At WWE Elimination Chamber 2024, Cody Rhodes challenged The Rock to go one-on-one. Rollins advised Rhodes that it is never one-on-one when it comes to The Bloodline and vowed to have Cody’s back if the match happens.
This segment left many speculating that a tag-team match between The Bloodline and Rollins/Rhodes is in the works. On the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer said that he’s heard that the match could headline night one of WrestleMania 40. While some had speculated on the match being held off (potentially for one of WWE’s Saudi Arabia events) it now seems the fans won’t have to wait so long.
What This Means for WrestleMania
If this match goes ahead at WrestleMania 40, it’ll mean that Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and Cody Rhodes will be performing double-duty at the event. Rhodes and Reigns will face off for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship in what will almost certainly be the main event of WrestleMania 40: Sunday.
WWE brought the Elimination Chamber to Perth, Australia on February 24th, and the event was graced with a very special Grayson Waller Effect. He also had very special guests for this segment, as Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins joined him to progress a prominent WrestleMania angle.
Road To WrestleMania Backstory
The Rock re-inserted himself into WWE’s picture on the road to WrestleMania, and that brought a big change to everything that they previously had planned. There was a time when it appeared that Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes would collide for the World Heavyweight Championship instead, but then The American Nightmare decided to finish his story.
Now, Cody and Seth are on the same side, and they are in a very interesting situation. The two were in Perth, Australia for the Elimination Chamber event, but neither of them wrestled. Rollins is currently nursing a knee issue, and Rhodes was simply not booked to compete on the show.
The Grayson Waller Effect
Austin Theory had the mic first, and he dissed Australia’s love of Vegemite, and then he said he prefers Outback Steakhouse. Both of those jabs received a heel reaction. Then he introduced Grayson Waller, who came out to a mixed reaction. Waller also did a shoey at ringside.
After doing a chant with the Australian crowd, Waller introduced Seth Rollins, who came out to a big pop. Fans also sang his song in massive numbers, and that is always great to hear in a big stadium. Cody Rhodes received an even bigger pop and his “WOAH” was massive as well. He also got legit fireworks over the stadium during his Kingdom entrance after the second pose in the ring.
Seth Rollins said that he is days away from being medically cleared to compete. He can’t wait to face whoever win the Elimination Chamber match later on.
Then, they were questioned about The Rock coming back. A “Rocky Sucks” chant broke out in the crowd, Cody asked if there are any “Cody crybabies” here tonight? He asked it twice to really rile up the crowd and get them to accept the moniker.
Cody addressed why he stepped out of the Mania main event, just to step back in. Waller called The Rock “The People’s Champion,” but then Cody proposed that to be the People’s Champion, “you have to be around the people.”
This was followed by Cody Rhodes making a bit of an announcement himself. Then he told The Rock that he is “wide open” before the WrestleMania main event match. He said he wants to wrestle The Rock one on one, “any time, any place.”
Seth said that he admires Cody’s hatred toward the Bloodline, so he stepped in. He said that if The Rock takes him up on the challenge, he won’t be fighting the battle alone.
Then Austin Theory got in the middle of things, and he did an impression of The Rock. This was not received well by Cody and Seth, who proceeded to take him out.
WrestleMania 40 Drama
WrestleMania 40 takes place from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on April 6 and 7. The show of shows promises to be a massive two-night spectacle, with massive main event matches on each night. Since Roman vs Cody will main event night two, so Rhodes can finish his story, night one also needs a main event match.
It certainly appears that The Rock and Roman Reigns will team up to take on Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins at the show of shows. While this is a big match, it is not the contest that The Rock wanted.
The Rock wanted to face Roman Reigns, and his eyes were set on that match alone. As we previously reported, he called his shot for WrestleMania 40 during the Day 1 episode of WWE RAW. WWE planned an injury angle to take Cody out of the situation, but that was abandoned after the public outcry that Cody received on his behalf.
As I previously reported, The Rock conceded that Cody Rhodes should be in the match. Then things were changed, and we have the current WrestleMania setup.
Cody Rhodes will be a playable character in the WWE 2K24 video game, as both himself and an action figure recreation of the American Nightmare.
On social media, a clip was uploaded featuring the action-figure version of Rhodes making his entrance in the upcoming video game. This figure of Rhodes depicts his WWE Hell in a Cell 2022 attire, complete with torn pectoral injury. Rhodes would compete despite the injury and defeat Seth Rollins inside Hell in a Cell. This figure comes from the WWE Mattel Elite: Defining Moments range of action figures.
In addition to being a playable character, in both flesh and plastic form, Cody Rhodes is one of the cover stars for WWE 2K24. That’s despite Cody being unable to finish the story at WrestleMania 39, a loss that hit the popular Raw Superstar hard. Rhodes has even said that he doesn’t want to be part of the next WWE 2K video game if he is unable to become a WWE World Champion.
Unusual WWE Video Game Characters
Ribbie, a delicious BBQ rib, was a playable character in WWE 2K20.
The action-figure version of Cody Rhodes is hardly the first bizarre entry into a WWE video game. For WrestleMania 2000, fans could play as a Crash Test Dummy, not to be confused with then-Hardcore Champion Crash Holly. Al Snow was a part of WWF Attitude, as was ‘Head’ which for the game had grown hands and feet and hovered at head height above the canvas.
Colonel Sanders would bring his finger-lickin’ fury to WWEK 2K18 while WWE 2K20 saw the inclusion of ‘Ribbie’ a BBQ rib brought to life who serves as the mascot for a minor league baseball team referenced in the game’s story mode.
