????? pic.twitter.com/3V52TT50jh

— Amanda (@MandaLHuber) February 3, 2024

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. 

This isn't "taking everything from Roman." It's taking everything from Cody pic.twitter.com/YqMkFZ6pf2

— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) February 3, 2024

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

pic.twitter.com/ymFCuPgsPY

— Drew (@DMcIntyreWWE) February 3, 2024

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

Cody Rhodes should finish his story by winning the USA 2024 Presidential election.

— “Filthy” Tom Lawlor (@FilthyTomLawlor) February 3, 2024

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

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.

"Or is finishing the story taking EVERYTHING from you?"

That caught @WWERomanReigns' attention real quick ?@CodyRhodes @HeymanHustle #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/KGTRaHRhG2

— WWE (@WWE) February 3, 2024

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.

NO. WAY.@TheRock is here on #SmackDown!!!! pic.twitter.com/AbES50dO43

— WWE (@WWE) February 3, 2024

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.

Goosebumps.#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/FoXPnDoyAx

— WWE (@WWE) February 3, 2024

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.

THIS. IS. SURREAL. @TheRock and @WWERomanReigns in the same ring on #SmackDown! pic.twitter.com/Rb9KA6Pbs1

— WWE (@WWE) February 3, 2024

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.

Speechless. #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/CaPqFszmvV

— WWE (@WWE) February 3, 2024

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 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).”

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).

— Brandi Rhodes (@TheBrandiRhodes) February 2, 2024

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.

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. 

? https://t.co/k5lqmJKMO2

— Cody Rhodes (@CodyRhodes) February 2, 2024

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’ 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. 

February @WWE @WWEShop pic.twitter.com/EFrTUFHv7J

— Cody Rhodes (@CodyRhodes) February 1, 2024

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. 

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.”

If your past has been your North Star, then the path to finishing your story is right in front of you. @CodyRhodes pic.twitter.com/4e9fKRdOUm

— Seth Rollins (@WWERollins) February 1, 2024

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.

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…

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.

Triple H, Bruce Prichard, lead writers, and some high level #WWE associates met at the #RoyalRumble and also on a conference call Sunday to discuss #WrestleMania.

I've been told that the lineup has been determined.

The final word has "Just not distributed to talent or the…

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) January 31, 2024

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.

The only people who really know what is happening with Rock are the people at the very top of the company, and they are all playing it very close to the vest.

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) January 28, 2024

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 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.

The ending of WrestleMania 39 marked one of the biggest storyline disappointments in recent WWE memory. Cody Rhodes won the Royal Rumble and had a groundswell of fan support behind him as the incumbent top babyface and world champion. However, his main event match with Roman Reigns ended in all too familiar fashion, with The Bloodline offering outside interference and snatching The American Nightmare’s big win from him at the last moment.

One year later, Rhodes has accomplished the unlikely in maintaining his momentum as the top babyface in the company, only to win another Royal Rumble and presumably set up a WrestleMania main event rematch. The history of how back-to-back Rumble winners have fared at ‘Mania suggests Rhodes has a major victory on the way.

Every Man To Win The Royal Rumble In Back-To-Back Years Lost At WrestleMania After The First Win And Won At WrestleMania After The Second

In the years 1990 and 1991, Hulk Hogan became the first person to ever win back-to-back Royal Rumbles. This was before WWE instated any formal WrestleMania or title ramifications for winning the Rumble. Nonetheless, Hogan went on to main event ‘Mania both of those years. 

In 1990, Hogan went into both the Rumble and ‘Mania as the reigning WWE Champion, but wound up losing his title to The Ultimate Warrior in the Toronto SkyDome. In 1991, Hogan won the Rumble and went on to successfully challenge WWE Champion Sgt. Slaughter at WrestleMania.

In 1995 and 1996, Shawn Michaels won back-to-back Rumbles. By that point winning the Rumble did, most years, mean challenging for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania. HBK came up short in challenging Diesel at WrestleMania 11, but the next year beat Bret Hart in an Iron Man Match to win his first world title.

1997 and 1998 saw Steve Austin win back-to-back Royal Rumbles. 1997’s Rumble had a chaotic finish to kick off a chaotic Road to WrestleMania. 

First, Austin was eliminated from the Rumble, but while referees were distracted, allowing him to sneak back into the match and oust Bret Hart for the win. Austin not only didn’t end up getting a title shot at WrestleMania, but lost to The Hitman at that event. One year later, things were more straightforward as Stone Cold won the Rumble then took the title off Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 14.

