Posts Tagged ‘WrestleMania’

WWE Hopes To Have WrestleMania Moment For Sylvester Stallone

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.

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.

Posted February 22nd, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , .

CM Punk Delivers Candid Insights on WWE Comeback Plans & Trash Talking The Rock

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.

Posted February 18th, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , , , .

Who Had Creative Hand In The Rock & Roman Reigns’ 2/16 WWE SmackDown Promo

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.

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. 

Posted February 17th, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , , , , .

WWE’s WrestleMania 40 Strategy: LA Knight Planned For Marquee Title Match

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.

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. 

Posted February 17th, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , , , .

Daily Drop (2/17): The Rock Makes Huge Move, WWE SmackDown Spoilers & More

Welcome to SEScoops’ Daily Drop – a rundown of the top stories in pro wrestling all in one place.

Our mission is to provide our readers with the most important and interesting news from WWE, AEW and more that’s timely, informative and engaging. The Daily Drop is a destination where you can get a snapshot of the top stories in wrestling.

  • WrestleMania 40 COUNTDOWN: 49 days away

Here’s the Daily Drop news report for Wednesday, February 17, 2024:

WWE

– The Rock officially joined The Bloodline during the February 16th episode of WWE SmackDown. That closing segment of the show did not feature any match getting booked for WrestleMania 40, but they are well on their way to cementing a match.

– WWE taped their February 23rd episode of SmackDown after this week’s show. You can check out all of those spoilers here.

– Shotzi is still pretty devastated over her serious knee injury. Her NXT Women’s Title match against Lyra Valkyria ended in terrible fashion with an injury, and she will likely miss a lot of time.

– After a lot of speculation about where he would land, Bron Breakker finally signed with WWE’s SmackDown brand. He is still 1/2 of the NXT Tag Team Champions, but he did not have his title with him during the 2/16 episode of the blue brand.

AEW

– Mercedes Mone is hyping an upcoming fight, and this is right in time for the hype before AEW’s Big Business special episode of Dynamite on March 13. The TD Garden will likely see the former Sasha Banks make her debut for the company during that show.

– Tony Khan announced that RVD will return to AEW for their 4/20 episode of Collision.

TNA & Everywhere Else

– Scott D’Amore is out, and TNA Talent aren’t happy. They reportedly banded together and signed a big letter to express how unhappy they are. 

– There is some contradicting information on who is in charge of TNA creative now. Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Tommy Dreamer has the book now, but Tommy Dreamer has denied this.

– PW Insider later clarified this report, and it was reported that there is a different man making the calls for creative. 

Coming Up

– WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth takes place next Saturday, February 24.

– AEW Dynamite: Big Business is coming to Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.

– AEW Revolution takes place the following weekend on Sunday, March 3.

– WWE NXT Stand & Deliver will be on the afternoon of April 6th, right before the first night of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia. 

– WrestleMania XL will take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, airing as a two-part event.

– Backlash France will be held on May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.

– WWE NXT Battleground is scheduled for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, and will be available exclusively on the WWE Network and Peacock. 

– WWE Money in the Bank will take place on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.

– WWE Bash In Berlin is set for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

Posted February 17th, 2024 in AEW, WWE. Tagged: , , , .

Fact Check: Rumored Triple H & The Rock WWE Creative Plans Debunked

WWE has a lot of things going on, and The Rock’s return for the road to WrestleMania certainly stirred the pot. The rumor mill is churning in overtime as well, and that leads us to one story that needs to be squashed. 

Debunking Triple H vs The Rock

Several fans are talking about a rumor regarding Triple H and The Rock filming a promo hinting at a match against each other at WrestleMania 40. However, there is no truth to the notion that such a promo was filmed, let alone that the match will take place. 

I reported on February 10th that there is no chance that match will happen. Triple H’s cardiac issues forced him into retirement. Also, as COO of WWE, he has a lot on his plate and couldn’t possibly wrestle. 

PW Insider confirmed my report, and they also wrote a little about where this entire rumor might have started. Aside from Triple H throwing some obvious Rock references toward The Great One on SmackDown, it is evident that the match isn’t happening.

There is absolutely zero truth to the idea that was even filmed, much less that it’s going to happen. I’m not sure where that started but it seemed as if the alleged verbiage was actually from a faceoff the two had nearly a decade ago for a tease of a bout that never actually happened. There’s not a lot that I would say can never happen in WWE, but Paul Levesque returning for a main event level match after his heart issues – that one I absolutely do not see, especially if people are assuming it based on such a silly report.

What’s Next

You never know what can happen in WWE, but Triple H is not coming back for another match. The Rock has a WrestleMania match in mind now, and it is only a matter of time before fans find out that he will team with Roman Reigns to take on Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40.

SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story. 

Posted February 16th, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , , .

The Rock’s WWE WrestleMania 40 Drama: Who Made Final Call To Change Plans

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.”

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.

Posted February 16th, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , , , , , .

The Rock’s WrestleMania 40 Shake-Up: What Prompted Creative Change

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…

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.

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.

Posted February 12th, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , , , , , .

Official WWE WrestleMania 40 Trailer Hypes New Creative Direction

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.

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?”

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.

Posted February 11th, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , , , , .

Triple H Takes Several Shots At The Rock While Addressing WWE WrestleMania Controversy During SmackDown

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.

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.

Posted February 9th, 2024 in News, WWE. Tagged: , , , .

The Rock’s WWE WrestleMania Power Play ‘Feels Gross’ To Seth Rollins

The Rock’s return to WWE caused shockwaves all over. Fans spoke out with a lot of unhappiness, because they didn’t like the idea of the Great One taking Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania spot. Now, we are looking at what is next, and Seth Rollins saw the whole thing unfold.

During Thursday’s WWE WrestleMania 40 Kickoff event, Cody Rhodes announced his challenge to Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Title at WrestleMania 40.

Seth Rollins Speaks On The Rock

There was anticipation that WWE would unveil The Rock vs. Reigns instead, a plan that remains intact, while Rhodes was initially expected to challenge World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins.

The plan for Rock vs. Reigns had been kept under wraps last month following Dwayne Johnson’s appointment to the TKO Board of Directors. This arrangement was part of a deal that Johnson strongly advocated for, despite Rhodes expressing his desire to conclude his ongoing storyline.

While speaking with FOX News, Seth Rollins said that The Rock’s entire return to take a WrestleMania spot against Roman Reigns felt gross, but now it appears that Cody Rhodes is going to get what he wants.

“It’s just what happens when powerful people exert their power. They just think they do whatever they want and get away with it, and that sucks. It just sucks. I don’t know any other way to put it. I guess it (resulted) in Cody getting what he wanted. We’ll figure out what’s next for the World Heavyweight title. But Cody said it best. It’s bullsh*t. It feels pretty gross to me.”

What’s Next

We will have to see how WWE books WrestleMania 40 at this point. As we previously noted, there is an interesting expectation at this point.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that, “The press conference also ended with the idea of a Reigns & Rock vs. Rhodes & Rollins tag team match, which could be on day one at Mania.”

It is also important to note that three days ago, a tenured member of the creative team told me, “We have not been told of any change. That doesn’t mean the plan hasn’t changed. Or won’t change. Or this is all a plan anyway. It just means we’re not being told.”

Triple H is set to be on SmackDown this week to address the current WrestleMania situation. SE Scoops will have continued coverage of the road to WrestleMania, because it’s anyone’s guess what they book at this point. 

Posted February 9th, 2024 in News, WWE. Tagged: , , , .

Damage CTRL Stable May Be In For More Changes On Road To WWE 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. 

Posted February 9th, 2024 in News, WWE. Tagged: , , .

Current Expectation For WWE WrestleMania 40 Main Event Matches

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.

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.

Posted February 9th, 2024 in News, WWE. Tagged: , , , , , , .

CM Punk Says We Need To Put Some Respect On Bayley’s Name During Road To WrestleMania

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.”

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.

Posted February 8th, 2024 in News, WWE. Tagged: , , , , .

Cody Rhodes Enrages The Rock With His WrestleMania 40 Opponent Choice During Blockbuster Las Vegas Press Conference

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.

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.

Triple H, Nick Aldis, and Adam Pearce came out for backup as tensions raised. Cody told Roman that his grandfather would be ashamed of him if he was here. Then The Rock told Cody, “let me make something perfectly clear to you, when you talk about his family, you’re talking about my family.” It seems that The Rock wasn’t happy with Cody, and they suddenly had a problem.

The Rock slapped Cody across the face, and they needed to be broken up. Seth Rollins also had to be taken off the stage, but he said “I don’t give a sh*t if you’re on the board, you can’t do whatever you want,” as he left.

Now, it appears that Cody Rhodes vs Roman Reigns is going to happen at WrestleMania, but the story is far from over. Later on, Triple H was interviewed backstage when The Rock walked by, who said, “you’ve got to fix this, let him talk sh*t about our family again, you’ve got to fix this.”

Just this week, a tenured member of the creative team told me, “We have not been told of any change. That doesn’t mean the plan hasn’t changed. Or won’t change. Or this is all a plan anyway. It just means we’re not being told.”

SE Scoops will have continued coverage of the road to WrestleMania. It will likely be a wild ride. Keep checking back for even more updates.

Posted February 8th, 2024 in News, WWE. Tagged: , , , , , .

