CM Punk came back to WWE after a decade at the Survivor Series Premium Live Event last year and he had a mission in mind – to main event WrestleMania 40. That is no longer happening as he is out of action due to a triceps injury. Interestingly enough, he already knew The Rock would steal Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania 40 spot as well.
After turning to WWE television last year, CM Punk has engaged in a war of words with the likes of Seth Rollins, Drew McIntyre and most recently – ‘The American Nightmare’ Cody Rhodes. Their most recent promo segment foreshadowed what happened on Friday Night SmackDown this week as well.
The Rock Ended Up Taking Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania 40 Spot
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, recently appointed as one of the board members of TKO Group Holdings, is set to face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. Originally expected to be between Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes, the Royal Rumble winner, Rhodes decided to step aside on SmackDown this week. Despite earning his spot by winning the Royal Rumble for the second consecutive year, Rhodes relinquished his opportunity to face Reigns, giving it to The Rock.
Cody Rhodes made the announcement on SmackDown, stating he wouldn’t challenge Reigns at WrestleMania. Instead, he revealed that he spoke with someone familiar to Reigns, and then The Rock made his shocking return. The Rock and Rhodes shared a handshake and a hug, and after a whispered conversation, Rhodes left the ring. WWE also promoted a WrestleMania 40 press conference for Thursday evening, February 8, in the final moments of the show.
Unsurprisingly, this decision was met with a lot of hate and jeers, as fans wanted Cody Rhodes to finish his story, which he was not able to at WrestleMania 39 against Roman Reigns last year. We’ll have to see if there is still a chance of Cody Rhodes getting his reception arc.
CM Punk Was Aware The Rock Would Take Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania Spot
During CM Punk and Cody Rhodes’ epic promo segment on the go-home edition of Monday Night RAW prior to the Royal Rumble Premium Live Event last month, CM Punk told Cody Rhodes that he knew what was going to happen to Rhodes. Punk then explained how a much bigger Superstar, The Rock, ended up taking his spot just before he was at the finish line. This foreshadowed what just happened to Cody Rhodes this week.
11 years later Cody is getting the CM Punk Road to Wrestlemania Experience but 10x worse.
— Collision Cowboy (@collixioncowboy) February 3, 2024
Sick to my stomach. pic.twitter.com/Z34V1N1rAp
”Well allow me to give you the full road to WrestleMania CM Punk experience. Cody Rhodes, you have carried this company on your back for a soul crushing two years, and you’re right around the corner and they hand you the cover of WWE 2K video game. And right when you’re about to cross the finish line and finish your story, oh wait what’s that in the distance? It’s a much bigger Superstar that hasn’t been around in a very long time, coming to take it all away from you.”
This year’s Wrestlemania will take place on April 6th and April 7th in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania’s Lincoln Financial Field. For better or worse, The Rock will be facing off against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 this year.
