WrestleMania history is dotted with incredible appearances and celebrity guests. This years’ grandest stage of them all will be no exception, as the company is looking to bring Sylvester Stallone in for something.

WWE Targeting Sylvester Stallone

WWE has a lot of plans for WrestleMania, and they like to do things special to the location every year. Since they are going to be in the City of Brotherly Love, they are aiming for a massive name to come in.

According to WrestleVotes, WWE is very interested in having Sylvester Stallone in for WrestelMania in Philadelphia. It’s not clear how far along those discussions are at this time, or what kind of role the Rocky actor may have. 

Sources within WWE indicate there is interest in collaborating with Sylvester Stallone for WrestleMania in some form. While any communication status is unclear, I’m told there’s hope for it. Whether it ultimately ends up happening or not is to be determined.Stallone, born in NYC, gained fame through the iconic Rocky films, deeply associated with Philadelphia.

Additionally, Stallone is no stranger to the WWE world, having inducted Hulk Hogan into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.

Sources within WWE indicate there is interest in collaborating with Sylvester Stallone for WrestleMania in some form. While any communication status is unclear, I’m told there's hope for it. Whether it ultimately ends up happening or not is to be determined. Stallone, born in…

— WrestleVotes (@WrestleVotes) February 22, 2024

WrestleMania 40 Date, Location, & Card

WrestleMania 40 is set to unfold at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on April 6 and 7. Following the declarations from Royal Rumble victors Cody Rhodes and Bayley regarding their WrestleMania aspirations, the event’s lineup is beginning to take shape.

More matches, such as Jimmy Uso vs Jey Uso, and many more, are expected for the show. So far, Roman Reigns vs Cody Rhodes and Bayley vs IYO Sky are the only matches confirmed for the show of shows.

UFC fighter Michael Chandler recently made a bold prediction about The Rock’s involvement at WrestleMania 40.

Cody Rhodes recently won the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble for the second time and he’s determined to ‘finish his story’ this time around. ‘The American Nightmare’ Cody Rhodes had made the way for The Rock to challenge Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 but that saw a massive twist. 

The main event was changed back to the original plan of Roman Reigns vs Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Universal title match at ‘The Show of Shows.’ However, The Rock is still involved in the storyline as he has now joined forces with Roman Reigns and become a part of The Bloodline.

A decades-long pro wrestling fan, Chandler recently showed up on this week’s edition of Monday Night Raw in a move that nobody saw it coming. He grabbed a mic and went on to call out former UFC Double Champion Conor McGregor as the Anaheim crowd cheered. 

Michael Chandler feels The Rock will claim the World title

Now, while speaking with Sports Illustrated, he shared his prediction for WrestleMania 40 which is unique. Many fans believe that Cody Rhodes will finally finish his story at ‘The Show of Shows’ while another set of fans feel Roman Reigns will continue his dominance as the champ. 

But Chandler offered an out-of-the-box prediction. Chandler believes that ‘The Great One’ will work his way into the world title match and take the title. 

“I got The Rock taking the title. He’s coming back to shock everybody. All the doubters, all the naysayers, all the crybabies, The Rock is about to put an ass-whooping on all of them.”

WrestleMania 40 is still more than a month away. But WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth, the final stop before ‘The Show of Shows’ is taking place this weekend. 

Fans can catch the Elimination Chamber event on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Optus Stadium in Perth, Australia. The show will start at 5:00 AM EST. Keep checking SEScoops for the coverage of the show.

WWE is on the road to WrestleMania, and they are setting up the matches for the big show as we speak. This week’s episode of RAW saw a lot of momentum toward the grandest stage of them all, and a big match is already coming together. This match is also one that some fans have dreamed about witnessing for years. 

WWE’s WrestleMania Plan

During WWE RAW this week, Jey Uso battled GUNTHER for the IC Title. Uce didn’t win that match, but he was really close at one point.

Jimmy Uso interrupted that match by ringing the bell to stop a count when Jey was pinning GUNTHER. That distraction caused GUNTHER to get another shot in the match, and he ended up pulling off the win.

“No matter how big you get, I’m always the big brother.”

Here.
We.
Go.#WWERAW #WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/eJ9tnbaS3Y

— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) February 20, 2024

During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer made it clear that Jimmy vs Jey Uso is the match at WrestleMania. This has been the plan for months, so they are going that way with them.

“Obviously, they’re setting up Jimmy vs Jey at WrestleMania, which has been the plan for like, six months.”

What’s Next on the Road to WrestleMania 40

Jimmy and Jey Uso have won a ton of titles together, and they are one of the best tag teams of all time. They have yet to really battle it out in the ring, and this year’s showcase of the immortals will certainly give them that opportunity.