LA Knight Couldn’t Care Less About WWE WrestleMania 40 Main Event Controversy Because He’s Not In It

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.

Posted February 8th, 2024 in News, WWE. Tagged: , , , , , .

The Rock Arrives In Las Vegas Before WWE WrestleMania 40 Kickoff Event

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.

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.

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 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.

Posted February 7th, 2024 in News, WWE. Tagged: , , , , .

How WWE Has Decided To Handle Negative Fan Reactions To The Rock

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.

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.” 

Posted February 7th, 2024 in News, WWE. Tagged: , , , , , .

Seth Rollins Says WWE Doesn’t Need The Rock For WrestleMania 40 Match

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.

Posted February 7th, 2024 in News, WWE. Tagged: , , , , , .

How Far In Advance WWE Booked The Rock vs Roman Reigns For WrestleMania 40

The Rock is set to be in Las Vegas on Thursday for the WrestleMania kickoff show, and fans can’t wait to see what goes down. As #WeWantCody intensifies, it is evident that The Rock’s return to WWE wasn’t a last-minute decision.

WWE’s Booking For The Rock Wasn’t Last Minute

Cody Rhodes has not officially lost his WrestleMania slot to The Rock yet, but that is expected. As we previously reported, The Rock is 100% wrestling Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40.

During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer noted that WWE actually booked the T-Mobile Arena far in advance. This event wasn’t a late addition to anyone’s schedule. 

“They had booked T-Mobile for Thursday with The Rock long ago, like someone there mentioned it in passing. It was, ‘it’s not like you can get T-Mobile Arena four days in advance for something that we’re changing.’ This thing was booked way in advance. This thing was, you know when I mentioned January 3rd, to make a date and have an agreement on January 3rd, there was pretty much an understanding well before that. They kept that one quiet. However it plays out, whatever it is, it’s working.”

It was also noted that “it’s business,” and that is the idea. The Rock, although he is upsetting some fans by his mere presence on the card, is set to have this match against Roman Reigns, and that has been the plan for a while.

When The Rock Called His WrestleMania 40 Shot

When I asked if any of this fan backlash will change these prospective WrestleMania plans, I was told, “there’s no chance in hell.”

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

Posted February 6th, 2024 in News, WWE. Tagged: , , , , .

The Rock vs Roman Reigns Will 100% Happen At WrestleMania 40 Despite Fan Protest

WWE fans are upset about The Rock taking Cody Rhodes’ spot at WrestleMania. Dwayne Johnson can’t even post on Instagram without the American Nightmare’s fans flooding his comments section. Sadly for them, the match is going to happen despite their protest.

The Rock Will Wrestle At WrestleMania 40

PW Insider reported to confirm that The Rock will wrestle at WrestleMania 40. He will take on Roman Reigns as well.

It was reported that, “multiple sources have noted that The Rock is 100% performing in the ring at WrestleMania 40. That is a done deal and, as we noted on Saturday, likely something that was contractually locked in as one of the milestones Rock would be involved in as part of his TKO Board of Directors deal. We were told there is ‘no scenario’ where Rock is not wrestling Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40, unless something unforeseen happens, like an injury.”

We previously reported that The Rock’s WrestleMania match was also a part of him taking a seat on TKO Group Holdings’ Board of Directors.

Previous Report About The Rock and WrestleMania

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

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.

After asking if any of this fan backlash will change these prospective WrestleMania plans, I was told, “there’s no chance in hell.”

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

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

WWE Fans Are Not Happy

Fans voiced their displeasure after The Rock returned on SmackDown. They want to see Cody Rhodes finish his story.

WWE fans are very upset about this booking. They hijacked the opening segment of WWE RAW this week with “Rocky Sucks” chants. 

“We Want Cody” signs were also handed out in the crowd to add to the drama. No matter how much WWE tries to turn the American Nightmare into a martyr, he isn’t getting that Mania main event against Roman Reigns from The Rock.

Posted February 5th, 2024 in News, WWE. Tagged: , , , , .

The Rock’s Daughter Ava Receiving Death Threats Over WrestleMania Controversy

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

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.”

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.

Posted February 5th, 2024 in News, WWE. Tagged: , , , , .

The Rock’s WrestleMania 40 Match Was Part Of TKO Board of Directors Deal

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.

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. 

Posted February 5th, 2024 in News, WWE. Tagged: , , , , , .

John Cena Acknowledges Roman Reigns vs The Rock WrestleMania 40 Match

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.

Posted February 5th, 2024 in News, WWE. Tagged: , , , , , .

WWE Expected Cody Rhodes Would Be Seen As ‘A Martyr’ With WrestleMania Switch-Up

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.

Posted February 5th, 2024 in News, WWE. Tagged: , , , .

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