The Young Bucks are now a heel team in AEW, and they made that statement very clear. Now, Nick and Matt Jackson have new music, but they’re not the only people who looked toward the same inspiration.
The Young Bucks’ New Song
Roman Reigns’ theme song is known throughout the WWE Universe, as he makes his way to the ring with strength and authority. It appears that the Young Bucks wanted to borrow some of that magic.
The Jackson Brothers debuted a new piece of music for their entrance this week on Rampage, departing from their usual Superkick Party song. It appears that the pair drew inspiration from the same song that is responsible for Roman Reigns’ entrance.
Sean Ross Sapp noted on Fightful Select that the Young Bucks looked toward Succession’s intro theme for their new music. That is a very popular source of inspiration as well.
There was a lot of speculation on Twitter that Young Bucks’ theme was inspired by Succession’s theme song, which is accurate. Roman Reigns’ theme is also inspired by the show.
What’s Next
Roman Reigns is on his way to WrestleMania 40. At this time, his only opponent is Cody Rhodes. Only time will tell what WWE does to deal with the fact that The Rock is around now.
The Young Bucks are a top heel team in AEW, and they may just face Sting and Darby Allin. That match may go down at AEW Revolution on March 3rd, which will be the Icon’s final match.
The Rock and Roman Reigns may be determined to have their match, but Triple H put his foot down on the matter. The Las Vegas event in the T-Mobile Arena was quite a sight. This week’s SmackDown included some big shots at The Great One, and he will be around next week to continue this drama.
The Rock’s Next WWE SmackDown Appearance
During WWE SmackDown this week, Triple H and Bron Breakker had a backstage segment where Breakker asked The Game if he could pick his brain about the big decision he has to make between RAW and SmackDown. Then, Paul Heyman stepped into the frame.
Heyman tried to speak to Triple H about what happened during the WrestleMania kickoff show conference, but The Game didn’t seem happy about Heyman’s presence. That stopped Heyman from proceeding with the WWE COO.
Instead, Paul Heyman stated that he will be back next week to further this discussion. He will not be alone, because Roman Reigns is coming with him. Also, The Rock will be there.
WWE SmackDown is hitting the Delta Center in Salt Lake Center, Utah on Friday, February 16, 2024. It appears that The Rock will be in the house as well.
SE Scoops will have continued coverage of this evolving situation. The Rock is still in the WrestleMania mix, even if Cody Rhodes got his match against Roman Reigns as well.
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”
The Rock recently grabbed the headlines with his actions at the WrestleMania 40 Kickoff Press event on Thursday evening. Is he allying with his cousin and the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns?
We are less than a couple of months away from WrestleMania 40 which will take place at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 6th and 7th.
It has been determined that 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes will have an opportunity to ‘finish the story.’ Rhodes previously made the way for The Rock to challenge Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. However, this decision faced a massive fan backlash which might have influenced WWE to alter the decision. Rhodes clarified his choice during the WrestleMania 40 kick-off press conference as he faces Roman Reigns at ‘The Show of Shows.
Roman Reigns and The Rock left the venue together
Following the event, WWE cameras caught Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman leaving the venue alongside The Rock which raised more questions regarding their alliance.
During the Las Vegas presser, Reigns said Cody was as irrelevant as his late father, Dusty Rhodes. Cody took a shot back and said if the grandfathers of The Rock and Roman Reigns were alive, they’d be disgusted with “The Tribal Chief.”
The Rock reminded Cody that when he talks about Reigns’ family, he’s talking about his ancestors. ‘The Great One,’ who seemingly turned heel ahead of the event, slapped Cody and both men had to be separated before a brawl could break out.
The Rock entering the fray makes the storyline more interesting and we will have to wait and see how this pans out heading into WrestleMania 40.
WrestleMania 40 will take over Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 6th and 7th. This year’s Mania event will be a massive one, and they set the stage in Las Vegas.
Seth Rollins came out after Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley had time to speak. Becky Lynch also interrupted Ripley to make it known that she wants to face Mami at Mania.
Rollins didn’t want to waste any time, so he invited Cody Rhodes out. However, Roman Reigns made his way out to the stage instead. As Rollins looked at his former Shield brother, the Tribal Chief raised his title for the T-Mobile Arena crowd.
Seth took a shot at Roman for showing up to work for once, but the Head of the Table wanted to talk about Cody Rhodes. Then Roman Reigns said that Cody didn’t make his decision, so he’s choosing The Rock.
The Rock Makes His Presence Known
Suddenly, The Rock made his way out to add even more star power to the situation. The Rock asked the crowd if they think Roman Reigns will beat him at WrestleMania, and there was a mixed response. Then he asked the same question with himself as the winner to the same mixed reaction.
When The Rock asked if fans think his match with Roman Reigns will be the biggest in WWE history, fans were not happy about that either. After Dwayne Johnson said that he loves the fans’ passion, fans stopped him with “We want Cody” and “Cody sucks” chants.
Johnson got even more boos when he introduced the world to the “Cody crybabies.” Then The Rock started getting tons of “what” chants as he introduced an image of the Bloodline family tree. He also said it doesn’t matter what fans think if they don’t believe that the Bloodline is the best family in pro wrestling.
Cody Rhodes Makes His Announcement
The Rock vs Roman Reigns was then hyped for WrestleMania as fans booed the announcement. Suddenly, Cody Rhodes came out and said, “this right here is bullsh*t.” He didn’t like how The Rock and Reigns were calling the shots, because Cody reminded them that he won the Royal Rumble.