WWE has seen quite a ride on the road to WrestleMania 40 so far. This included The Rock re-entering the fold, and plans changing multiple times. CM Punk’s injury also threw a wrench in WWE’s plans, so there were several things that they needed to address. Their plan to take Cody Rhodes out of the picture was also nixed in the process.
WWE Planned Injury Angle For Cody
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that Cody Rhodes was informed in the fall that he would face Reigns. However, he was not informed about Rock’s involvement in the match until January 3rd. Therefore, any interviews he gave about concluding the story before the Rumble assumed he was part of the match, despite rumors about The Rock.
The report also went on to say that WWE planned an injury angle for Cody to write him out of the WrestleMania 40 main event match once The Rock showed up. Of course, they pivoted from those plans in a big way.
[Cody] was told the day of the Rumble that Rock was facing Reigns even though he was winning the Rumble. He was also told that they would be going to Reigns against him later so all the post-match stuff building that match wasn’t there to swerve people as much a build a later match. But the fact it was not going to be Reigns vs. Rhodes was keep secret from almost everyone (obviously a few knew) because Rock wanted the angle the next Friday a surprise. Even fewer knew the injury angle planned for Rhodes because even people who knew this complete story were not aware of the original idea of how to get Rhodes out of the match and Rock in.
WWE Changed More WrestleMania 40 Plans
The report also noted that Punk’s injury changed plans, but there was still no use for a men’s Elimination Chamber match because Rhodes was going to choose Rollins as his opponent. The Rock was also not wrestling in Australia, at an event that takes place at 5:00 AM on the East Coast.
The angle with Rhodes endorsing Rock, which was reportedly suggested by Triple H, was well-received by the crowd and WWE thought it went well at first. Then social media backlash changed things. Johnson reportedly already considered turning heel if fans booed him, which led the company to push in that direction.
I reported the entire time that The Rock was the only one who could change those plans. In the end, Dwayne Johnson conceded that it should be Cody Rhodes in the main event of WrestleMania 40 against Roman Reigns.
If the Rhodes injury angle was followed through with, they would have likely faced an even greater negative social media reaction. Now, fans have a chance to see Cody finish his story.
Rhodes and Rollins are set to be in a talk show segment with Grayson Waller at WWE Elimination Chamber in Perth, Australia, on February 24. Rhodes has yet to accept Rollins’s help to go against the Bloodline, but that may change at the premium live event. Regardless, that hasn’t stopped The Rock from taking jabs at the ‘babyfaces.’
In a video on Twitter promoting WWE Elimination Chamber on February 24, The Rock praised Waller and acknowledged that he won’t be at the event. He also took another shot at Rollins and Rhodes, which some fans have felt were dated.
“…Here’s the bullsh*t that happening now down in Australia. Cody Rhodes and his little girlfriend, Seth Rollins, are going to go on the Waller Effect,” said The Rock.
He then warned both of them not to mention him or that he would come to Australia to slap them. The Hollywood star also kept referring to Rollins as Rhodes’s “Little Girlfriend.”
The Rock’s choice of words has left some wrestling fans feeling that he is out of touch, and Rollins has clapped back at him and Reigns.
Seth Rollins Delivers Creative Response To The Rock & Calls Out Roman Reigns
In response to The Rock, Rollins reposted an article about his comments on Twitter and replied with a popular GIF to symbolize that he’s old. Rollins also decided to call out Roman Reigns at the WWE Elimination Chamber Press Event on February 22.
One of Rollins’s gripes with Reigns is his lack of appearances for WWE events. The WWE Champion is not advertised for WWE Elimination Chamber and doesn’t seem like he will appear on the show. A fan chanted Reign’s name during the Rollins segment at the press event, to which the WWE World Heavyweight Champion chose to highlight Reign’s absence.
“…He(Reigns) isn’t coming, sorry,” said Rollins. He laughed briefly and continued, “Come on, that’s kind of his M.O. He don’t show up, you know what I mean.”
It doesn’t seem like the back-and-forth between these two factions will stop anytime soon. After WWE Elimination Chamber, it could be clear what the creative direction will be for them as the “Road To WrestleMania” continues.
Wrestling fans have jokingly believed Rhodes’s hardship in 2023 could have been because he smashed a throne in All Elite Wrestling to mock Triple H in 2019. However, the WWE Hall of Famer has revealed that it entertained him.
On February 21, Triple H appeared on the Allan and Carly Podcast to share his thoughts on Rhodes smashing a throne in AEW. Contrary to fans’ belief, he admitted that he was fine with it happening.
SEScoops’ Anutosh Bajpai transcribed the following quotes.
“I laughed about it then. You know, people make that stuff out to be so much more than it is to me. If I was in his shoes, I’d have done the same thing,” said Triple H.
The former WWE Champion then pivoted to discussing his relationship with Rhodes and his father.
“…I watched Cody go from being a kid in this business, and I don’t mean that as disrespectful. He’s just literally a kid. His dad was in some way a mentor to me. We started NXT together. He was a big part of that system. I learned a lot from Dusty. Sort of sitting under his learning tree as well,” said Triple H. He continued, “We had a wonderful partnership. To see him grow from literally this kid to coming in trying to find his way in the buisness and come out of his dad’s shadow which was monumental.”
Triple H On Cody Rhodes’s Journey Outside Of WWE
On the podcast, Triple H spoke briefly about Rhodes’s journey outside the company. The former WWE superstar spoke highly of ‘The American Nightmare’ choice to gamble on himself and become a superstar on his own.
“… It wasn’t about where he went, it was about the journey. It was about him going and finding himself and proving to himself that he could stand outside of his father’s shadow. It wasn’t this machine trying to make him his dad’s kid or anything else. It was finding himself. And he did that to the point where he was, and he says this thing, to where he was undeniable,” said Triple H.
