Cody Rhodes stepping aside and allowing The Rock to wrestle Roman Reigns in the main event of WrestleMania 40 is the hottest topic in wrestling. Trends were jump started, and many fans are a bit upset about the direction that they are going with things.

Fans Upset By WrestleMania 40 Direction

Some people are urging fans to ‘let it play out,’ but the vocal majority of fans on social media are outraged that the American Nightmare will not ‘Finish The Story’ at WWE’s grandest stage for the second consecutive year.

Everybody has an opinion about the matter, including Pat McAfee, who is now back doing commentary on WWE RAW each and every week alongside Michael Cole. This pairing was made once again due to Wade Barrett getting moved to SmackDown after Kevin Patrick was removed from the blue brand and fired. 

Pat McAfee’s Take on The Rock vs. Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40

The #WeWantCody debacle went down in the final segment of Friday’s SmackDown. On Monday’s Pat McAfee Show on ESPN, McAfee acknowledged that WWE fans are incredibly pissed that Cody surrendered his ‘WrestleMania moment’ to The Rock the way he did.

The Rock made his return to WWE #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/Lfgz7yblHH

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 5, 2024

Pat McAfee went on to note that he was bummed out, and he does know what’s going to happen moving forward. He loves everyone involved in this booking fiasco, but the overall feeling is that they feel bad for the American Nightmare.

“Now, I love Cody Rhodes. I love The Rock and just love Roman Reigns. So, I’m very torn on this entire thing, but the Internet was not happy. I’m bummed out…. we’re all pretty bummed out for Cody, but also very pumped if this is a Rock-Roman situation. I don’t know what’s going to happen”

What’s Next For The Rock and Roman Reigns

This Thursday, WWE will host a special ‘WrestleMania 40 kickoff’ at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV at the T-Mobile arena. Several top Superstars will be on hand, including The Rock Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, Bianca Belair, Rhea Ripley and more.

WWE has yet to confirm The Rock vs. Roman Reigns as the main event of WrestleMania 40, but they’re advertising that Rock and Reigns will have an “iconic face-off” at this free fan and media event.

Fans are not happy about The Rock taking Cody Rhodes’ spot at WrestleMania. Due to this, they are taking to social media and his daughter, Ava, is taking fire.

The Rock’s Daughter Ava Taking Fire From Angry Fans

Ava used to be a member of the Schism faction with Joe Gacy. The faction is now over, and she is onto her next assignment. Even though she is far away from her father’s match with Roman Reigns at WrestleMania, fans are still giving her a hard time.

The fan reaction over The Rock taking Cody’s spot at Mania has been immense. The company took fire from all over the place, mainstream outlets picked up the scent of a controversial story. Naturally, everyone is talking about The Rock, and it’s not in a great way.

Ava does not want anything to do with the controversy that her father is in. She logged onto Twitter/X to make it very clear that she just wants to be the General Manager of NXT, and do her job. 

can ya’ll just leave me out of this ffs i’m busy running a SHOW

can ya’ll just leave me out of this ffs i’m busy running a SHOW

— A V A (@avawwe_) February 5, 2024

The Rock’s daughter also replied to let fans know that some are taking this way too far. She said, “death threats over a situation i have nothing to do with … bffr.”

death threats over a situation i have nothing to do with … bffr

— A V A (@avawwe_) February 5, 2024

Backlash Over The Rock’s WWE Return

It’s hard to believe that fans are reacting this negatively toward The Rock’s WWE return, but this is where we find ourselves today. The circumstances for this match were not there, as many wanted to see Cody Rhodes finish his story.

A lot of pro Cody comments on social media are quite aggressive right now. The Rock can’t post on Instagram without seeing his notifications flooded in the comments section with cries for him to give Cody his match back.

After asking around, I was told by a source in WWE that there is, “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.

The agreement for The Rock to battle Roman Reigns at WrestleMania was finalized weeks prior to Cody Rhodes winning the Royal Rumble. This was not a deal they made public, but it was part of his appointment to TKO’s Board of Directors.

The Rock’s Big WrestleMania 40 Deal

Last month, The Rock was appointed to the TKO Board of Directors. As a component of the arrangement, he acquired complete ownership of the “The Rock” name and received $30 million in company stock.