The card is always subject to change, and you never know what obstacles may arise in the next month and a half, but it looks like fans will finally see The Usos get their WrestleMania moment in a singles match this year.

SEScoops will have continued coverage of the road to WrestleMania. Please keep checking back for more updates.

Fans attending WrestleMania 40 will be able to enjoy a time like no other as part of the ‘WWE World’ experience.

In a statement, WWE announced their partnership with Fanatics to produce WWE World, which will serve as a successor to the popular WrestleMania Axxess. 

Scott Zanghellini, WWE’s Co-Head of Revenue Strategy & Development, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership with Fanatics:

“Fanatics has a phenomenal ability to customize offerings for fans and we’re excited to partner with them on this first-of-its-kind experience for the WWE Universe at WrestleMania XL.”

Lance Fensterman, CEO of Fanatics Events, shared Zanghellini’s enthusiasm about the collaboration. 

 “Through unique content, Superstar access and immersive experiences, we look forward to curating a captivating event for all fans who are in Philadelphia for WWE’s marquee event.”

WWE World: What to Expect

Tickets for WWE World will go on sale this Thursday at 10 AM Eastern, with prices ranging from $30 to $300. Attendees can look forward to a diverse array of attractions, including roundtable discussions with top WWE Superstars, a WWE 2K24 gaming tournament, live podcast recordings, and direct memorabilia and autograph sales facilitated by Fanatics Live.

WWE World will be a five-day event, scheduled for April 4 to April 8 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The event will also feature a WWE Superstore filled with merchandise. 

WWE WrestleMania 40

WrestleMania 40 will take place on April 6, and April 7, and mark the promotion’s fifth two-night event. The card for the show so far is as follows: 

• Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns (c) Vs. Cody Rhodes

• WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY (c) Vs. Bayley

CM Punk was on the road to WrestleMania 40, where he was going to have a match against Seth Rollins. His Elimination Chamber win won’t happen this year, leaving fans to wait for his return from a triceps injury instead. Even though he’s out of action, Punk wants to remain in the mix.

CM Punk Speaks on Return

CM Punk participated in an interview with TNT Sport during his attendance at UFC 298 on Saturday night. In the discussion, he covered topics such as his recovery from torn triceps, The Rock’s return for the WWE WrestleMania 40 buildup, and the potential for his own return to WWE.

“Yeah, well, I’m a clumsy idiot. I tore my left tricep about two years ago. So, the right one was jealous. I’m like, I’m like an old car. I’m like a 72 Nova, you know what I mean? We have to, we have to change some parts every now and again. So once we fix up all the parts, the engine is still strong. We’ll still be good to go. We’re thinking maybe six to eight months, but I’m not really in a rush to get back to compete. I’m in a rush to get healthy. I’m in a rush to get better. And the sooner I do that, the better. I’ll be when I come back. “

CM Punk stated that he believes that timing is crucial, emphasizing that he wrestled for a significant period before signing with WWE. Having spent ten years on the road without a break, he acknowledges the toll it took on him. He admits that in his youth, he pursued every opportunity without considering balance, leading to burnout. Ten years ago, he reached a point of burnout and decided to explore other ventures, which allowed him to engage in various fulfilling activities. 

With time, he has realized that past grievances become less significant, as people come and go, and leadership changes. Returning now feels comfortable, akin to an old slipper, and he’s grateful for the experience, acknowledging that the journey wouldn’t have been the same without its challenges. He concludes by expressing gratitude for the present moment, emphasizing that it’s a good day.

CM Punk Speaks On The Rock’s Return

Punk also spoke on The Rock’s return. He is glad to be in the mix, even though he’s injured. That will provide him with an opportunity to talk a little bit of trash.

“I think it’s fantastic. Ten years ago, I was the guy that was wrestling The Rock when he came back, and now ten years later, he’s coming back, and I think the landscape has completely changed, right? WrestleMania is two nights now. It’s even bigger. Him coming back only helps. I always say high tide raises all ships. So I’m just happy that even though I’m hurt, I’m still gonna kinda be in the mix. My mouth still works, so I’m gonna still be able to talk some trash. I don’t know if you saw the kickoff we did in Vegas with Rock and Roman and Seth and Cody. It was a lot of fun and I hope to just continue to do that while I’m recuperating because I can always just talk trash with the best of them. It’s the best part. It’s what I do.”

CM Punk was on the panel during WWE’s WrestleMania kickoff event in Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. He had a lot of fun, even though Big E jokingly admitted that he was only there, so Punk didn’t get fired. Only time will tell how much he shows up on the road to WrestleMania, but he seems game to do as much as he can.