There are many controversial figures in pro wrestling, but few utilize their social media platform like Val Venis to spread his own message, albeit a very radical one. He is far from finished spouting his own version of the truth on Twitter/X, even though his account is certainly shadow-banned at this point.
In the past, Venis has called out The Rock for selling his soul. Now, he’s adding John Cena and Cody Rhodes as his target.
Venis Takes Aim At Cody Rhodes, John Cena and The Rock
In recent memory, he has taken some serious shots at Cody Rhodes and his alliance with the LGBTQ+ community. The Big Valbowski previously said that, “HEY @CodyRhodes! Maybe think before you “affirm” would be a better idea. Promote Jesus. Not mental disorders.”
There were many posts directed at Cody Rhodes from Val Venis. One even lumped John Cena and The Rock with him, as the former IC Champion claimed that they sold their souls to the devil.
FACT: Both @JohnCena and @TheRock sold their souls to the same cartel of communist comrades that stole the brains out of the heads of @CodyRhodes fans.
FACT: Both @JohnCena and @TheRock sold their souls to the same cartel of communist comrades that stole the brains out of the heads of @CodyRhodes fans.#FactsMatter
For the record, Val also posted, “Ha! I am a retired free agent. I can say what I want, when I want and how I want. It would be prudent for leftist mental midgets to hit the unfollow button if they wish not to be triggered by truth.” So, it seems that he’s not going to sweat any negative backlash he receives.
Ha! I am a retired free agent. I can say what I want, when I want and how I want. It would be prudent for leftist mental midgets to hit the unfollow button if they wish not to be triggered by truth.
Val Venis recently made headlines when he called out WWE 2k24 for erasing him from history. He’s not the only one who got the axe, because Brock Lesnar and Vince McMahon were also taken out of the game.
We will have to see if Venis re-appears in WWE any time soon, but it’s not likely at this point. He also doesn’t need pro wrestling to pay the bills. He made it very clear that he has a stable living in the cannabis industry.
‘The Scottish Warrior’ faces backlash ahead of his important match at WWE Elimination Chamber on February 24. For months, Drew McIntyre has taken the standpoint that he hates the Bloodline(Roman Reigns, Jimmy Uso & Solo Sikoa) in his storyline.
He has spoken openly about how they have cost him opportunities and will never forgive them. However, on the February 19 episode of Monday Night Raw, fans pointed out that McIntyre seemed fine when Uso and Sikoa helped him defeat Cody Rhodes. ‘The American Nightmare’ was on the verge of landing the Cross Rhodes on McIntyre until Sikoa hit Rhodes with the Samoan Spike. Uso also made sure to distract the referee so that the official wouldn’t notice
The illegal assault allowed ‘The Scottish Warrior’ to get the win over Rhodes and build momentum towards the WWE Elimination Chamber this weekend. McIntyre will enter the Men’s Elimination Chamber match, with a win earning him a title match against Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WWE WrestleMania 40 in April.
WWE Commentator Michael Cole and fans have called out McIntyre for taking the Bloodline’s help and called him a hypocrite. Ahead of the upcoming premium live event, the former WWE Champion has decided on TikTok to give his response to the criticism.
WWE shared McIntyre’s response on Twitter. In the video, the WWE superstar shared that he arrived in Perth, Australia, for WWE Elimination Chamber quickly after the February 19 episode. He also called out Cole and Pat McAfee in character for their comments on the show.
“…I’m not a hypocrite. Don’t be pushing a false narrative to the masses when you have such power to influence. Come to the source and understand the big picture,” said McIntyre.
Drew McIntyre Explains His Thoughts On Bloodline Helping Him
Although it seems clear that McIntyre was fine accepting Uso and Sikoa’s interference in his match, he decided to give his perspective. The former WWE Champion also sent a warning to Sikoa that he would attack him when the time was right.
“…Watch Monday back. Look in my eyes. What do you see? You clearly see I wanted to attack Solo, and when the time is right, I will, but I’ve grown as a person, a competitor, a leader. I can’t be selfish. I have to do what is right for the fans and the future of the world title,” said McIntyre.
He explained that defeating Rhodes on the February 19 episode was important and a confidence boost heading into WWE Elimination Chamber. It was ‘The American Nightmares’ second loss since his return to WWE in 2022.
The February 19 episode of Monday Night Raw gave McIntyre a small character change, showing that he will do what is necessary to become a champion, including working with the Bloodline.
WWE has treated Cody Rhodes like a bona fide Superstar since he made his return to the company. As Cody continues the mission to finish his story, that doesn’t give a lot of time to lose matches.
Cody Rhodes’ Big Loss
Monday’s WWE Raw kicked off with Cody Rhodes against Drew McIntyre. The match took a dramatic turn when The Bloodline intervened to assist McIntyre.
Jimmy Uso’s interference led to his ejection from ringside, while Solo Sikoa made his presence felt by attacking Rhodes with a Samoan spike. As he seized the opportunity, McIntyre delivered a devastating Claymore Kick to secure the victory via pinfall, which marked a very rare loss for The American Nightmare.
According to CageMatch.net, this loss represents Rhodes’ first television singles match defeat since May 2016, when he was known as Stardust and lost to Zack Ryder on an episode of Superstars. Since returning to WWE at WrestleMania 38 in 2022, Rhodes has only suffered singles match losses to Reigns and Brock Lesnar on television or premium live events.
Rhodes’ most recent loss took place last November on WWE RAW, when he and Jey Uso dropped the Undisputed Tag Team Titles to The Judgment Day. Since then, WWE has protected him in a big way, but they also gave a huge win to Drew McIntyre this week in the process.