Cody Rhodes has now joined elite class of two-time Rumble winners. Like his predecessors, he lost in his first world title match at WrestleMania. History suggests that the second time will play out differently.

Similarities Between The Stories Of Cody Rhodes, Shawn Michaels, And Steve Austin

Like Shawn Michaels and Steve Austin after they won their second Royal Rumbles, Cody Rhodes embarks on this Road to WrestleMania as arguably the top babyface in the company and a man who has never won a world title before.

Also, similar to HBK and Stone Cold, The American Nightmare enters WrestleMania 40 as the presumptive champion-in-waiting. Michaels had, by 1996, solidified his place as one of the greatest workers in the world, not to mention a strong talker. 

On a similar note, while Austin had a lot of momentum in early 1997, by 1998 there was little question he was the most over wrestler in WWE. Rhodes occupies a similar space a popular star with both the in-ring and promo skills to make him a viable choice to end Roman Reigns’s historic title run.

Rhodes also enjoys some overlap with Austin as a talent who was arguably underappreciated in another national promotion before proving himself in WWE. Austin had been a tag team and mid-card act in WCW for years whom the promotion never really gave a shot on top, only to reinvent himself in WWE and arrive as “the guy.” 

Similarly, there’s a sense that AEW took Rhodes for granted, excluding him from the main event picture, only to prove himself as a legit top-level star after he returned to WWE.

Differences Between Cody Rhodes And Other Back-To-Back Royal Rumble Winners

For all the similarities between Cody Rhodes and previous back-to-back Royal Rumble winners, and the suggestion of a pattern that favors him winning at WrestleMania, there are some differences worth paying attention to as well.

Hulk Hogan had the most differences from Rhodes. It wasn’t so much the case that the Royal Rumble legitimized The Hulkster, but rather that Hogan legitimized the Rumble. After Jim Duggan and Big John Studd won the first two iterations of the match, Hogan solidified as an event with main event implications. 

By 2023, the Royal Rumble was solidified for decades as one of the most important matches in wrestling, and as such winning the 2023 edition shored up Rhodes as a top guy in a way he arguably wasn’t previously. Moreover, Hogan’s win at WrestleMania 7 marked his third time as WWE Champion, while Rhodes is chasing his first reign.

Both Shawn Michaels and Steve Austin won their first Royal Rumbles as heels and walked into the WrestleMania to follow as underdogs—WWE not ready to supplant Diesel as the new face of the company, while Austin was going up against an ultra-credible Bret Hart. Most fans actually did favor The American Nightmare to “pull the sword from the stone” at WrestleMania 39 and end Roman Reigns’s already-long title run. It was a major disappointment when that didn’t come together, but that only fuels the idea that Rhodes will “finish the story” this year.

If recent years have taught wrestling fans anything, it’s not to take any outcome for granted, as anything may well happen. Nonetheless, Cody Rhodes—the son of the great Dusty Rhodes, whose persona is steeped in wrestling history—has WWE history on his side this year as he broaches his second WrestleMania main event.

There was a lot of buzz among fans heading into the 2024 Royal Rumble and the event didn’t disappointing. From surprising debuts to big returns, it gave people a lot to talk about. Even the talent from different companies took on their social to react to the events of last night.

Jade Cargill, who made her official WWE in ring debut by entering the women’s Rumble thanked the fans for their support. She noted that it’s only the beginning of her journey and there is a lot more to come:

Thank you for so much love @WWE Universe ???. Get ready, it’s only the beginning ??

— Jade Cargill (@Jade_Cargill) January 28, 2024

Oh yeah Mann!!! @Jade_Cargill #royalrumble pic.twitter.com/jlEz02Msqd

— Booker T. Huffman (@BookerT5x) January 28, 2024

The TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace was very active overnight after making a surprise appearance in the Rumble. She made multiple tweets about her experience at the show while also indicating that we haven’t seen the last of her on WWE programming:

Words couldn’t do my feelings justice about any of this. Overwhelmed by the love.