Cody said he made his decision, and he will wrestle Roman Reigns in the main event of WrestleMania 40. Fans chanted as Reigns said that Cody must be crazy or stupid. He told Cody to go to the #2’s with Seth Rollins. He also said nobody cares about him finishing the story. Reigns said that Cody is irrelevant, just like his father.
Triple H, Nick Aldis, and Adam Pearce came out for backup as tensions raised. Cody told Roman that his grandfather would be ashamed of him if he was here. Then The Rock told Cody, “let me make something perfectly clear to you, when you talk about his family, you’re talking about my family.” It seems that The Rock wasn’t happy with Cody, and they suddenly had a problem.
The Rock slapped Cody across the face, and they needed to be broken up. Seth Rollins also had to be taken off the stage, but he said “I don’t give a sh*t if you’re on the board, you can’t do whatever you want,” as he left.
Now, it appears that Cody Rhodes vs Roman Reigns is going to happen at WrestleMania, but the story is far from over. Later on, Triple H was interviewed backstage when The Rock walked by, who said, “you’ve got to fix this, let him talk sh*t about our family again, you’ve got to fix this.”
Just this week, 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.”
SE Scoops will have continued coverage of the road to WrestleMania. It will likely be a wild ride. Keep checking back for even more updates.
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…
WWE fans all over are talking about the WrestleMania main event. The Rock returned to presumably take Cody Rhodes’ spot against Roman Reigns, and people aren’t happy. Trends started as the WWE Universe is crying for Cody Rhodes to get his spot back, but odds are the match won’t change. If you ask LA Knight, he couldn’t care less.
LA Knight drew a ton of attention in 2023, and he sold a lot of merchandise as well. It’s WrestleMania season, and he is concentrated on securing a good match on the showcase of the immortals. That concentration doesn’t allow him to focus on other people’s matters.
LA Knight Speaks On WrestleMania Main Event
Knight said on Wes and Walker that it doesn’t matter to him who is in the WrestleMania main event match. He’s not in that match, and he is focused on his role at the show of shows, and making the biggest impression he can.
It’s always exciting to have someone like The Rock come back, and fans are engaged. The more eyes that The Rock brings in only means that they will also see Knight in whatever match he lands on the show of shows.
“Doesn’t really make a difference to me. Doesn’t affect me. I’m not involved in it, I don’t care. If any one of them ends up coming out as WWE Champion, then that’s the guy I’m aiming for. Is it always cool to have a guy like The Rock come in? Sure it is. Now you have a major movie star, a major star just in the world. A pop culture icon, you could say. To bring that in, you’re bringing in brand name recognition to where it might bring in extra eyes from the outside who might not otherwise be there.
If that’s the case, okay, I’m not arguing against that. It means more eyes on me, more eyes on SmackDown, more eyes on everything. In that regard, it’s not a bad thing. Some people are going to look down on it, some people aren’t. It’s not for everybody, but that’s the beauty of what we do, there is a little something for everybody. At the end of the day, in my regard, it really doesn’t make much difference to me. If Cody ends up being the champion, Roman Reigns is the champion, The Rock is champion, I’m still gunning for each and every one on them.”
WWE’s Plan for LA Knight at WrestleMania 40
LA Knight does not have a match announced for WrestleMania 40 yet. There are several ways to go with him, and I can confirm that a title match has been one of those ideas. That doesn’t guarantee him a spot in a secondary title match, because there are a lot of options for him.
I was told by a tenured member of the creative team that there are “a lot of matches are being discussed for Mania, that’s one idea, but there are many more, too.” The important part is getting on the showcase of the immortals in the first place, which is something LA Knight aims to accomplish.
WWE has a massive WrestleMania kickoff press conference scheduled for Las Vegas tonight. The event starts at 7:00 PM EST, and we will have full coverage of the show at SE Scoops. Perhaps, LA Knight will be around to jumpstart his own road to WrestleMania 40.
Fans may be a bit upset about The Rock showing up to take Cody Rhodes’ match against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania. The match is not set yet, but it appears that things will get locked down in Las Vegas on Thursday. Dwayne Johnson already made the flight, and he’s there.
The Rock Arrives in Las Vegas
The Rock travels in style, and he made it to Vegas a day before his big WrestleMania kickoff event at the T-Mobile arena. He seemed ready for whatever waits for him at the event.
WWE dropped a video of The Rock arriving in Las Vegas to hype the WrestleMania kickoff show event. Obviously, they want a spotlight on The People’s Champion.
The People’s Champion has arrived in Las Vegas! @TheRock is ready for an iconic face-off with @WWERomanReigns tomorrow at the #WrestleMania XL Kickoff live from @TMobileArena.
I previously reported that The Rock called his shot for this WrestleMania match on January 1st when he showed up for the Day 1 episode of RAW. His Head of the Table comment was heard loud and clear.
During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer noted that WWE actually booked the T-Mobile Arena far in advance. This event wasn’t a late addition to anyone’s schedule.
“They had booked T-Mobile for Thursday with The Rock long ago, like someone there mentioned it in passing. It was, ‘it’s not like you can get T-Mobile Arena four days in advance for something that we’re changing.’ This thing was booked way in advance. This thing was, you know when I mentioned January 3rd, to make a date and have an agreement on January 3rd, there was pretty much an understanding well before that. They kept that one quiet. However it plays out, whatever it is, it’s working.”