What’s Next For Cody Rhodes in WWE
This defeat comes as Rhodes prepares to challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Title at WrestleMania 40. Additionally, Rhodes and World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins are scheduled to appear on the Grayson Waller Effect at Elimination Chamber this Saturday, where WWE is anticipated to finalize a match between Rhodes & Rollins and The Rock & Reigns for the first night of WrestleMania.
That Solo Sikoa interference was the same spot that saw Cody lose to Roman at WrestleMania 39. Odds are, WWE is setting fans up for the same spot at Mania 40, but Cody will kick out next time.
SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story, and many more, on the road to WrestleMania 40.
Tonight’s Elimination Chamber go-home episode of Raw was filled with many notable moments and this trend continued even after the show from Honda Center in Anaheim, California went off air.
The show opened with a PPV quality match between Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes. The two competed in a hard-fought bout for nearly 20 minutes.
McIntyre interestingly came out with a victory in this match after Solo Sikoa interfered. This was Rhodes’ first Televised singles loss since May 2023, when Brock Lesnar beat Cody at Night of Champions.
Apart from this the show also featured Chad Gable picking up an impressive submission victory over Ivar and a returning Raquel Rodriguez earning her spot in the Women’s Chamber match for the upcoming show.
What Happened After Raw
The main event of this week’s Raw saw Gunther defending his IC Title against Jey Uso, as the Ring General overtook Pedro Morales to become the longest-reigning IC Champion for combined days.
Just like the opening match, this bout also ended with an interference from a Bloodline member. This time, Jimmy Uso helped Gunther pick up the victory over his twin brother.
Jimmy attacked his brother after this match and the show went off air with The Bloodline member standing tall. Though he didn’t leave the ring even after the broadcast ended and Uso only retreated when Cody Rhodes made the save.
After coming out to help Jey, Rhodes introduced another big name. He asked CM Punk who had been backstage for the show to come out. The Straight Edge star finally cut a short promo for the crowd before ending the night.
WWE saw a huge shift in their creative direction when Then Rock returned to television. He found himself in the ring with Cody Rhodes, as they hugged before The Great One had a showdown with Roman Reigns. Everything happened very quickly after that, and we all know how everything escalated after that. Anthony Ogogo saw that footage, and it rocked his world as well.
Anthony Ogogo Reacts To Cody Rhodes & The Rock’s Segment
Anthony Ogogo recently spoke with Boxing Scene, where Cody’s segment with The Rock came up. That was a bit of a mind-blowing experience for him to see, because he knows The American Nightmare and has shared the ring with him.
“I saw Cody in the ring with The Rock the other day, I saw it on YouTube, over a 100m views or whatever and I thought…”
After he took a moment to pause, Ogogo continued to say, “I took a screenshot. And I just thought, ‘F*ck. I was in the ring with him a couple of years ago, now he’s in with the biggest star in the world.’”
Anthony Ogogo then revealed what he texted Cody Rhodes after that momentous segment on WWE television.
Everyone knows The Rock. “I’m happy for Cody. He’s a very good professional wrestler. He’s worked hard. He’s bet on himself. I’m happy for him.” “And I text Cody and said, ‘Mate, this is one of the coolest things I’ve seen in a long time. Buzzing for you. Go get it’. That’s what I text him. And I mean that, it’s a big thing for him.”
Cody Rhodes will get a chance to finish his story after all, because fans spoke out and cause The Rock to pivot from his original plan.
WWE Changed WrestleMania Plans
I exclusively reported on SEScoops that a source within WWE confirmed that The Rock initially intended to have a match with Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. The current scenario regarding the show was not The Rock’s original preference, indicating that it was not part of a preconceived plan from the outset. He then conceded that Cody Rhodes vs Roman Reigns should be the main event match.
I was later told that“The Rock conceded it should be Roman vs Cody.” It was Dwayne Johnson’s call to switch things up, and now Cody vs Roman is the main event of WrestleMania. At this point, a tag team match with The Rock joining the Bloodline seems to be the direction against Cody and Seth Rollins.
Fans online are appreciating Cody Rhodes’s kind gesture towards a blind fan at the recent WWE live event in Fresno, California. The heart-warming moment, captured on camera, has been viewed 17,000 times on X.
At the WWE: Road To WrestleMania SuperShow event held at the Save Mart Center in Fresno on February 18, Cody Rhodes faced off against Shinsuke Nakamura in a Street Fight match and emerged victorious in the night’s main event.
Following the match, he addressed the fans in the arena to finish the evening. Rhodes expressed his gratitude towards the enthusiastic Fresno crowd, stating, “I really appreciate it. There’s one sign that has caught my eye. It’s over here and it says, ‘Blindness can’t stop me from seeing Cody.’”
The audience in the arena couldn’t help but appreciate the heart-warming sign. In a gesture of gratitude, Rhodes approached the barricade to meet the fan at her seat.
Will Cody Rhodes Finish the Story at WrestleMania 40?
The fan’s husband took to X and shared a photo of them together with the wrestler, expressing, “My wife meeting Cody Rhodes tonight was a dream come true! Cody, she is blind and loves you so much! You reading her sign made her world! Thank you!”
The audience in the arena naturally appreciated The American Nightmare’s sweet gesture, with chants of Cody’s name echoing throughout. Online, people are also showing their love, dubbing him “The people’s champ” and hoping for a lengthy reign if he clinches the championship.
The title in question is the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship, which Rhodes is slated to compete against Roman Reigns for at WrestleMania 40, set to take place at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
AEW star Darby Allin recently explained why he mentioned former AEW VP and current WWE star Cody Rhodes during his recent promo on AEW Dynamite.