SEScoops will have continued coverage of CM Punk’s recovery, hopefully he is able to make a return soon.

WWE fans saw The Rock make his big return to the company on the road to WrestleMania 40. His match already saw a change, one that he conceded to, and this week’s SmackDown opened up Pandora’s Box for The People’s Champ when it came to heel promos. Although The Rock had a lot to do with what went down, he didn’t accomplish it all by himself.

The Rock & Roman Reigns’ Creative Input (Exclusive)

A report got out before SmackDown this week that The Rock and Roman Reigns did not have a script for their promo this week. That time on the microphone saw The Great One unleash on fans in epic fashion, drawing from his heel roots with brutal insults and one-liners. 

I asked around about this situation after The Bloodline closed out SmackDown this week. It was confirmed to me that the Bloodline’s promo was scripted. They did not go out there without a net or anything figured out beforehand.

Roman Reigns and The Rock had major influence on the script. In the end, it was a discussion between Triple H, Roman, Heyman, Rock and Brian Gewirtz. Michael Hayes produced the segment, as he produces practically all of Roman Reigns’ segments and matches.

Okay, so it was reported last night before SmackDown that The Rock and Roman Reigns had no script for their big Bloodline segment.

I am told that is not true.

They had major influence on the script. It was a discussion between Triple H, Roman, Heyman, Rock and Brian Gewirtz.

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) February 17, 2024

What’s Next For The Rock

The Rock channeled his 1998 heel character on SmackDown this week. This is far from the end, as Dwayne Johnson commanded the WWE Universe to shut their mouths and enjoy the ride.

WrestleMania 40 will be a huge show, and The Rock will compete. He may not get the singles match against Roman Reigns that he initially wanted, but they will undoubtably stir up a lot of headlines along the way. 

Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania will host WrestleMania 40 on April 6 and 7, 2024. LA Knight doesn’t want to miss the showcase of the immortals this year, and odds are he will find himself in a rather important match.

WWE’s WrestleMania Plan For LA Knight

WWE has a lot of options for WrestleMania, and they want to make sure their biggest stars are represented. LA Knight has a massive fan base at this point, and this latest update could get them very excited about the show of shows.

I reported on February 8th that WWE had an idea for LA Knight that would see him battle Logan Paul for the United States Title. It appears that they have narrowed down their options and are very possibly going with that idea.

LA Knight will get a #WrestleMania match. There are still options, and discussions were still going for the rest of the card as of yesterday.

I’ve been told one idea would see him get a title shot. ?Keep in mind … There are a lot of matches being discussed for Mania, that's…

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) February 8, 2024

During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer confirmed that WWE had those plans for LA Knight at WrestleMania. This could see him walk out of the showcase of the immortals as US Champion, because that match was the plan.  

“That was the plan I don’t still know if it is the plan but that was discussed at one point.”

What’s Next

Only time will tell if LA Knight is able to beat Logan Paul for the WWE United States Title at WrestleMania 40. He has certainly worked hard over the past year and seen a huge rise in popularity. 

The Elimination Chamber could also see LP and LA have a chance to jumpstart their feud, because they are both in the unforgiving structure for that big match in Perth.

SEScoops will have more on this story as additional information is made available. 

The Rock is back for another road to WrestleMania, but the match he’s getting isn’t the one he originally wanted. It was his call the whole time to make that change, as I reported several times before. It turns out that Dwayne Johnson was convinced to let Cody Rhodes have the main event match, but it took a lot of backlash.  

WrestleMania 40 Plans Changed

I exclusively reported on SEScoops that a source within WWE confirmed that The Rock initially intended to have a match with Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. The current scenario regarding the show was not The Rock’s original preference, indicating that it was not part of a preconceived plan from the outset. He then conceded that Cody Rhodes vs Roman Reigns should be the main event match.

I was told that “The Rock conceded it should be Roman vs Cody.”

Follow Up: I was able to confirm that Rock's original plan was to have a match with Roman. It wasn't the situation we have now. After all the negative reaction, Rock conceded it should be Roman vs Cody.

A tag team match at WrestleMania seems to be the direction now, with Rock &… https://t.co/jyEqNKjnSP

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) February 12, 2024

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter confirmed that report, saying that it was The Rock’s decision to book at tag team match for Night 1 of WrestleMania 40. The word “conceded” was even used in Dave Meltzer’s report.

There is said to be far more behind the scenes that hasn’t come out but given the timing can’t be talked about now. But Johnson over the weekend said it was best to be out of the Reigns match, put Cody in, which by this point everyone conceded by then. It was Johnson who then pitched the heel turn, and he did pitch the idea of the Reigns & Rock vs. Rhodes & Rollins match for night one. So that was his idea if that is how it turns out. 