Chances of The Rock’s WrestleMania 40 Booking Changing
There has been a ton of negative fan reaction since The Rock’s return. WWE has issued no internal word or memo about how to handle that discontent from fans.
To add a bit to Fightful's report about how WWE is preparing for negative reactions to The Rock.
I was told that "No official plans or memos or directives" have been passed down about how to handle this situation.
When I asked if any of this fan backlash will change these prospective WrestleMania plans, I was told, “there’s no chance in hell.”
After asking around days later, I received an additional note that said, “No chance this changes unless The Rock backs out. This has been The Rock calling the shot since January 1st.” That is when Rock showed up on the Day 1 episode of RAW and made his first head of the table comment.
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…
I checked once again, just to make sure that everything was in line. I was told that if there are any changes, then they’re being kept very close to the vest. By all appearance, Roman Reigns vs The Rock is happening.
What happens in Vegas is supposed to stay in Vegas, but tomorrow’s event at the T-Mobile Arena will certainly help shape WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia on April 6th and 7th. SE Scoops will have more updates as they are made known.
Roman Reigns has an earlier commitment in Las Vegas before the Super Bowl, but he may be wearing one NFL team’s jersey come Sunday.
Reigns arrived in Las Vegas on Wednesday ahead of the WrestleMania Kickoff Press Event going down this Thursday. First to step off the jet was Roman’s counsel, Paul Heyman before Reigns sauntered down, sporting a San Francisco 49ers track jacket. He may be called “The Tribal Chief” but that tribe does not reside in Kansas City.
Reigns may just be a 49ers fan, but at least one 49er is a fan of WWE. During the Super Bowl media days, 49ers tight end George Kittle cut a promo about how he feels about the notorious situation between Cody Rhodes and The Rock. Kittle proposed that The Rock special guest referees the showdown between Rhodes and Reigns, but is excited for the prospect of all that may unfold two months from now in Philadelphia.
The road to WrestleMania continues through Sin City before heading to the City of Brotherly Love and the Kickoff event is a first for this TKO era. The event will go down at the T-Mobile Arena, right across the street from Allegiant Stadium where the Super Bowl will take place. Scheduled to appear at the T-Mobile arena are Reigns and his assumed opponent for WrestleMania, The Rock as well as Rhodes, Triple H, Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair and Montez Ford.
The Rock made his return to WWE during the Day 1 episode of WWE RAW. He called his shot to face Roman Reigns at that time, and that WrestleMania dream match is now set, but it is also a nightmare for some. Ironically, most fans would rather see The American Nightmare instead of Rocky.
WWE’s Reactions To The Rock’s Reception
It was reported on Fightful Select that there is no official mandate on how to handle the anti-Rock sentiment in the fan base right now. At this time, they are taking it on a case-by-case kind of thing, but it is also interesting to note how they handle this situation.
The Rock’s daughter, Ava, is the General Manager on NXT, and the company decided to mute fan reactions when she was on screen. Just her presence brought boos from the NXT Arena crowd.
There was no official mandate on how to handle anti-Rock reactions. It was taken on a case by case basis with the lead producer making the calls. The crowd chants were muted for Ava Raine.
I was also able to confirm that there is no plan in place, memo, or official directive about how WWE will handle negative reactions about The Rock. They are apparently playing this situation by ear.
To add a bit to Fightful's report about how WWE is preparing for negative reactions to The Rock.
I was told that "No official plans or memos or directives" have been passed down about how to handle this situation.
Fans may be very upset at The Rock right now, and they are flooding his mentions on social media. That will not alter their plan, because Dwayne Johnson has been booed before.
The Rock’s $30 million deal to take a seat on the company’s Board of Directors was also connected with this match. I was explicitly told that only one thing can change the company’s direction, and that is The Rock changing his mind.
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 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…
The Rock returned to WWE and took Cody Rhodes’ spot at WrestleMania. WWE is in the middle of a booming period right now, and there is a mindset out there that they simply don’t need him right now.
Seth Rollins Shoots on The Rock
This morning, Seth Rollins appeared on the NFL Network’s Good Morning Football show to discuss the WWE WrestleMania 40 situation. He certainly had a lot to say.
It was confirmed that The Rock replaced Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40, where he is set to face Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns. While it’s not 100% confirmed, there’s speculation that Rhodes might challenge Rollins for the World Heavyweight Title at the event.
During the interview, Rollins mentioned that while they acknowledge The Rock’s presence, WWE doesn’t necessarily rely on him, given the company’s consistent profitability.
Rollins expressed his thoughts on The Rock potentially joining the WrestleMania excitement. Rollins acknowledged WWE’s current success, mentioning sold-out arenas and recent major deals with networks like USA and Netflix. He stated that if The Rock wants to be part of this momentum and join him at WrestleMania, he understands. Rollins emphasized his respect for The Rock’s achievements both in and out of WWE but reminded that The Rock would be riding alongside him in this venture.
“Look at the numbers. Look at who’s been on Monday Night Raw for the last ten years more than anybody. It’s me. I get the credit, not him. So he can come in, he can get what he wants. He can take his little piece, and then he can go back to Hollywood and do this thing because we got this thing. We don’t need you. We love to have you, but we don’t need you, big guy.”
What’s Next For The Rock
Roman Reigns vs The Rock is set, and the only thing that could change it at this point is if Dwayne Johnson decides against the match. He’s been booed before, and he doesn’t mind the reaction as long as fans are engaged.