That being said, this would never happen on my home turf, @BiancaBelairWWE. pic.twitter.com/VAWN0Vxlf0

— Jordynne Grace (@JordynneGrace) January 28, 2024

? https://t.co/pTKDuZAdWw

— RheaRipley_WWE (@RheaRipley_WWE) January 28, 2024

I can’t wait to wrestle you again… soon! ? https://t.co/dJ3Jpar5cd

— Nattie (@NatbyNature) January 28, 2024

Nice to see WWE and TNA do good business together. #royalrumble @BustedOpenRadio

— Bully Ray (@bullyray5150) January 28, 2024

Cody Rhodes’ historic back-to-back Rumble wins elicited a response from many of his wrestling peers. Both his wife Brandi Rhodes and fellow AEW alumni Shawn Spears commented on his big moment:

We won. ??

— Brandi Rhodes (@TheBrandiRhodes) January 28, 2024

Finish the Story.

— Shawn Spears™? (@ShawnSpears) January 28, 2024

There were multiple WWE stars who took on social media to react to their own performance on the show. This included people such as Zelina Vega, Pat McAfee, and Bronson Reed among others. These stars didn’t manage to win their respective matches but gave fans some memorable moments:

And so it begins .. ? pic.twitter.com/du5yUwIDlp

— LIV Morgan (@YaOnlyLivvOnce) January 28, 2024

Goodnight https://t.co/zyVT2x9PPZ

— CHELSEA GREEN (@ImChelseaGreen) January 28, 2024

I’M IN THE RUMBLE MATCH..

WHY DID YOU GUYS LET ME IN THERE#RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/HW6mcWN9dZ

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 28, 2024

PAPI ? https://t.co/mcxxjjvEVd

— Charlotte Flair (@MsCharlotteWWE) January 28, 2024

I've been recovering this past week from a terrible flu.
Being a part of the #royalrumble??? brought me back to life.
Bucket list.
Oh and and I heard you chanting "MEAT!"
Keep that energy going into #WWERaw??? #yeetvsmeat

— BIG BRONSON REED (@BRONSONISHERE) January 28, 2024

I will have.. my Wrestlemania moment.
It will happen. Wasn’t tonight.. but it will happen. @WWE pic.twitter.com/X97WQILmiG

— ZV (@ZelinaVegaWWE) January 28, 2024

The event had a lot more going on in terms of storylines and real-life emotions. You can check out takeaways from the 2024 Royal Rumble here.

The booking of tonight’s Royal Rumble event was poetic in many ways. One such moment was when Cody Rhodes and CM Punk battled as the final two contestants of the Men’s Rumble. Both the stars once left the company over creative frustrations and they were both looking to win the match so they can finish their own stories.

One aspect of this showdown that wasn’t highlighted as much however was their respective stints in AEW. It’s ironic that both the stars were part of the AEW roster at one point but never got to lock horns in the company.

The winner of this contest Cody Rhodes was asked about this during the post Royal Rumble media scrum. He admitted that he was surprised at never getting to face Punk in AEW:

“It’s funny that we meet back here. When we were at AEW, I thought we would encounter one another there and it didn’t happen. For whatever reason it didn’t happen. but I think both him and I had different personal experiences.

Don’t believe anything that Wade Keller put out about why I left or anything like that. The truth is, nobody knows. [It was a] personal thing. And probably a personal thing for Punk and that happens. People come, people go. It’s not a huge thing.”

Cody Rhodes Wanted To Earn CM Punk’s Respect

The American Nightmare then dived into his encounter with CM Punk tonight and the history between the two. Cody Rhodes claimed that he is looking forward to seeing what’s next for the Straight Edge Star in WWE:

“But to see him tonight, and to see Miz, and to see Kofi – Those were my guys. The first OVW show I walked into; Brent Albright vs. CM Punk was the main event. Punk was also like running the whole show. He made me set up the ring.

To see that, sometimes you want another person who you admire and respect to stop looking at you as the kid and look at you and see who you are now. I think tonight he got to see who I am now. And that means a lot to me. He’s amazing. [It] could have gone either way. I look forward to what he does in WWE.”

If you use any quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

Cody Rhodes is ready to finish the story.

The American Nightmare became the first man in 26 years to win back-to-back Royal Rumbles after Stone Cold Steve Austin at tonight’s show from the Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida by eliminating CM Punk.

The show ended with Rhodes pointing towards Roman Reigns in the stands with the WrestleMania 40 logo in the background, leaving no doubt as to Cody’s intention.

The former AEW star celebrated some more and then addressed the crowd after the show went off air. He apologized to the fans for not finishing the job at WrestleMania 39, but mentioned that he’s heading to the Lincoln Financial Field to finish the story:

Cody Rhodes Is Ready After Royal Rumble

“Tampa, St. Pete, Did you have a great time tonight? Guys I owe you an apology. I am sorry about what happened at WrestleMania 39. But we’re going to WrestleMania 40. It’s been a long night I won’t keep you here, an amazing show, an amazing crew, an amazing production.