From the very beginning, I reported that plans were locked in, and the only person who could change things is The Rock. That is exactly what happened, much to the delight of “Cody crybabies” all over, who want to see The American Nightmare finish his story.

Why The Match Was Changed

The Rock publicly expressed his desire for a match against Roman Reigns on January 1st, appearing during the Day 1 episode of RAW. Subsequently, the match was arranged shortly thereafter, despite Cody Rhodes winning the 2024 Royal Rumble match. Notably, Triple H was aware of the agreement for Rock vs Reigns.

Negative fan reaction, and mainstream attention on the matter, caused Rock to make a call to pivot. That being said, he will now apparently play up the heel gimmick on WWE television for the Cody crybabies.

WWE has several interesting contract situations going on right now. Becky Lynch, Seth Rollins and others have to deal with signing a new contract or seeking other opportunities. Drew McIntyre’s WWE contract is approaching its end as well, and we have more information.

Drew McIntyre’s WWE Contract Situation

It was previously reported that McIntyre’s WWE contract is running out, but there is a hope that he will be around. The Scottish Warrior is being promoted for events in May, and he’s also thrown several jabs at CM Punk, who won’t be back until later this year due to injury.

Leading up to last year’s WWE WrestleMania, it was indicated that Drew McIntyre’s contract would expire before WrestleMania 40. McIntyre himself was considering the possibility that 2023 might mark his final WrestleMania appearance. However, recent developments suggest otherwise. Sources within WWE have confirmed that McIntyre is indeed slated to participate in WrestleMania.

A brand-new report from Sean Ross Sapp at Fightful Select said that McIntyre’s contract has been extended beyond WrestleMania. It appears that additional time was negotiated due to injury and periods of inactivity.

Fightful Select has confirmed that McIntyre’s deal now extends past WrestleMania, and that some injury and inactivity time was added to the deal in order to get it there.

What’s Next For Drew McIntyre in WWE

Sources close to Drew McIntyre have reportedly said that discussions between him and WWE management regarding a new contract are ongoing. While there is a mutual interest in reaching an agreement, it’s important to note that a deal has not been finalized.

It was also emphasized that McIntyre is highly regarded within the company, both among fellow talent and staff. His dedication to his craft, as well as his involvement in media and community events, has earned him widespread respect.

Cody Rhodes found out the hard way what happens when you speak ill of the Bloodline at the WrestleMania 40 kick-off event, according to The Rock.

Last week’s event saw some of WWE’s top Superstars in attendance. At the press conference, Roman Reigns made clear he intended to face The Rock at WrestleMania 40 in April. Cody Rhodes threw a wrench into these plans by declaring he would be challenging the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion in Philadelphia

Cody Rhodes Found Out

During his promo against The Rock and Roman Reigns, Cody said that their ancestors would be ashamed to see the two attempts to monopolize the WrestleMania main event scene. This comment drew the ire of The Rock, who slapped the American Nightmare. Rhodes would be backed up by new ally Seth Rollins, though the four men did not come to further blows. 

Taking to Instagram, The Rock reflected on slapping Cody with some choice words for “your hero.” 

“Your hero f***** around and he found out quick what happens when you talk about our family with disrespect.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/reel:C3Nu69cRpTb

What’s Next?

On this week’s Raw, Rollins offered to be a ‘shield’ for Rhodes against the might of the Bloodline. There has been speculation that a tag team match could happen, especially given the WrestleMania 40 trailer aired at the Super Bowl. The Rock and Reigns seem to be on the same page, as the pair were spotted together following the WrestleMania kick-off press conference. On last week’s SmackDown, Triple H made clear that his decision is final regarding the WrestleMania main event, and encouraged The Rock and others to “know your role.” 

The Rock returned to WWE under very interesting circumstances. He wanted a match against Roman Reigns that has been a long time coming, but fans wanted to see Cody Rhodes finish his story. Now, we have a much different picture for the WrestleMania main event than The Rock wanted to.

The Rock Embracing The Dark Side

It was reported that The Rock taking a seat on TKO’s Board of Directors came with a WrestleMania match attached. He got $30 million in company stock as a part of that deal.

Fans spoke out in massive fashion when Rock bumped Cody Rhodes out of his WrestleMania spot against Roman Reigns. Trends started online and the story got picked up by major mainstream outlets. 

Wrestle Votes reported on Twitter/X that WWE sources have said that The Rock is prepared to “fully embrace” his heel gimmick. It was also noted that WWE is expected to drop official Cody crybabies merchandise. 