WWE has a WrestleMania kickoff event slated for Las Vegas on Thursday. SE Scoops will have full coverage of the event, no matter what happens.
The Rock is set to be in Las Vegas on Thursday for the WrestleMania kickoff show, and fans can’t wait to see what goes down. As #WeWantCody intensifies, it is evident that The Rock’s return to WWE wasn’t a last-minute decision.
WWE’s Booking For The Rock Wasn’t Last Minute
Cody Rhodes has not officially lost his WrestleMania slot to The Rock yet, but that is expected. As we previously reported, The Rock is 100% wrestling Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40.
During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer noted that WWE actually booked the T-Mobile Arena far in advance. This event wasn’t a late addition to anyone’s schedule.
“They had booked T-Mobile for Thursday with The Rock long ago, like someone there mentioned it in passing. It was, ‘it’s not like you can get T-Mobile Arena four days in advance for something that we’re changing.’ This thing was booked way in advance. This thing was, you know when I mentioned January 3rd, to make a date and have an agreement on January 3rd, there was pretty much an understanding well before that. They kept that one quiet. However it plays out, whatever it is, it’s working.”
It was also noted that “it’s business,” and that is the idea. The Rock, although he is upsetting some fans by his mere presence on the card, is set to have this match against Roman Reigns, and that has been the plan for a while.
When The Rock Called His WrestleMania 40 Shot
When I asked if any of this fan backlash will change these prospective WrestleMania plans, I was told, “there’s no chance in hell.”
After asking around days later, I received an additional note that said, “No chance this changes unless The Rock backs out. This has been The Rock calling the shot since January 1st.” That is when Rock showed up on the Day 1 episode of RAW and made his first head of the table comment.
PW Insider reported to confirm that The Rock will wrestle at WrestleMania 40. He will take on Roman Reigns as well.
It was reported that, “multiple sources have noted that The Rock is 100% performing in the ring at WrestleMania 40. That is a done deal and, as we noted on Saturday, likely something that was contractually locked in as one of the milestones Rock would be involved in as part of his TKO Board of Directors deal. We were told there is ‘no scenario’ where Rock is not wrestling Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40, unless something unforeseen happens, like an injury.”
We previously reported that The Rock’s WrestleMania match was also a part of him taking a seat on TKO Group Holdings’ Board of Directors.
Previous Report About The Rock and WrestleMania
As I previously reported, I asked around about this situation with The Rock. I was told that this is a complete “power play” on Dwayne Johnson’s behalf. Upon asking if this situation is like when he tried to muscle his way into the DC Cinematic Universe with Black Adam, I was told that is a “great analogy.”
So much has gone down in the last 18 hours.
I was told that Seth vs Cody was booked when Punk was injured. A triple threat match with Roman v Rock vs Cody was “never on the table.”
Regarding The Rock, the word for replacing Cody was “a power play.” I was told “It's so heavy”…
When asking if the fan backlash is noticed within the company, that was also confirmed. It’s impossible to ignore at this point, as USA Today, TMZ and more have already run headlines about how fans are upset about The Rock taking Cody Rhodes’ spot on the show of shows.
I followed up after Johnson broke a report saying that WWE is monitoring the situation and things could change with Rock vs Roman.
Yes. WWE realizes that they are in a hole that they need to dig themselves out of.
After asking if any of this fan backlash will change these prospective WrestleMania plans, I was told, “there’s no chance in hell.”
After asking around days later, I received an additional note that said, “No chance this changes unless The Rock backs out. This has been The Rock calling the shot since January 1st.” That is when Rock showed up on the Day 1 episode of RAW and made his first head of the table comment.
Rock vs Roman is locked in, but I was told over the weekend that creative has been working on the rest of the Mania card.
Just enjoy the show, even if you think it should be Cody instead of The Rock.
Seth Rollins vs Cody Rhodes is the new match, something that was booked after CM Punk was taken out of action with an injury during the Rumble match. Now, fans have a much different WrestleMania 40 ahead, and they have yet to warm up to the idea.
WWE Fans Are Not Happy
Fans voiced their displeasure after The Rock returned on SmackDown. They want to see Cody Rhodes finish his story.
WWE fans are very upset about this booking. They hijacked the opening segment of WWE RAW this week with “Rocky Sucks” chants.
“We Want Cody” signs were also handed out in the crowd to add to the drama. No matter how much WWE tries to turn the American Nightmare into a martyr, he isn’t getting that Mania main event against Roman Reigns from The Rock.
Seth Rollins opened up WWE RAW this week, and he commented on how big his pop was. Then he mentioned SmackDown and said that he smells what’s cooking. This received a lot of boos from the crowd, and then Rollins said, “I think it sounds like you guys want Cody.”
Rollins said that he wants Cody too, and then fans booed the idea of that WrestleMania match instead of Rhodes vs Reigns. When Cody asked, “what do we wanna talk about?” The St. Louis crowd chanted, “Rocky sucks” and “We Want Cody.” This was followed by even more “Rocky sucks” chants.
Rollins admitted he didn’t expect to hear that chant. Michael Cole asked if it’s 1996 on commentary.’ There were also tons of “We Want Cody” signs in the crowd, which were handed out.
Then, Rollins pressed Cody once again to accept the World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania. He wanted to know he’s better than he was when they faced off before.