Dave Meltzer noted on Wrestling Observer Radio, that The Rock wrestling Reigns at WrestleMania was also part of the agreement. This deal was made on January 3rd, and that begs the question as to why WWE still booked Cody Rhodes to win the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble match.

When (Rock) made the deal on January 3 to come in (facing Roman at WrestleMania) was part of the deal. Why Cody Rhodes won the Royal Rumble is a question that I cannot answer because nobody will answer it for me.

Apart from Nick Khan and Ari Emanuel, very few individuals, if any, were informed about the arrangement for Rock to challenge Reigns at WrestleMania. The prevailing sentiment backstage during the Royal Rumble was that it would be Rhodes vs. Reigns.

I reported on January 28th that, “The only people who really know what is happening with Rock are the people at the very top of the company, and they are all playing it very close to the vest.” This was after Cody Rhodes won his second consecutive Royal Rumble match and punched his ticket to WrestleMania 40.

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

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) January 28, 2024

WWE Will Use The Rock Controversy

WWE now intends to incorporate the negative response to Rhodes being excluded from the WrestleMania main event into the storyline. Dave Meltzer continued to explain that everything played out in this way, but there is no way to tell how the storyline will advance from this point on.

(It) played out the way they wanted it to play out. The plan as of Friday night was Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes and we’ll see how it plays out because now they’re trying to turn it into a story and we’ll see how the story goes.

The Only Way WWE Would Change WrestleMania Main Event Plan

I previously reported that The Rock taking Cody Rhodes’ spot at WrestleMania was seen as a “power play.” When inquiring if this situation resembles his attempt to enter the DC Cinematic Universe with Black Adam, where he wanted to take control of the operation, I was informed that it’s a “great analogy.”

WWE is also well aware about fan backlash. It has become impossible to overlook at this point, with USA Today, TMZ, and other outlets running stories about fans being upset over The Rock taking Cody Rhodes’ spot against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40.

When inquiring whether the fan backlash could alter the prospective WrestleMania plans, the response was, “there’s no chance in hell.” The only thing that could change the direction for WrestleMania’s main event at this point is Dwayne Johnson changing his mind. 

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.

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

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

DIJAK Comments

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

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

I’m not talking about my stuff because honestly I couldn’t care less, but if you’re going to hijack a comments section in support of Cody maybe stick to the relevant ones because flooding the posts about young excited NXT talents just sends the wrong message.

— DONOVAN DIJAK (@DijakFYE) February 4, 2024

What’s Next? 

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

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

The Rock’s Latest WrestleMania Post

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

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

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

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

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

The Rock’s Recent Activity

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

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

WWE Sticking To WrestleMania 40 Plan (Exclusive)

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

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

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.

No. The plan is not changing.

I was told straight up: "No…

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) February 4, 2024

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 (@KingRicochet) February 4, 2024

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

— Ricochet (@KingRicochet) February 4, 2024

WWE Won’t Be Changing Their Plans

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

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

Backlash After The Rock’s Return

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

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

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

Cody Rhodes Gets Backup From Gabriel Iglesias

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

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

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

RT #WeWantCody ?????? pic.twitter.com/VQoXq4ZKww

— G a b r i e l – I g l e s i a s (@fluffyguy) February 4, 2024

WrestleMania 40 and The Rock (Exclusive)

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

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

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”…

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) February 3, 2024

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

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

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

Update: WrestleMania Continues To Evolve

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

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…

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) February 7, 2024

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

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

Matt Cardona won’t sit idly by while he watches some popular wrestler with a movie to his name take a spot from deserving talent, in Game Changer Wrestling. 

At GCW’s Coldest Winter event, Cardona shared the ring with his former WWE nemesis Nic Nemeth. Cardona was feeling nostalgic for their 2011 program, as he was wearing Zack Ryder-themed attire for the face-to-face. Before their match, Cardona 

“I am the face of GCW! I can’t just let some part-timer come in here and steal my spot! You think you’re The Rock or something, bro? So why don’t you do yourself a favor and just lay down, let me get the 1-2-3, so I can finish my story?”

After this pre-match promo, Cardona and Nemeth would have an excellent match. During the bout, the former NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion hammered his point home by hitting Nemeth with a Rock Bottom. 