Darby Allin and ‘The Icon’ Sting are set to team up for latter’s retirement match against The Young Bucks at AEW Revolution pay-per-view next month. Ahead of the highly- anticipated battle, Darby Allin grabbed the attention as he namedropped Cody Rhodes on the February 14 February edition of AEW Dynamite. The reference took fans by surprise and the former TNT Champion has explained his decision to mention WWE Superstar in hyping the upcoming bout.
Darby Allin gives credit to Cody Rhodes
During a recent interview with Digital Spy, Allin addressed his decision to mention ‘The American Nightmare’ though the latter is not signed with AEW anymore.
“That’s easy because he’s the reason I’m in AEW. You think back to my debut, I wrestled him at Fyter Fest and we went a 20-minute Broadway draw. For him to take a chance on me that early… I was relatively super unknown still, I was never really the guy on the independent scene. He did that. You’ve got to give respect where respect is due. I feel very strongly on paying homage to how I got here because I never thought I was going to get here.”
Allin also addressed online criticism after his he cut the promo but he highlighted the importance of his history with the company and mentioned Rhodes’ contribution in his career and in the company overall. He said:
“I only pay attention to what I think, I really don’t care about what anyone else thinks. You’ve just got to listen to yourself about things. I really felt it was important for me to tell my part of the story leading into that match and not just be this second-rate character going into the match. I have a lot of things I wanted to say to the Young Bucks and I said it and so be it. I just want to go out there and speak my mind on things.”
Allin will team with Sting to defend the AEW Tag Team Championship against The Young Bucks (Matthew and Nicholas Jackson) at AEW Revolution pay-per-view on March 3 at Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina.
WWE Superstar Grayson Waller has continued to pull off heel tactics and took a jab at 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes.
‘The American Nightmare’ recently won the Men’s Royal Rumble for the second time and he is on his Road to WrestleMania. While the road is bumpy, Rhodes is trying to overcome the hindrances and ‘finish his story.’
Cody Rhodes seemingly made the way for The Rock to challenge Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 but that soon changed. After fans outraged and WWE received , the main event was reverted back to the original plans of Roman Reigns vs Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Universal title match at ‘The Show of Shows.’
This year, Elimination Chamber is heading to Perth, Australia which is Grayson Waller’s homeland. Ahead of the show, the Aussie star decided to take a shot at Rhodes.
Grayson Waller claims to have finished his story before Cody Rhodes
During the flight to Australia, Grayson Waller stated that he already finished his book and highlighted the fact that at least someone in WWE can finish a story which is a jab at Cody Rhodes.
“Halfway to Perth and already finished my book. At least someone in WWE can finish a story”
Halfway to Perth and already finished my book. At least someone in WWE can finish a story pic.twitter.com/RrJIEIPZOM
At Elimination Chamber: Perth, Grayson Waller will host Cody Rhodes and WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins on his ‘The Grayson Waller Effect’ show. We will have to wait and see how it pans out.
The 2024 Elimination Chamber event will take place on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Optus Stadium in the Perth, Australia. The show will start at 5:00 AM EST, and keep an eye on SEScoops for the coverage of the show.
On SmackDown this week, fans saw The Rock officially align with The Bloodline, but could it all be just a ruse by Rocky? One ECW Original has been taking notes during this whole saga between The Rock, Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes.
After The Rock returned back to his 1998 ways in the closing segment of SmackDown, Blue Meanie took to social media to present an interesting theory that all may be not what it seems regarding this notorious Samoan family tree.
“After watching last night’s Smackdown I have a feeling the Rock is joining the Bloodline on behalf of Cody to help distrupt the Bloodline from within. After the Rumble Cody looked like he was stepping down. The Rock whispered ‘something’ in Cody’s ear. The camera intentionally shoots Cody walking away down the aisle. We see Rock and Roman inch their way towards each other before the show goes off air.
“At the press event the Rock says he’s challenging Roman for the title and on cue Cody interrupts says he’s challenging Roman at Mania after all. Cody tells the Rock and Roman that their grandfather’s would be ashamed of them. Rock initiated the contact before Roman could because this is all a ruse. He signifying that he is on Roman’s side.
“He’s further disarming Roman. Last night on Smackdown the Rock comes out to ‘join’ the Bloodline. He cuts the heel promo. If you notice when they all do the finger point upwards, the Rock has his thumb out. The hand gesture commonly known as the ‘loser’ hand gesture.
“Basically Rock is signaling that he is there to help Roman lose to Cody at Mania because it’s actually The Rock who is ashamed of how Roman is acting. The Rock just had Cody say it at the press event that lead to the contact between Rock and Cody.
“Last year at Mania Cody was outnumbered by the Bloodline. This year, Seth Rollins and the Rock are his back up to any interference and will help Cody attain the goal of winning the title that his father never did. Just my 2 cents.”
1/ After watching last night's Smackdown I have a feeling the Rock is joining the Bloodline on behalf of Cody to help distrupt the Bloodline from within. After the Rumble Cody looked like he was stepping down. The Rock whispered "something" in Cody's ear.
— Brian Heffron aka The Blue Meanie (@BlueMeanieBWO) February 17, 2024
Whichever side The Rock may or may not be on, Cody Rhodes will indeed have a “shield” in Seth Rollins who came out on WWE Raw to show him added support. We may see something develop even further at Elimination Chamber as Cody and Seth are set to sit down in Perth as guests of “The Grayson Waller Effect.”
Paul Heyman believes that Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins are destined for the “Ocean of Obsurity” and the two stars will begin to set sail on this Friday’s SmackDown.