Seth Rollins asked Cody if he’s going to fight him at WrestleMania, and the fans booed. Suddenly, Drew McIntyre came out to insert himself into the situation. He begged Cody to finish his story, and the fans agreed.
Rollins told McIntyre that he wouldn’t get a match against him for the title, because he’s beat him twice. Then Drew reminded Seth that Cody already beat him three times.
The segment ended with McIntyre nailing a headbutt on Rollins, and then Cody knocked Drew out of the ring. The WrestleMania match with Cody vs Seth was not officially booked, but fans certainly let WWE know how they felt about The Rock.
What Would It Take To Change Roman Reigns vs The Rock at WrestleMania
As previously reported, the match between The Rock and Roman Reigns at WrestleMania is confirmed. Despite any fan opinions, The Rock insisted on this contest, and it’s set to proceed as planned.
Due to CM Punk’s injury, WWE adjusted the lineup, resulting in Seth Rollins facing Cody Rhodes instead. The possibility of a triple threat match involving Cody, Rock, and Roman was never considered.
Additional information confirms that the current arrangement is unlikely to change unless The Rock withdraws. This decision has been under The Rock’s control since January 1st, when he first asserted his authority on the Day 1 episode of RAW.
SE Scoops will have continued coverage of this story as more information breaks. The Rock is one of the biggest names in entertainment, but that doesn’t seem to sway WWE fans who were set on seeing Cody Rhodes finish his story.
WrestleMania. The Showcase of the Immortals. The Superbowl of Wrestling. The Show of Shows. The Grandest Stage of Them All. The Biggest Sports Entertainment Show of The Year.
If there is one thing that WWE has been consistent about the last 4 decades, it’s selling the story of WrestleMania. With the constant hammering of the importance of the show, they have made it a legend in and of itself.
This legend has reached a point where attending the event is a bucket list item for any wrestling fan and competing on the show is a dream that every aspiring wrestler holds in his heart while entering the squared circle for the first time.
It’s hardly a surprise that Main Eventing WrestleMania is the highest honor in all of Sports Entertainment. The fact that names such as Harley Race, Dusty Rhodes, Eddie Guerrero, Goldberg, and CM Punk have never been in one only shows that it takes the combination of all four – skill, popularity, timing, and luck for a superstar to reach this pinnacle.
Considering all these factors, it’s hardly a surprise that The Rock, someone who has experienced the phenomenon 5 times in his career before, can’t resist the urge to do it one last time before he calls it a career. The big question, however, is if it’s the right time for it?
The Rock vs. Roman Reigns – A Match Made In Heaven?
The Rock vs. Roman Reigns is a WrestleMania Main Event. The Rock vs. Roman Reigns is THE WrestleMania Main Event. There is no arguing this point.
With almost 400 million followers on Instagram, The Great One is far ahead in terms of popularity and global recognition than the next 9 WWE superstars combined. As John Cena likes to say, The Rock is in a whole other universe of his own.
This is not to say that Roman Reigns is any less. ‘The Big Dog’ already possessed all the tools that he needed to become one of the greatest performers when WWE strapped the rocket to his back in the aftermath of The Shield’s breakup.
Since the start of The Tribal Chief era, however, Reigns has shown that he is also proficient in using all these tools together. The work that Roman has put into his character is something that aspiring wrestlers will be studying for a long time to come, to learn what it truly means to achieve a larger-than-life status.
With everything these two individuals have achieved in their respective careers, the impact of a collision between them will be impossible to replicate. It’s almost impossible to argue why this match shouldn’t Main Event a WrestleMania, but that’s the keyword -almost.
Cody Rhodes – An X Factor
Cody Rhodes has proven he’s ready to be the face of WWE and take on all the responsibilities that entails
If there is one thing fans have made clear in the aftermath of the events of Friday, it’s that they will not be giving in to this booking decision so easily, if at all.
But why?
There are many who are confused about the reaction of the fans. After all, The Rock vs Roman Reigns IS the bigger match.
It’s the match that will make the most buzz. It’s the match that will make the most headlines. It’s the match that will make the most money.
Cody Rhodes’ story is not about beating Roman Reigns and even then, he can face Roman anytime down the line, but a match like The Rock vs Roman Reigns only happens…. once in a lifetime.
So why fans are insisting that it should happen this year? Well, it’s because WWE told us so.
If you look at the same time last year, people had many different ideas about who should end Roman Reigns’ undefeated streak. From Seth Rollins to Drew McIntyre and from Sami Zayn to Jey Uso, every contender had a group of fans rooting for them and giving good reasons why their chosen name should be the one that gets the glory.
All this changed however on April 3, 2023.
It was the night after Cody Rhodes’ disheartening defeat at the hands of The Head of The Table the day prior. All the scenarios, all the possibilities that fans had envisioned for the end of Roman’s streak had been used up and for the first time in many months, they had no idea what to expect from this unprecedented run next.
This changed when Cody Rhodes showed up on RAW. While he had worked the whole year to get to Mania 39 and then failed, Rhodes proclaimed that he was not giving up the chase. And WWE let him do so.
While the two stars went on a different path from there, the American Nightmare never lost sight of his bigger goal. From that moment on, the stories of these superstars intertwined in a way that finishing the story became the synonym to ending Roman’s streak.
Match after match, promo after promo, and show after show, Cody worked hard to rebuild the momentum he had lost. And every time he poured his heart into this effort, one more fan bought into his story.