Followed by The People’s Elbow from @TheMattCardona ? https://t.co/Y0QM5183Zl pic.twitter.com/PFo5h7VLle

— Ryan Satin (@ryansatin) February 4, 2024

The Rock’s Controversial Return

Cardona’s comments are of course about The Rock’s return to WWE this week. Fans have taken issue with the Brahma Bull’s comeback, given that it has cost Cody Rhodes a rematch with Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. WWE’s YouTube video of The Rock’s return has scored a record number of dislikes. Despite this, The Rock has said that his connection with the People can’t be broken. 

What’s Next? 

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

The Rock’s connection with the ‘People’ can’t be broken, according to the man himself, despite his recent controversial return to WWE. 

On SmackDown, The Rock confronted Roman Reigns, teasing a match at WrestleMania 40. Many feel that this match comes at the expense of Cody Rhodes, who’s been essentially cast aside to give The Rock the match with Reigns. The consensus is that after last year’s loss to Reigns and all the work he does year-round, Cody deserves to finish the story by beating Reigns at WrestleMania. 

The Rock Comments

Taking to Twitter, The Rock didn’t refer to the negative response he’s received from the WWE Universe. Instead, he thanked the fans for the “explosive, insane reaction” and said the connection with the fans can never be broken. Rock also thanked Cody for the love, before ending with a warning to his cousin. 

There’s a word for this explosive, insane reaction – undeniable.
No matter the era, the decade, or the city, the energy and connection between the People’s Champ and the People can never be broken and is truly an electrifying experience that creates chills every single time.… pic.twitter.com/LQI6gMdpIs

— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) February 4, 2024

The Fans React

In the comments of the tweet, the ‘People’ were hardly thrilled with the People’s Champion. Many fans expressed their support for Cody Rhodes, while some suggested that The Rock should retire. One fan suggested that this could be the start of a heel turn for the Brahma Bull, while a more sympathetic fan simply said “Pretend that these replies don’t exist Dwayne.”

What’s Next?

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

So Cody is out and The Rock is in. But how did we get here…

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

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

Logan Paul Weighs In

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

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

We want Cody.

— Logan Paul (@LoganPaul) February 4, 2024

The Rock & Logan Paul 

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

What’s Next? 

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

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

The Rock may be known as ‘The People’s Champion,’ but the people weren’t happy to see the Brahma Bull at a recent WWE event. 

On this week’s SmackDown, Cody Rhodes, the winner of the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble, said that he wouldn’t be facing Reigns at WrestleMania. Reigns was immediately confronted by The Rock, teasing a showdown between the two at the April supershow. After the show, the two continued to face off before Reigns headed to the back with Paul Heyman. 

The Rock Booed at WWE Live Event 

This booking decision has been reviled by fans, who believe Cody’s story should finish by standing tall over Reigns at WrestleMania. Many feel that The Rock’s role as a TKO Board member helped influence this change of plans, costing the much more deserving Rhodes the right ending to his story. 

The fans’ distaste for the ‘People’s Champion’ hasn’t just been playing out on social media. At a WWE live event in Knoxville, Tennessee, WWE aired a video of The Rock’s return to SmackDown. Contrary to the usual, this appearance by The Rock was met with a chorus of boos from the crowd. 

WWE fans booing @TheRock at #WWEKnoxville #SmackDown #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/mtjq64fwey

— ????????????? ?? (Double R) (@ProXFirefly6) February 4, 2024

The Rock did not appear in person at the WWE live event in Knoxville. Cody Rhodes did, however, and defeated Shinsuke Nakamura in the show’s Street Fight main event. The Rock and Roman Reigns will be at a WrestleMania 40 press event this coming week. There’s no word on whether the American Nightmare will be a part of the Thursday event. 

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

Internal Reaction To The Rock’s Return

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

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

WWE Roster Is Seemingly Against This Booking

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

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

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

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

Fans Do Not Approve

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

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

WrestleMania 40 Plans Could Change Again

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

When Cody Rhodes Found Out

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

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

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

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

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

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

Backstage Reaction to The Rock’s Return

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

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

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

WWE Bringing in Former Writer for The Rock

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

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

How This Match Came About

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

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

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

This Was Not A Burial Of Cody

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

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

Public Backlash Over WrestleMania Card

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

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

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

WWE’s Plan for Cody Rhodes

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

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

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

Public Response To Cody Losing Mania Spot To The Rock

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

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

WrestleMania Shake-Up

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

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

The 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 !