Sometimes when I come to Tampa, when I come to St Pete, sometimes I try and stay and keep to myself, the reason is – this is Dusty territory. So I thank you very much, for making it a Cody territory. I love you guys all so much. Have a great night and I’ll see you next time.”.

There is no doubt after tonight that Cody Rhodes will be seeing Roman Reigns in the main event of WrestleMania once again

The Question of The Rock’s involvement in the whole affair after his Day 1 promo remains unanswered however and it’s possible we’ll get some answers at the upcoming SmackDown.

• Cody Rhodes: Vince McMahon Situation Is A Dark Cloud, TKO Has Taken Things Seriously

Cody Rhodes hoped to give the WWE Universe something to feel positive about this week following the “dark cloud” that has been the Vince McMahon situation. 

McMahon re-signed from TKO and WWE this week, following a lawsuit filed by ex-employee Janel Grant. Miss Grant claims that McMahon was sexually abusive to her and that he trafficked her to others in the company, including John Lauriniaits and a former UFC Heavyweight Champion. 

Cody Rhodes Comments on Vince McMahon

On the post-Royal Rumble press conference, Cody Rhodes was asked for his comments on the situation and from an EVP perspective, what he hopes to see changed in wrestling to avoid similar situations. 

“I know as far as the news is concerned, we were finding it out and reading the same things that you guys were reading. And you said a dark cloud, certainly. As far as TKO, Nick Khan and the board, [they] clearly took it very seriously. Acted immediately. Looking at the future, I don’t know the answer to that and I think somewhere is a really basic tenet of just– this crew, more than ever, from a roster standpoint, is very family. I’ve never seen anything like this. Most of the time wrestling locker rooms are fighting, talking trash about each other, making fun of each other, sandbagging each other in the ring, all that nonsense. This crew is very team-based, and perhaps that’s the ingredient. Everyone looking out for everyone. Being accountable.

“I know for me as a performer, as a competitor, I’ve been through dark periods of our industry before. And it might sound cheesy but it’s very re-inforcing if you’re in my position that it’s a time [when you say] ‘Hey, we’ve got 50,000 people out here. I want to give them something else, that isn’t a terrible situation, terrible news. And I think we were able to do that. Obviously, as more news comes out we’ll be seeing it just as you do.”

Rhodes won the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match at the show, becoming the first person since 1998 to win back-to-back Rumble matches. 

For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops. 

WWE presented the Royal Rumble to Tropicana Field attendees, and the night was packed with noteworthy moments. Triple H’s influence on WWE’s creative direction is clearly apparent as the Road to WrestleMania begins to gain momentum.

WHAT A MOMENT FOR CODY RHODES#royalrumble pic.twitter.com/Ly6sWli8mi

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 28, 2024

The Royal Rumble match finish

The final competitors in the 2024 Royal Rumble match were Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Damian Priest, Drew McIntyre, GUNTHER, and Sami Zayn, with Zayn getting the #30 spot. They battled hard in Tropicana Field, none of them wanting to give an inch in the match.

We are down to the FINAL FOUR in the Men's #RoyalRumble Match! pic.twitter.com/bfti9nuSoG

— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2024

Then Zayn eliminated Damian Priest, only to have Drew throw Zayn over the top right after that. Rhodes, Punk, McIntyre, and GUNTHER were the final four in the match. They then showed Seth Rollins watching the match from a skybox in Tropicana Field, while Roman Reigns sat backstage viewing on a monitor in the back.

Drew McIntyre punished Punk with chops as GUNTHER did the same to Cody. It was almost a competition of chops for a while as they punished their opponents.

WE ARE DOWN TO TWO!!!#RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/sSLbFUcvgz

— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2024

Then McIntyre nailed a Claymore Kick on GUNTHER and Cody before counting down from 3 and doing the same to Punk. Despite selling the finisher, Punk was able to get McIntyre on his shoulders and throw him out of the match.

Cody got GUNTHER over the top rope and caused him to smash to the floor. The final two in the match were CM Punk and Cody Rhodes. After the two fought for a bit, and teased finishers on each other, Rhodes hit a Bionic Elbow and Punk got out of another Crossroads attempt.