Heyman took to his Instagram to make a bold proclamation before both his “Tribal Chief” and “The People’s Champion” The Rock show up in Salt Lake City
Ladies and Gentlemen, today is a picture-perfect day to ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR TRIBAL CHIEF!
“As WWE tries to grasp the enormity of the events that transpired at the #WrestleMania Kickoff Event in Las Vegas, I remind you that yet another chapter shall unfold tomorrow, LIVE on FOX as #Smackdown will feature not only your humble #Wiseman and the reigning defending Undisputed #WWE Universal Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns but also The #PeoplesChamp The Rock!
“While Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins face an uncertain future, condemned to live life after #WM40 in the Ocean of Obscurity, it is quite apparent the #Bloodline’s rule on the Island of Relevancy has never been more powerful! The Delta Center in #SaltLakeCity will be the setting, and The People’s Slap was only the beginning of what’s to come next.”
“The People’s Slap” sure conjured up a lot of conversation and on WWE Raw this past Monday, Cody Rhodes promised retaliation against The Rock. As Heyman mentioned, Rhodes will not be without a “Shield” in Seth Rollins who offered his helping hand in dealing with The Bloodline.
Right now, it’s Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40, but where The Rock may fit in the equation remains a question mark, with many speculating a tag team match on night one.
The Rock is back for another road to WrestleMania, but the match he’s getting isn’t the one he originally wanted. It was his call the whole time to make that change, as I reported several times before. It turns out that Dwayne Johnson was convinced to let Cody Rhodes have the main event match, but it took a lot of backlash.
WrestleMania 40 Plans Changed
I exclusively reported on SEScoops that a source within WWE confirmed that The Rock initially intended to have a match with Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. The current scenario regarding the show was not The Rock’s original preference, indicating that it was not part of a preconceived plan from the outset. He then conceded that Cody Rhodes vs Roman Reigns should be the main event match.
I was told that “The Rock conceded it should be Roman vs Cody.”
Follow Up: I was able to confirm that Rock's original plan was to have a match with Roman. It wasn't the situation we have now. After all the negative reaction, Rock conceded it should be Roman vs Cody.
A tag team match at WrestleMania seems to be the direction now, with Rock &… https://t.co/jyEqNKjnSP
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter confirmed that report, saying that it was The Rock’s decision to book at tag team match for Night 1 of WrestleMania 40. The word “conceded” was even used in Dave Meltzer’s report.
There is said to be far more behind the scenes that hasn’t come out but given the timing can’t be talked about now. But Johnson over the weekend said it was best to be out of the Reigns match, put Cody in, which by this point everyone conceded by then. It was Johnson who then pitched the heel turn, and he did pitch the idea of the Reigns & Rock vs. Rhodes & Rollins match for night one. So that was his idea if that is how it turns out.
From the very beginning, I reported that plans were locked in, and the only person who could change things is The Rock. That is exactly what happened, much to the delight of “Cody crybabies” all over, who want to see The American Nightmare finish his story.
Why The Match Was Changed
The Rock publicly expressed his desire for a match against Roman Reigns on January 1st, appearing during the Day 1 episode of RAW. Subsequently, the match was arranged shortly thereafter, despite Cody Rhodes winning the 2024 Royal Rumble match. Notably, Triple H was aware of the agreement for Rock vs Reigns.
Negative fan reaction, and mainstream attention on the matter, caused Rock to make a call to pivot. That being said, he will now apparently play up the heel gimmick on WWE television for the Cody crybabies.
The self-professed Prime Minister of Australia then said that he’d bring this story to his home country. Waller then confirmed that he will be giving the ‘Grayson Waller Rub’ to Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins at WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth.
Waller will no doubt be hoping that this edition of the Grayson Waller effect goes better than the last time he hosted Cody Rhodes. At WWE Payback, Rhodes was the guest on Waller’s show but would introduce Jey Uso as Raw’s newest Superstar. After Waller got in Jey’s face, the ‘Main Event’ talent would attack the Australian.
WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth
Here is the card for WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth as it currently stands:
The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate (Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships)
Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair vs. Liv Morgan vs. 3 TBD (Elimination Chamber match for a Women’s World Championship match at WrestleMania XL)
Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Nia Jax (WWE Women’s World Championship)
Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton vs. Bobby Lashley vs. LA Knight vs 2 TBD (Elimination Chamber match for a World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania XL)
What other events can the WWE Universe look forward to in 2024…
Cody Rhodes found out the hard way what happens when you speak ill of the Bloodline at the WrestleMania 40 kick-off event, according to The Rock.
Last week’s event saw some of WWE’s top Superstars in attendance. At the press conference, Roman Reigns made clear he intended to face The Rock at WrestleMania 40 in April. Cody Rhodes threw a wrench into these plans by declaring he would be challenging the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion in Philadelphia
Cody Rhodes Found Out
During his promo against The Rock and Roman Reigns, Cody said that their ancestors would be ashamed to see the two attempts to monopolize the WrestleMania main event scene. This comment drew the ire of The Rock, who slapped the American Nightmare. Rhodes would be backed up by new ally Seth Rollins, though the four men did not come to further blows.
Taking to Instagram, The Rock reflected on slapping Cody with some choice words for “your hero.”
“Your hero f***** around and he found out quick what happens when you talk about our family with disrespect.”
WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes yet again shared a heartwarming moment with a fan during this week’s Monday Night Raw.
‘The American Nightmare’ has proven several times why he’s a fan favorite. Even though he is a popular name in the pro wrestling industry, he has always tried to establish a personal connection with his fans.
At WWE shows, Cody Rhodes frequently makes time to greet fans, sign autographs, and take pictures. Cody’s modest demeanor has made a lasting impression on fans, regardless of the magnitude of the wrestling shows. He attempts to make every interaction unique and to make sure that his supporters feel valued and appreciated at the end of the day.