From that moment on, to Royal Rumble this past week, there had been nobody else who fans had in sight to end Roman’s undefeated streak and they had been patiently waiting for the time to come, until plans changed.
The Big Mistake
WWE’s big mistake isn’t booking The Rock vs Roman Reigns, it’s shunning Cody Rhodes on the way to it.
For a whole year and even longer than that, people have bought into the story that Cody is the one. That all the complaints about Roman’s reign have been null, that we are being prepared for a story with as epic of an ending as has been its run.
And now they have gone ahead and changed it.
Hello darkness, my old friend…
It’s important to understand here that people are NOT against a match between Roman Reigns and The Rock. If anything, I’d love to see this showdown and all that it will bring, just not at the expense of the only full-time talent in this mix.
This moment, THIS MATCH, is the one that belongs to Cody.
It’s not so much about making the biggest WrestleMania headline. It’s much more about the people who bought tickets to a house show in a lesser-known city 5 months ago. Who went there not expecting Roman Reigns, or The Rock. They were there to see Cody Rhodes. Now once again, they want to see Cody Rhodes.
What’s next?
Will Cody Rhodes regret his decision?
It’s not like WWE doesn’t know what happens when you test people’s patience beyond the limit. From the Yes Moment! to KofiMania, fans have shown that once the line is crossed, they are willing to go to great lengths to make the company realize their mistake.
Yes, The Rock vs Roman Reigns is still the bigger money match, but the new WWE management now has to decide whether they are willing to trade in the trust of their fans for it.
It wasn’t long ago that pictures of half-empty WWE arenas were a common occurrence, and they were willing to try the most ridiculous of ideas to stop the ratings from falling even further next week – all because they had lost the trust of the fans.
Yes, The Rock is the biggest star on the planet, but if the last few years have shown anything it’s that even the Great One is not invisible.
The failure of the relaunched XFL and the debacle that was the attempted takeover of the DC Universe is still fresh in people’s mind, and now the People’s Champion has to decide if he’s willing to trade in his equity with the only fans that will always welcome him back with open arms otherwise.
Conclusion
WWE can still go ahead with their plans, and as fans, we can’t really stop them. But they won’t be able to stop the fans from reacting to it either.
It’s the one situation where they can’t have their cake and eat it too.
If there is one show The Rock should really be thinking about saving, it’s Elimination Chamber and not WrestleMania.
Over 45,000 fans have bought tickets for the event at Optus Stadium and they’re expecting a grand show. With the absence of notable names such as Seth Rollins and CM Punk, WWE desperately needs to come up with a plan to make the event a success and a half-baked conclusion to the Rhodes vs Roman saga ain’t it. An appearance from TKO’s latest board member, however, could be just the thing it needs.
The Rock needs to realize that a WrestleMania Main Event is not just a match, it’s the personification of the passion that fans hold in their heart. It’s not just about winning and losing, it’s about the dedication that people show by tuning in to episodes of Raw and SmackDown week after week.
For everything he has done for the business, The Rock deserves one last adventure, one final send-off and he deserves it without any controversies. It should be an occasion that fans can cherish for a long time, not something that fans remember as an unjust calamity that came at the cost of hard-working talents.
It’s time that talents coming in for a headline realize that they have to respect the people who have held the fort down in their absence. If not they should be ready to face the consequences. I doubt The Rock wants that for his return match after more than a decade. I doubt Ari Emanuel wants that for the first WrestleMania Main Event under his management.
That’s why I say, The Rock can have his WrestleMania main event, justnot this year.
The Rock’s return to WWE brought a big reaction from fans. Interestingly enough, they weren’t leaping with happiness about the Black Adam star’s return to the company, because he was taking away Cody Rhodes’ spot against Roman Reigns on the grandest stage of them all.
John Cena Reacts
John Cena’s Instagram is famous for posting without any captions. The 16x World Champion’s latest post fell into that trend, and the photo he picked spoke 1,000 words for him.
Cena simply dropped a photo of The Rock and Roman Reigns’ stare-down from SmackDown. That one appearance for Dwayne Johnson sparked a huge controversy within the pro wrestling community, and Cena can see that by the comments he received.
Almost immediately, Cena’s post was pounced on by upset Cody Rhodes fans. Tons of fans commented to say that Cena should be posting a photo of the American Nightmare, while others simply replied to say, “We Want Cody.”
The Rock received a very similar reaction with his own WrestleMania hype post last night. Those fans are quite brutal online, and you can check out that story here.
WWE Not Changing Their Plan
WWE fans are expressing their disapproval of The Rock returning to replace Cody Rhodes in a WrestleMania match. While WWE may not have anticipated this reaction, they likely hoped for increased fan support for Cody Rhodes in this situation.
Despite the fan backlash, it appears that the WrestleMania match involving The Rock and Roman Reigns will proceed as planned. Sources indicate to me that unless The Rock withdraws, the match is set in stone, with The Rock having asserted his influence since January 1st, notably during his appearance on the Day 1 episode of RAW, when he called his match with that head of the table reference.
As the story unfolds, SE Scoops will provide ongoing coverage. Despite The Rock’s massive popularity, WWE fans initially anticipated seeing Cody Rhodes face Roman Reigns at this year’s Mania to finish his story.
The Rock returned to WWE so he could take Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania match against Roman Reigns. Fans are not happy about this, and they’re rallying behind Cody. That was apparently WWE’s plan.