??????#RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/2htpkgQmTb

— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2024

Punk got the upper hand and pointed to the WrestleMania sign. Then The American Nightmare nailed a Crossroads, but he couldn’t get the energy to even try to throw Punk over the top rope. Punk hit a GTS on Cody next, but he also didn’t have enough left in the tank to try for an elimination.

THIS IS AWE-SOME!! ?? ???#RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/aOslZvqfhs

— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2024

CM Punk nailed a Pedigree next as Corey Graves said, “If you know, you know” on commentary. Punk then tried for another GTS, but Cody caught his knee, and he threw the Second City Savior over the top rope.

2?? YEARS IN A ROW!

RHODES TO WRESTLEMANIA!!! pic.twitter.com/YYwGa6MT11

— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2024

What’s Next

Cody Rhodes will go on to WrestleMania. It absolutely looks like he will challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed Universal Title at this point, which would give him a chance to finish his story. 

As WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes gears up for Saturday’s Royal Rumble match, he made an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. 

‘The American Nightmare’ participated in the amusing Phone Booth game where he joined the host of ‘I Can See Your Voice’, Ken Jeong. 

The rules of the game stated that if either Ken Jeong or his phone booth counterpart, Dwyane Wade, fails to correctly answer a question, a stranger from the mystery bench will be shoved into their respective booths.

Cody Rhodes enjoys a fun time

First, it was Dwyane’s turn and he answered the question correctly. After that, Jeong was delighted to see Cody Rhodes showing up to join him in the booth and Jeong also gave a correct answer.

Wade had to welcome a guest into his booth this time and it was Teresa Guidice, which came as a blessing in disguise. He got the next question wrong as Guidice and Dwyane were then joined by professional snake handler Blaise Matthew and his python Henry.

Ken and Cody got the next one wrong and had a welcome three stressed-out cooks from The Bear. Dwyane Wade got another question incorrect and everyone out there was shoved into his booth to conclude the game and the segment.

Check it out below:

.@kenjeong & @DwyaneWade go head-to-head in Phone Booth ft. @CodyRhodes, @Teresa_Giudice, @GrittyNHL, and more! #FallonTonight pic.twitter.com/6Dyc9UFzPB

— The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) January 27, 2024

Cody Rhodes certainly had some fun on the show, but on Saturday he has a serious task at hand. He will be participating in the Men’s Royal Rumble match as he aims to outlast 29 other men on his quest to finish his story at WrestleMania 40. 

Raw Superstar Cody Rhodes remains focused on finishing his story, but the American Nightmare’s path to realizing his wrestling destiny remains unclear.

Wrestling fans have been rightfully uneasy about Rhodes’  personal Road to WrestleMania. After last year’s crushing defeat to Roman Reigns in the main event of WrestleMania 39, its looked like he is headed for a long-awaited rematch against the Undisputed Universal Champion at WrestleMania 40.

Nothing is guaranteed in wrestling and there are several other people vying for the position Rhodes and his fans may expect belongs to him.

The Rock Enters The Picture

The Rock is a prime candidate to spoil hopes for WrestleMania 40 to be the stage for Cody’s crowning moment. 

On Tuesday, veteran journalist Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated dropped a bombshell report that sources of his close to Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque told him that Cody Rhodes is NOT currently factored in as Roman Reigns’ opponent at WrestleMania.

Barrasso believes it will instead be The Great One battling the Head of the Table.

After joining TKO Group’s board of directors, The Rock confirmed the door is open for him to compete again.

Cody Rhodes Doubts The Rock Will Interrupt His Story

So, is Cody getting nervous yet?  Earlier this month, he told Barrasso that he plans to win the Royal Rumble and ‘finish the story’ at WrestleMania.

In a new interview with Bleacher Report‘s Mike Chiari, Rhodes says he plans on outlasting 29 other Superstars to become only the fourth man in history to win the Royal Rumble match twice. 

Rhodes remains confident about the big picture, but admits anything can happen. Here’s what he said (transcribed by Mike Chiari)

“You mentioned ‘The Great One’ The Rock.. nothing but respect for him. I went and saw Jungle Cruise. I’m a Rock fan.”

Rhodes continued, “I don’t think he’s the type that would come in and meddle with a story that’s been being told over the past two years. I think he’s probably up to something else, but you never know with WWE. I’ll be watching just like everybody else when I’m not wrestling.”

Rhodes’ comments could be a show of confidence or trying to cope with what may be happening. For now, WWE fans must let it play out and see how this ‘story’ ends.