Sources suggest that The Rock is expected to fully embrace his heel turn, drawing inspiration from his past ‘Hollywood’ Rock persona. Additionally, I’m told to anticipate the release of Rock branded ‘Cody Crybabies’ merchandise. The story is just beginning…

Sources suggest that The Rock is expected to fully embrace his heel turn, drawing inspiration from his past ‘Hollywood’ Rock persona. Additionally, I’m told to anticipate the release of Rock branded ‘Cody Crybabies’ merchandise. The story is just beginning…

— WrestleVotes (@WrestleVotes) February 12, 2024

Why WWE Changed The Rock’s WrestleMania 40 Plan (Exclusive)

I’ve been doing my best to stay up on this always-evolving storyline. As I originally reported, The Rock was the one who needed to make the call to change this match. That is what finally happened after a ton of fans speaking out.

I keep asking about #TheRock's #WrestleMania? plans possibly changing, because that's all fans want at this point.

Last night, a tenured member of the creative team told me straight up: "We have not been told of any change. That doesn't mean the plan hasn't changed. Or won't…

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) February 7, 2024

A tenured source within WWE confirmed that The Rock’s original plan was to have a match with Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. The current situation we have with the show of shows was not what The Rock originally wanted to do, so this was not all part of an elaborate plan from the jump.

The Rock called his shot for a match against Roman Reigns on January 1st when he showed up during the Day 1 episode of RAW. Then, the match was agreed to shortly after that, with Cody Rhodes winning the 2024 Royal Rumble match after that, despite Triple H knowing that Rock vs Reigns was agreed to. 

Along with mainstream outlets picking up the story about fan outrage, The Rock’s daughter, Ava, was also caught in the crossfire. She received death threats and later deactivated her Twitter/X account. The Rock also spoke up about this incident involving his daughter.

After all the negative reaction, I am told that “The Rock conceded it should be Roman vs Cody.” Fan reaction, and mainstream attention on the matter, caused Rock to make a call to pivot. That being said, he will now apparently play up the heel gimmick on WWE television for the Cody crybabies.

Follow Up: I was able to confirm that Rock's original plan was to have a match with Roman. It wasn't the situation we have now. After all the negative reaction, Rock conceded it should be Roman vs Cody.

A tag team match at WrestleMania seems to be the direction now, with Rock &… https://t.co/jyEqNKjnSP

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) February 12, 2024

WrestleMania 40 is coming to Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 6 and 7, 2024. The showcase of the immortals is coming together, and now they have a new trailer to share with fans.

We're on the Road to @WrestleMania!

Witness @TheRock, @WWERomanReigns, @CodyRhodes and @WWERollins square off in the #WrestleMania XL teaser trailer! pic.twitter.com/WBLPRHLavg

— WWE (@WWE) February 11, 2024

WrestleMania 40 Trailer

A new trailer dropped to hype WrestleMania 40. The short video featured The Rock, Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. The video certainly seemed as if a tag team match was being teased now. 

Triple H hyped the trailer, as he quote posted the video along with a message. He plans to take things to a new level for WrestleMania 40, and he also included the legendary that he is known to ask fans.

“We’re taking WrestleMania XL to a whole new level. Are you ready?”

We’re taking #WrestleMania XL to a whole new level.

Are you ready? https://t.co/dqosj7kLSZ

— Triple H (@TripleH) February 11, 2024

What’s Next

During the WrestleMania 40 press conference in the T-Mobile Arena, many fans thought that The Rock and Roman Reigns would be the WrestleMania 40 main event. Then Cody Rhodes showed up to make his choice known. 

In the end, Cody Rhodes got his match against Roman Reigns. The Rock wasn’t happy about that, and he slapped The American Nightmare.

After The Rock and Roman Reigns left together, rumors started to spread about what the next plan is. Now, Cody Rhodes will get a chance to finish his story.

WWE held quite an event in Las Vegas on Thursday. At the end of the day, Cody Rhodes picked Roman Reigns as his WrestleMania opponent, and The Rock wasn’t happy. After Triple H was told to “fix this” by The Rock, he appeared on SmackDown this week to address the matter.

Triple H Sets The Record Straight

Triple H opened up SmackDown this week to address this WrestleMania situation. Of course, he was greeted with an amazing ovation. Nick Aldis and Adam Pearce were also in the ring waiting on the WWE COO.

After saying that it feels like we’re on the road to WrestleMania, Triple H addressed last night’s conference in Las Vegas. Triple H wanted to clear up one thing, but then “Rocky sucks” chants interrupted him.