WWE’s Plan For Cody Rhodes’ Replacement
During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer stated that WWE expected to make a martyr out of Cody after The Rock took his spot. That intention to turn him into an even bigger babyface was there, but the end result of The Rock getting booed might not have been in the cards.
I don’t know what they were expecting, but they were expecting for Cody Rhodes to turn into Daniel Bryan, yes. That one, they were expecting, to make Cody Rhodes into a martyr and make him a bigger babyface out of that. Were they expecting people to boo Dwayne, I don’t know, because you know, I’ve asked that one, and I haven’t gotten a straight answer.
WWE fans have been quite open about the fact that they do not 100% approve of The Rock coming back to take Cody Rhodes’ match. This might not have been something WWE really planned for, but they certainly expected for fans to love Cody Rhodes even more coming out of this situation.
WWE’s Response To The Backlash
Fans are speaking out in a big way about this WrestleMania match, but that doesn’t mean it will do any good. I was explicitly told that this match is still happening.
After asking around, I received an additional note that said, “No chance this changes unless The Rock backs out. This has been The Rock calling the shot since January 1st.” That is when Rock showed up on the Day 1 episode of RAW and made his first head of the table comment.
SE Scoops will have continued coverage of this story as more information breaks. The Rock is one of the biggest names in entertainment, but WWE fans were already set on seeing Cody Rhodes take on Roman Reigns on the grandest stage of them all again this year.
Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins may be taking shots at each other’s championships on TV, but that isn’t an issue for WWE management.
Following Cody Rhodes’ win in the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match, both Rollins and Reigns would take digs at the other’s championship. On Raw, Rollins stated that Rhodes should face him at WrestleMania 40, instead of the Tribal Chief. Rollins called Reigns’ Undisputed WWE Universal Championship a ‘Hollywood’ title who those who politick their way to the top, while his title is for the workhorses like Cody’s father Dusty.
Not to be outdone, Reigns appeared on SmackDown to dismiss the World Heavyweight Championship held by Rollins since May of last year. Reigns made it clear that the title held by Seth is a runner-up prize for those unable to dethrone him.
WWE’s Response
Two of WWE’s top Superstars have been belittling the company’s top two championships, but that isn’t an issue according to higher-ups who spoke to Fightful Select. One higher-up said “Look who we’re in business with now” when asked about these digs, a nod to WWE being partners in TKO with UFC, where this kind of trash-talk is more commonplace.
The source added that they want to create a discussion among fans and that both champions have a reason to say their championship is more valid than the other. Ultimately, it’s up to fans to decide if they find the title defended more to be the more valid, or if they prefer the title with a richer history that has been held by Reigns for over three years.
Although it hasn’t been 100% confirmed yet, the current WrestleMania match is The Rock vs Roman Reigns. This match was booked for WrestleMania 37, but they couldn’t get things lined up. Now they will finally hold the match at WrestleMania 40, but fans’ aren’t happy.
The Rock posted on Instagram to include a few reactions to his WWE SmackDown return. There were a couple live reaction videos, and it was overall positive. The caption he picked let everyone know that he is playing the long game as the People’s Champion.
This is gonna be so much fun.Long game.~ people’s champ
That post wasn’t up for very long before Cody Rhodes’ fans flooded it. The top reaction was “We Want Cody,” and many others commented to show their disapproval. This is not the kind of response that The Rock is used to getting.
The Rock’s Recent Activity
The Rock had a few big losses in a row. The XFL failed to make money, and Black Adam was panned in the box office. Young Rock was also cancelled by NBC after only three seasons.
Then his WWE return was met with a huge backlash. As of this writing, it appears that Dwayne Johnson is playing the “long game,” but fans don’t seem to be 100% down with how he’s playing.
WWE Sticking To WrestleMania 40 Plan (Exclusive)
As I previously reported, this match is locked in. The Rock wanted the contest against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania, and it is happening, no matter what fans think. CM Punk’s injury caused WWE to pivot and put Seth Rollins vs Cody Rhodes instead. A triple threat match with Cody vs Rock vs Roman was never on the table, either.
After asking around, I received an additional note that said, “No chance this changes unless The Rock backs out. This has been The Rock calling the shot since January 1st.” That is when Rock showed up on the Day 1 episode of RAW and made his first head of the table comment.
I followed up after Johnson broke a report saying that WWE is monitoring the situation and things could change with Rock vs Roman.
Yes. WWE realizes that they are in a hole that they need to dig themselves out of.
SE Scoops will have continued coverage of this story as more information breaks. The Rock is one of the biggest names in entertainment, but that doesn’t seem to sway WWE fans who were set on seeing Cody Rhodes finish his story.
Cody Rhodes not facing Roman Reigns at WrestleMania is at bare-minimum, bittersweet, but to a great deal of the WWE fanbase, it’s much more than that.
The Rock stepping the line to face his nephew had to feel like an “American Nightmare” scenario for Cody Rhodes fans on Friday. The full video clip of the segment on SmackDown has already become WWE’s most disliked YouTube clip of all time and so from a creative standpoint, that should give WWE a cause for pause if it hasn’t already. WWE clearly has a “Yes Movement Pt. Deux” on its hands. But as Cody mentor DDP once quipped, “that’s not a bad thing, but a good thing.”