Cody Rhodes gifts his weight belt and shoes
The latest edition of WWE Monday Night Raw, emanated from the Kupp Arena in Lexington, KY. After WWE’s flagship show came to a close, Cody Rhodes had an interaction with a fan on birthday.
After the show went off the air, Rhodes delivered a promo for the Lexington crowd. During his promo, he gave away a pair of his shoes to a kid in the audience.
The 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble winner also gave away his weight belt, which he usually gives to the fans during his entrances. Cody went on to take pictures and shook hands with the fans concluding a great night for the fans.
During the show, Cody Rhodes spoke to the WWE Universe for the first time after he decided that he would challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania 40. ‘
The American Nightmare’ also made the save for Sami Zayn and helped fend off Drew McIntyre and Shinsuke Nakamura during their post-match assault on Zayn at the end of the show.
It was announced that Rhodes will face Drew McIntyre in a singles match next week.
Meanwhile, the show also featured a six-man tag team match with WWE Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER and fellow Imperium members Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci taking on Jey Uso and The New Day.
There were also three Elimination Chamber qualifying matches on the show as LA Knight and Bobby Lashley qualified for the Men’s Elimination Chamber match while Liv Morgan qualified for the Women’s Elimination Chamber match.
Cody Rhodes made his way to the ring on WWE RAW this week, and he had a lot to say, He addressed The Rock’s actions, and what he said to him at the WrestleMania kickoff event.
Rhodes also said that The Rock slapped him, but “you slapped me across the face, and what that means is I’m gonna hit you right back.”
Seth Rollins then entered the situation, where he addressed Cody directly. Rollins said that Cody needs to finish his story for everyone, including Dusty Rhodes. He also had something very important to say to the American Nightmare.
Rollins told Cody that he doesn’t have to fight The Rock alone. He is sick and tired of people like The Rock and Roman Reigns, who he called “pricks” doing whatever they want and getting away with it.
By all appearance, it looks like Roman Reigns and The Rock are going to take on Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes in a tag team match. That being said, Cody vs Roman is still going to happen.
I kept asking about The Rock’s WrestleMania plans possibly changing because the subject is certainly one of the hottest in pro wrestling right now.
A tenured member of the creative team told me last week before the Las Vegas WrestleMania kickoff event, “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.”
In the end, it was all up to The Rock, who didn’t really care if he was booed or cheered at WrestleMania. WWE didn’t see those “Rocky Sucks” chants coming on RAW.
Thursday was interesting in Las Vegas. After the event, I was able to confirm that Rock’s original plan was to have a match with Roman. It wasn’t the situation we had then. After all the negative reaction, The Rock then conceded it should be Roman vs Cody.
A tag team match at WrestleMania seemed to be the direction then, with Rock & Roman vs Cody & Seth. Either way, Cody vs Roman then main evented night two of Mania 40.
Follow Up: I was able to confirm that Rock's original plan was to have a match with Roman. It wasn't the situation we have now. After all the negative reaction, Rock conceded it should be Roman vs Cody.
A tag team match at WrestleMania seems to be the direction now, with Rock &… https://t.co/jyEqNKjnSP
The Rock returned to WWE under very interesting circumstances. He wanted a match against Roman Reigns that has been a long time coming, but fans wanted to see Cody Rhodes finish his story. Now, we have a much different picture for the WrestleMania main event than The Rock wanted to.
The Rock Embracing The Dark Side
It was reported that The Rock taking a seat on TKO’s Board of Directors came with a WrestleMania match attached. He got $30 million in company stock as a part of that deal.
Fans spoke out in massive fashion when Rock bumped Cody Rhodes out of his WrestleMania spot against Roman Reigns. Trends started online and the story got picked up by major mainstream outlets.
Wrestle Votes reported on Twitter/X that WWE sources have said that The Rock is prepared to “fully embrace” his heel gimmick. It was also noted that WWE is expected to drop official Cody crybabies merchandise.
Sources suggest that The Rock is expected to fully embrace his heel turn, drawing inspiration from his past ‘Hollywood’ Rock persona. Additionally, I’m told to anticipate the release of Rock branded ‘Cody Crybabies’ merchandise. The story is just beginning…
Sources suggest that The Rock is expected to fully embrace his heel turn, drawing inspiration from his past ‘Hollywood’ Rock persona. Additionally, I’m told to anticipate the release of Rock branded ‘Cody Crybabies’ merchandise. The story is just beginning…
Why WWE Changed The Rock’s WrestleMania 40 Plan (Exclusive)
I’ve been doing my best to stay up on this always-evolving storyline. As I originally reported, The Rock was the one who needed to make the call to change this match. That is what finally happened after a ton of fans speaking out.
I keep asking about #TheRock's #WrestleMania? plans possibly changing, because that's all fans want at this point.
Last night, a tenured member of the creative team told me straight up: "We have not been told of any change. That doesn't mean the plan hasn't changed. Or won't…
A tenured source within WWE confirmed that The Rock’s original plan was to have a match with Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. The current situation we have with the show of shows was not what The Rock originally wanted to do, so this was not all part of an elaborate plan from the jump.
The Rock called his shot for a match against Roman Reigns on January 1st when he showed up during the Day 1 episode of RAW. Then, the match was agreed to shortly after that, with Cody Rhodes winning the 2024 Royal Rumble match after that, despite Triple H knowing that Rock vs Reigns was agreed to.
After all the negative reaction, I am told that “The Rock conceded it should be Roman vs Cody.” Fan reaction, and mainstream attention on the matter, caused Rock to make a call to pivot. That being said, he will now apparently play up the heel gimmick on WWE television for the Cody crybabies.