Triple H said that he felt that there was some confusion in the air, because they don’t know their role, and they tried to assert their authority when they didn’t have anyone. He then said he doesn’t care where anyone sits, because Triple H is the one who makes all the creative shots in the company.

"The answers come from one place and one place only and right now, you are looking at him." ??@TripleH makes it very clear who's making the decisions around here and what our #WrestleMania XL main event will be… #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/jEG6No5zPK

— WWE (@WWE) February 10, 2024

Triple H Continued

Then, Triple H confirmed that Roman Reigns will defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes. He said that some people may not like that decision, but “it doesn’t matter if you don’t like that decision.”

It seemed that Triple H took a lot of shots at The Rock with that promo as he welcomed everyone to the road to WrestleMania once again.

SE Scoops will have continued coverage of whatever happens next on the road to WrestleMania.

Damage CTRL started out with Bayley, Dakota Kai, and IYO Sky. That SummerSlam 2022 surprise marked one of Triple H’s first big flexes in creative, as he created the stable by bringing Kai back from free agency and convincing IYO to stick around WWE instead of going back to Japan. Now, the stable is much different.

Changes for Damage CTRL

Asuka and Kairi Sane joined the stable much later, after Kai was taken out of action with a knee injury. She has remained on television consistently, but she hasn’t been wrestling. Bayley soon found herself losing control of the stable’s direction.

In recent memory, Bayley won the 2024 women’s Royal Rumble match. This gave her the chance to call her shot at WrestleMania. She picked IYO Sky as her opponent for the WWE Women’s Title, and then she was promptly kicked out of the stable.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that it is very interesting to note that Damage CTRL filmed graphics for WrestleMania with only IYO Sky, Asuka, and Kairi Sane, with no Dakota Kai in sight. 

Damage Ctrl filmed WrestleMania graphics without Kai for what it’s worth. 

It was also noted that, “Kai should be returning relatively soon.” It will be interesting to see how WWE re-inserts her into the situation.

What’s Next For Bayley

Bayley is now a babyface, and she may need an ally. Dakota Kai siding with her may add an intriguing aspect to this WrestleMania program.

On a related note, CM Punk spoke out in a big way about how he believes Bayley deserves far more respect on her name. She won the 2024 women’s Royal Rumble, and she wasn’t included in promotional material, and she wasn’t featured in the WrestleMania kickoff press conference event at the T-Mobile Arena in Last Vegas this week.

SE Scoops will have more coverage on this story as additional information is made available. 

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 Rock bitch slapping Cody Rhodes #CodyCryBabies pic.twitter.com/s5G4ho9b5W

— ? Old School Sam ? (@oldschoolsam10) February 9, 2024

WWE Tried To Book The Rock vs Roman Reigns Before

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”

– Cody Rhodes to Roman Reigns & The Rock

THIS LINE WAS JUST ???@CodyRhodes pic.twitter.com/DB6G8Coovr

— Eleanor (@Its_Eleanor) February 9, 2024

Rhea Ripley may claim that ‘Mami’ always comes out on top, but Becky Lynch hopes to give the Women’s World Champion an education on being a ‘bottom’ this April. 

The reigning WWE Women’s World Champion, Rhea Ripley was at last night’s WrestleMania 40 kick-off press conference that took place at Las  Vegas’ T-Mobile arena. Ripley admitted to being surprised that Bayley chose to face IYO SKY at WrestleMania. The 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble winner confirmed her face turn and parted ways with Damage CTRL on last week’s SmackDown. 

Ripley then turned her attention to her own road to WrestleMania and said she has one more stop; the WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth event later this month. This brought out Becky Lynch, who pointed out that she has qualified for the Women’s Elimination Chamber match that will determine who faces the Women’s World Champion at WrestleMania. 

Lynch didn’t hold back in her face-to-face with Ripley, as she said: 

“It doesn’t matter who you face because Mami’s always on top, huh? It does matter Rhea. It does matter who you face. I have made a legendary career out of knocking golden girls out of their top spot. So Mami is gonna learn what it’s like to be a bottom because that’s what happens when The Man comes around.”

THE MAN SAID WHAT SHE SAID. ??@BeckyLynchWWE warns @RheaRipley_WWE that she's ready to earn her #WrestleMania match for the Women's World Championship at #WWEChamber. #WrestleMania XL Kickoff is LIVE NOW! pic.twitter.com/XAGJCOUeMN

— WWE (@WWE) February 9, 2024

What’s Next? 

Lynch will be joined by five other women in the Elimination Chamber match. Next week’s Raw will see either Liv Morgan or Zoey Stark join her as they’ll face off in a qualifier. Rhea Ripley will defend her Women’s World Championship at WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth against Nia Jax. 