Bryan Danielson was the fan-appointed favorite and for good reason. Just like Cody, the 2014 Daniel Bryan had synergy with wrestling fans and there was no denying riding with him was the move that should have been done. Poor Batista found himself in The Rock spot and he, along with Orton, became the unfortunate conduits for fan ire. Could that segment on SmackDown do the same for The People’s Champion?
The moment has gotten a lot of heat from fans, but how it was executed from all parties involved was beautifully done. Reigns immediately re-established the ability to hang with anyone behind the stick, but Cody became the main man to lay the groundwork for everyone involved. Sure, Roman went scorched earth on Rollins and his ‘Big Gold,’ but that can simply be chalked up to his manipulative ways. Plus, Seth did the same to Roman’s hardware on Monday, calling it a “Hollywood” championship.
It was Cody who helped bring Roman’s Title back to relevance, conjuring up the lineage from the Bruno Sammartino days. If WWE wants to make both titles feel equally desirable, a confrontation between Roman and Seth would do wonders.
Fans are hung up on Rhodes willingly calling an audible with The Rock usurping him in Philly, but Cody’s story ties perfectly into that match up that fans feel scornful of: the aspect of family.
Why does The Rock want Roman? His nephew has corrupted the Maivia and A’noai legacy and turned it into something self-serving. Cody knows all about legacy. The loving ties he has to his late father have been something fans have cherished throughout Cody’s story, so Cody would be the perfect man to understand The Rock’s intentions of wanting to end Roman’s reign. This is all the reason you need to have those respective matches at WrestleMania 40. Which leads me back to “Yes Movement Part Deux”
Can The Rock really be the recipient of boos in Philadelphia? The City of Brotherly Love have shown they aren’t above throwing batteries at Santa Claus, so yes, absolutely. However, it’s a match that has to happen and no matter what, despite what’s being said, it is the proper stage for it to go down on. The fans are who can ultimately change the course of what truly transpires at WrestleMania. Perhaps this feedback will force WWE’s hand in Cody really finishing his story, not just against Seth, but Roman too or maybe even The Rock.
At the very least, it will continue to add an unexpected chapter to Cody’s story: “‘The Thrill Of The Chase’ Continues” – a chapter Dusty originally penned. These hard times will pay off for The American Nightmare, because he has the fans on his side.
The Rock’s return to WWE caused some fans to unleash fury online. They are not happy at all about how Cody Rhodes lost his spot to Dwayne Johnson, and, while he is a constant Cody Rhodes supporter, Ricochet is speaking out about this.
Ricochet Speaks Out
Initially expected to be in the main event of WrestleMania 40 against Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal championship, Cody Rhodes shifted gears on a recent episode of SmackDown, opting to bring out The Rock instead, passing the torch for that WrestleMania main event match. Now Roman Reigns is in for a showdown with The Rock instead.
This decision sparked a strong reaction from the Internet Wrestling community, with overwhelming support for Rhodes and negative comments directed at The Rock and WWE. This was noticed by everyone, and WWE even realizes that fans aren’t happy. The match with Rock is on now, and that’s not changing. Ricochet had to speak out after seeing his timeline full of disgruntled fans.
Taking note of the situation, Ricochet shared his perspective on social media. While acknowledging himself as Cody Rhodes’ supporter, he labeled the Internet Wrestling Community as a toxic space. This is something he said he saw amplified in recent memory.
First, let me say there is no bigger Cody supporter than me, ask @SamanthaTheBomb
2nd, you guys have shown me how truly toxic the IWC is haha
First, let me say there is no bigger Cody supporter than me, ask @SamanthaTheBomb
2nd, you guys have shown me how truly toxic the IWC is haha
Ricochet then sent out a second tweet a short time later, one where he made things very clear about how he feels about The Rock taking Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania spot.
To clear the record… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …#WeWantCody
Although fans may want to cry out for a change, that is not happening. Now, it is The Rock vs Roman Reigns. As I previously noted, I was told that there is “no chance in hell” that they’ll give that match back to Cody Rhodes. That exact wording was used, but unlike Vince McMahon’s regime, who was known to make calls along this line, the fact is that The Rock is behind this as a massive power play.
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.
“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.
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.
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.”
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.”
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 Rock shocked the pro wrestling world once again when he showed up during the February 2nd episode of SmackDown. He confronted Roman Reigns, and although the Great One didn’t say anything, he didn’t need to. Now, fans are set to see what is next.
The Rock & Roman Reigns Face-Off
WrestleMania 40 seems to be the place for Rock vs Roman. Fans will see more from them soon enough, because the two will be in Las Vegas on the 8th.
WWE has announced The Rock and Roman Reigns will engage in a face-off during an open-to-the-public fan and media event for the WrestleMania XL Kickoff. The event will take place live from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Thursday, February 8th, at 4 PM PT.
In the announcement that WWE sent out about the event, it was also revealed that the whole thing will stream on Peacock and other platforms.
@WWERomanReigns and @TheRock will face-off at The #WrestleMania XL Kickoff, streaming live from @TMobileArena on Feb. 8 at 4pm PT across WWE social platforms and @peacock !
Fans don’t seem to be incredibly happy about this booking decision. Cody Rhodes losing his WrestleMania spot to The Rock was not taken well by some, and they spoke out. They blew up WWE’s YouTube video with dislikes, and posted all night about the big segment.
Adding to the situation, fans started posting ‘Justice for Cody’ to strengthen the movement. During a recent WWE live stream video titled “Best of Cody Rhodes full matches marathon,” they also inundated it with comments to back up the American Nightmare.
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.