Follow Up: I was able to confirm that Rock's original plan was to have a match with Roman. It wasn't the situation we have now. After all the negative reaction, Rock conceded it should be Roman vs Cody.
A tag team match at WrestleMania seems to be the direction now, with Rock &… https://t.co/jyEqNKjnSP
WrestleMania 40 is coming to Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 6 and 7, 2024. The showcase of the immortals is coming together, and now they have a new trailer to share with fans.
A new trailer dropped to hype WrestleMania 40. The short video featured The Rock, Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. The video certainly seemed as if a tag team match was being teased now.
Triple H hyped the trailer, as he quote posted the video along with a message. He plans to take things to a new level for WrestleMania 40, and he also included the legendary that he is known to ask fans.
“We’re taking WrestleMania XL to a whole new level. Are you ready?”
During the WrestleMania 40 press conference in the T-Mobile Arena, many fans thought that The Rock and Roman Reigns would be the WrestleMania 40 main event. Then Cody Rhodes showed up to make his choice known.
In the end, Cody Rhodes got his match against Roman Reigns. The Rock wasn’t happy about that, and he slapped The American Nightmare.
After The Rock and Roman Reigns left together, rumors started to spread about what the next plan is. Now, Cody Rhodes will get a chance to finish his story.
The Rock’s return to WWE caused shockwaves all over. Fans spoke out with a lot of unhappiness, because they didn’t like the idea of the Great One taking Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania spot. Now, we are looking at what is next, and Seth Rollins saw the whole thing unfold.
During Thursday’s WWE WrestleMania 40 Kickoff event, Cody Rhodes announced his challenge to Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Title at WrestleMania 40.
Seth Rollins Speaks On The Rock
There was anticipation that WWE would unveil The Rock vs. Reigns instead, a plan that remains intact, while Rhodes was initially expected to challenge World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins.
The plan for Rock vs. Reigns had been kept under wraps last month following Dwayne Johnson’s appointment to the TKO Board of Directors. This arrangement was part of a deal that Johnson strongly advocated for, despite Rhodes expressing his desire to conclude his ongoing storyline.
While speaking with FOX News, Seth Rollins said that The Rock’s entire return to take a WrestleMania spot against Roman Reigns felt gross, but now it appears that Cody Rhodes is going to get what he wants.
“It’s just what happens when powerful people exert their power. They just think they do whatever they want and get away with it, and that sucks. It just sucks. I don’t know any other way to put it. I guess it (resulted) in Cody getting what he wanted. We’ll figure out what’s next for the World Heavyweight title. But Cody said it best. It’s bullsh*t. It feels pretty gross to me.”
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that, “The press conference also ended with the idea of a Reigns & Rock vs. Rhodes & Rollins tag team match, which could be on day one at Mania.”
It is also important to note that three days ago, a tenured member of the creative team told me, “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.”
I keep asking about #TheRock's #WrestleMania? plans possibly changing, because that's all fans want at this point.
Last night, a tenured member of the creative team told me straight up: "We have not been told of any change. That doesn't mean the plan hasn't changed. Or won't…
Triple H is set to be on SmackDown this week to address the current WrestleMania situation. SE Scoops will have continued coverage of the road to WrestleMania, because it’s anyone’s guess what they book at this point.
WWE fans were left shocked by the press conference in Las Vegas. Although there are a lot of questions left to answer, we now have an idea how the WrestleMania main event matches are taking shape.
WWE’s Expected WrestleMania 40 Main Event Picture
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that The Rock finalized a deal on January 3rd with Ari Emanuel and Nick Khan, not only securing a spot on the Board of Directors but also committing to headline WrestleMania this year. That match was presumably against Reigns.
Dwayne Johnson mentioned that the storyline had been in the works for years. The Bloodline storyline with Roman Reigns has been going on for that long as well.
Following a non-press conference at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Reigns vs. Rhodes for WrestleMania was announced, with no additional match announcements beyond teasing the Rhea Ripley vs. Becky Lynch matchup. Ripley is set to face the winner of the Elimination Chamber match on February 24th in Australia.
Although it’s believed that Rollins will defend against the winner of the men’s Chamber match at the same event, no such match has been confirmed. The tease for Rhodes vs. Rollins suggested that an announcement will likely be made in the coming week, but we’re waiting on official confirmation on that.
It was also reported that the current idea is a potential tag team clash between Reigns and Rock versus Rhodes and Rollins, possibly scheduled for day one at WrestleMania, for a main event match. During the conference, Rock turned heel on Rhodes after a dispute about families, siding with Reigns and slapping Rhodes, while Rollins sided with Rhodes during the whole thing.
The press conference also ended with the idea of a Reigns & Rock vs. Rhodes & Rollins tag team match, which could be on day one at Mania. Rock ended up going heel on Rhodes, slapping him in the face after an argument about families, and siding with Reigns. Rollins was out there at the time and ended up backing up Rhodes.
The matchup between Reigns and Rock had been discussed before the pandemic as a one-time return match, initially considered for WrestleMania in Dallas in 2022. However, Dwayne Johnson aimed for Los Angeles in 2023, later withdrawing due to time constraints, but he left Philadelphia in 2024 as a possibility.
Rhodes was initially slated for the match against Roman Reigns due to The Rock pulling out last year, as Rhodes and Seth Rollins were reportedly set to create the second world title last year, which was delayed. Now, we find ourselves in a very interesting situation on the road to WrestleMania 40.
“And what is this match all about right here? WHO sits at the Head Of The Table? What does it matter when neither of you have been doing any of the cooking for TWO YEARS”