Ripley is eager to face The Man at WWE’s biggest show of the year… 

Cody Rhodes’ choice to face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 has had the wrestling world buzzing after a complicated road to this decision. 

Rhodes made his choice clear during the WrestleMania 40 kick-off press conference. Leading up to this event, there had been a lot of talk about who Cody would pick, especially after Rhodes said last week he wouldn’t be facing Reigns this April. A massive fan backlash may have influenced WWE’s decision, with the ‘We Want Cody’ movement being heard both at WWE events and on social media. 

The Wrestling World Reacts

Triple H was present for Cody’s decision at the WrestleMania 40 kick-off press conference. Taking to Twitter, the WWE’s Chief Content Officer made it clear that the decision has been made. 

Decision made. @CodyRhodes gets the chance to finish his story when he challenges @WWERomanReigns in the main event of #WrestleMania XL. pic.twitter.com/A12apAnELf

— Triple H (@TripleH) February 9, 2024

WWE U.S Champion Logan Paul had backed Cody Rhodes in the run-up to the press conference. On social media, Paul shared a video of his reaction to Cody’s decision and The Rock slapping him. 

Let him cook @CodyRhodes pic.twitter.com/q6dvtHuWBP

— Logan Paul (@LoganPaul) February 9, 2024

Cody’s fellow AEW alum Amanda Huber spoke highly of Rhodes and is excited to see him finish the story in April. 

If you want to know the type of man @CodyRhodes (and @WWEBigE )is, he drove 5+ hours the day after Christmas to be in the room with me to tell Brodie Jon was going to pass.

He held him as he cried. Then he took him to the beach and filed kites.

If he’s not the type of human… pic.twitter.com/ovhHp8r2Pp

— Amanda (@MandaLHuber) February 9, 2024

TNA Wrestling’s Nic Nemeth used some political satire to explain what’s going on with the Cody Rhodes/Roman Reigns/The Rock dynamic. 

What an insane press conference!
Biden appears to be in trouble, not just polling-wise. And quickly forcing an outsider to take his place for 2024, would appear to jump Kamala,
(who’s polling even lower than biden)

— Nic Nemeth (@NicTNemeth) February 9, 2024

With Cody Rhodes not challenging for the World Heavyweight Championship, Drew McIntyre is pleased that his quest to win the gold became all that much clearer. 

https://t.co/Ezv9zxgAfD pic.twitter.com/856cSZuK3F

— Drew (@DMcIntyreWWE) February 9, 2024

Cody’s wife Brandi used some emojis to share her excitement for the upcoming match. 

?????? https://t.co/nJw7YVfrvJ

— Brandi Rhodes (@TheBrandiRhodes) February 9, 2024

And as for the man of the hour himself, Cody Rhodes had a clear message after challenging Roman Reigns. 

For everything https://t.co/vmwuYwngkZ

— Cody Rhodes (@CodyRhodes) February 9, 2024

Fans all over are talking about Cody Rhodes’ big decision to face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania, but CM Punk believes that a lot of people are overlooking Bayley. She won the Women’s Royal Rumble, after all, but she hasn’t received nearly as much attention.

CM Punk Backs Bayley

CM Punk was on hand in the T-Mobile Arena as WWE brought their WrestleMania kickoff press conference. It was quite an event, one that concluded with a huge cliffhanger.

During his time at the event, CM Punk addressed a camera, where he let it be known that Bayley deserves more love. She wasn’t featured on promotional material, nor was she present at the T-Mobile Arena for the big event in Las Vegas. Punk believes that Bayley is more than deserving of a WrestleMania spotlight.

“I really need to, as a broadcast journalist, I really need to talk about Bayley, and how she won the Royal Rumble for the women, and she wasn’t represented on the poster, I felt like she needed a presence there. Got caught up talking about The Rock and Reigns and Cody and Seth and all that, but very much in the mix is Bayley who won the Royal Rumble and you need to put some respect on her name.”

“Very much in the main event mix is Bayley she won the Rumble don’t forget it put some respect on her name”

— CM Punk#WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/whSmz7un78

— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) February 9, 2024

What’s Next for Bayley

Bayley decided to face IYO Sky at WrestleMania 40. Rhea Ripley made reference to this during the WrestleMania kickoff show event, but she actually referenced IYO with the last name Shirai, which hasn’t been the name she’s used since her main roster call-up. We will have to see where Bayley vs IYO falls on the WrestleMania card, but CM Punk is definitely pulling for them to get a good spot.

CM Punk is injured, and he will have to set out this year’s show of shows. This is sad, but at least he is around to provide his two cents on how this year’s event is taking shape.