.@TheRock and @WWERomanReigns are set for an iconic face-off at The #WrestleMania XL Kickoff, streaming live from @TMobileArena on Feb. 8 at 4pm PT across WWE social platforms and @peacock!https://t.co/GFRRsiFNWC pic.twitter.com/hJoODwONdv

— WWE (@WWE) February 3, 2024

Public Response So Far

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.

Finally, The Rock has come back to Stamford. 

The People’s Champ is taking his new TKO Board Of Directors role quite seriously as he took to social media to share some photos of himself visiting the new WWE headquarters. The Rock then reflected on making the stop and had a lot to say about the ‘mana’ that the new building carries.

“I needed to make one more final and most important visit – I wanted to come to Stamford, Connecticut to see our INCREDIBLE WWE HQ TEAM in person.

“To express to everyone my deepest gratitude for their commitment and talents, as well as my boundless excitement to go shoulder to shoulder with everyone to continue to build our company. Face to face. Eyes to eyes. Handshakes and hugs. I was completely blown away. You can FEEL the mana, energy, love and momentum!

“It’s a very exciting time for our companies and I’m forever proud to have played and continue to play a very small role in the growth of WWE. I’m honored to now sit at the table that my grandfather and my father helped to build. On the shoulders of giants, we stand. In the spirit of unity we grow. ~ Rock.”

The Rock has been plenty active on social media since becoming part of the board and has been putting TKO over big time since the news broke last week. 

Not only does he have the new job title to be happy about, but Dwayne Johnson also has got to be electrified by finally owning “The Rock” trademark, something he also posted about on Instagram.

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

The Rock’s Big SmackDown Return

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

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

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

Some Fans Are Not Happy

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

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

How This Match Came About

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

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

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

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

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

How Cody Rhodes Lost His Spot

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Wrestling World Reacts

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

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

Quarterback

— Brandi Rhodes (@TheBrandiRhodes) February 3, 2024

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

Interesting… #WrestleMania gonna be good! #Señor

— Damian Priest (@ArcherOfInfamy) February 3, 2024

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

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

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

— Summer Rae (@DanielleMoinet) February 3, 2024

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

Mood.

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

— Amanda (@MandaLHuber) February 3, 2024

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

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

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

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

pic.twitter.com/ymFCuPgsPY

— Drew (@DMcIntyreWWE) February 3, 2024

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

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

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

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

The Rock made his presence felt in a big way during his appearance at tonight’s SmackDown from the Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama.

The Great One had teased a potential match with Roman Reigns during the Day 1 special of Raw. He all but confirmed this showdown for WrestleMania 40 tonight when he showed up to confront the Tribal Chief at the end of the Blue Branded show.

Though while the broadcast ended only minutes after The Great One showed up to the arena, he stayed in the ring far longer. WWE posted an extended clip of The Rock’s confrontation with Roman Reigns as well as his promo after SmackDown went off air as seen below:

What The Rock’s Decision Means For Cody Rhodes

The ripples from this appearance of the Hollywood star are being felt around not only the main event but the whole card for WrestleMania 40 event from the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

It was indicated during the show itself that Cody Rhodes will not be challenging Roman Reigns at Mania despite winning the Royal Rumble. Instead, we will see this match much sooner, potentially at the Elimination Chamber from Perth later this month.

If The American Nightmare ends up winning the Undisputed Championship at the International PLE then we may see a separate match for the title at the Show of Shows. If the former AEW star doesn’t win the title, however, things could also pivot in the direction of a potential Seth Rollins vs Cody Rhodes match.

Seeing the reaction of fans and numerous wrestling personalities over the decision, it’s also possible that the officials may be forced to reconsider their choice and a different card may emerge altogether. Whatever the case maybe, tonight’s events only make things more interesting and we’ll have to wait and see how things unfold from here.

• Related: Bayley Makes Decision About Her WrestleMania 40 Opponent

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

SmackDown’s Final Segment 

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

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

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

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

— WWE (@WWE) February 3, 2024

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

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

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

— WWE (@WWE) February 3, 2024

The Rock Returns

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

Goosebumps.#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/FoXPnDoyAx

— WWE (@WWE) February 3, 2024

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

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

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

— WWE (@WWE) February 3, 2024

WWE’s Previous Creative Plan For The Rock at WrestleMania

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

Speechless. #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/CaPqFszmvV

— WWE (@WWE) February 3, 2024

Another WrestleMania 40 Match Confirmed

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

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