WWE NXT General Manager Ava receiving death threats over her father’s return to the company is simply crazy, according to The Rock. 

Ever since The Rock’s return to WWE last week, the fans have made clear that they wanted to see Cody Rhodes challenge Roman Reigns instead of the Great One. Videos of The Rock at WWE events have been booed, while the YouTube video of his comeback has become WWE’s most disliked video of all time. This week’s Raw saw “Rocky sucks” chants so loud that Michael Cole acknowledged them on commentary. 

The Rock on Ava’s Death Threats

The Rock’s daughter Ava has not been spared from the backlash of her father’s comeback. Ava was on the receiving end of death threats from fans which ultimately led to the youngest General Manager in WWE history deactivating her Twitter account. During an episode of the Pat McAfee Show, The Rock said it was crazy to see her daughter receive death threats over WWE’s plans and his return. 

“She’s feeling it too [the fan backlash]… Oh yeah, Cody’s gotta finish his story… By the way, she’s also got death threats. It’s crazy… C’mon guys, we’re all in this thing, and by the way, what happens in the middle of the ring and on these storylines, don’t forget that, again inside baseball, outside the ring, we all talk. We all can figure this thing out while working together.”

What’s Next? 

At the WrestleMania 40 kickoff press conference, Cody Rhodes chose to face Roman Reigns at the two-night event in April. This would infuriate Reigns, who had earlier in the show said that he would be facing The Rock in April. The Rock would also slap Cody during the press conference, with suspicions that all three men could face off at 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.

Witness an iconic face-off between @TheRock and @WWERomanReigns! Plus, @CodyRhodes, @WWERollins, @RheaRipley_WWE and @BiancaBelairWWE get the Road to #WrestleMania underway on the #WrestleMania XL Kickoff! Delivered by @PizzaHut. https://t.co/NxcpHJbnjp

— WWE (@WWE) February 8, 2024

The Stage Is Set

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.

OH IT'S GOING DOWN. ?@TheRock just slapped @CodyRhodes at the #WrestleMania XL Kickoff. pic.twitter.com/nN0MTYIoRk

— WWE (@WWE) February 9, 2024

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.

THE ROCK JUST SLAPPED CODY RHODES OH MY GOD.#WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/Goh4HJEkpX

— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) February 9, 2024

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.”

Decision made. @CodyRhodes gets the chance to finish his story when he challenges @WWERomanReigns in the main event of #WrestleMania XL. pic.twitter.com/A12apAnELf

— Triple H (@TripleH) February 9, 2024

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.”

The Rock goes off on Triple H:#WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/3hXZJ3ESAQ

— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) February 9, 2024

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…

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) February 7, 2024

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.

Grayson Waller is hoping to see a story finished at WrestleMania 40, but now the lengthy, compelling story of Cody Rhodes. 

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.

Finish the Story

While the WWE Universe is vehemently on the side of the American Nightmare, not everyone is against The Rock. On Twitter, WWE shared footage of the Great One arriving in Las Vegas for today’s press conference. In a tweet of his own, Grayson Waller welcomed the “boss,” a nod to The Rock’s role as a TKO Board member. Waller added that he hopes to see Rock “finish your story” in a nod to Cody Rhodes’ storyline. 

Welcome back boss! Hope you get to finish your story https://t.co/r9qqK8TPWD

— Grayson Waller (@GraysonWWE) February 7, 2024

What’s Next? 

The Rock, Roman Reigns, and Cody Rhodes will be present at today’s WrestleMania 40 kick-off press conference. Many suspect that Rhodes will confirm who he will face at WrestleMania during this media event. Rhodes will also compete at Elimination Chamber: Perth later this month in Waller’s native Australia. Neither The Rock nor Roman Reigns are expected for the event. 

WWE WrestleMania 40 will take place on April 6, and April 7, from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. The show will be WWE’s fifth two-night WrestleMania, a format that began during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

What has Cody Rhodes had to say about the ‘We Want Cody’ movement… 

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.

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. pic.twitter.com/RvY5vVNTzb

— WWE (@WWE) February 7, 2024

When The Rock vs Roman Reigns was Booked

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.

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) February 7, 2024

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…

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) February 7, 2024

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.

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.

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) February 7, 2024

The Rock’s Daughter Took Fire

The Rock’s daughter received death threats from fans. She was not shy about bringing this to the public. Apparently, that did not help things.

Ava deactivated her Twitter/X account a short time later, leaving the platform as heat from her father’s booking spilled into her notifications.

WWE Carrying On With WrestleMania Plans

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…

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) February 7, 2024

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.