In a recent episode of Friday Night SmackDown, Cody Rhodes stirred controversy by relinquishing his WrestleMania 40 main event spot to The Rock, resulting in considerable backlash. However, the narrative took an unexpected turn during the WrestleMania 40 kickoff press conference, injecting considerable drama into the situation. In fact, Rhodes finishing his story was almost derailed because of The Rock wanting to get more hate from fans.
Fans definitely want to see The Rock vs Roman Reigns at some point in time, but they most definitely did not want that to happen at the expense of Cody Rhodes’ story. That was how it seemed it would turn out on Friday Night SmackDown, but things have thankfully changed course for the better, at WrestleMania 40.
The Rock Attacked Cody Rhodes Earlier This Month
The entire controversy surrounding the WrestleMania 40 main event unfolded on the stage of the T-Mobile Arena during the Kickoff Press Event. The assembly included The Rock, his cousin Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and Cody Rhodes, all convened to chart a definitive course for WrestleMania 40.
Despite the anticipation of an epic showdown between The Rock and Roman Reigns at the Show of Shows, Cody Rhodes was resolute in ensuring that the stars from the Samoan family did not overshadow his moment and opportunity at WrestleMania 40.
Ultimately, “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes chose to challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal title. Despite The Rock and Reigns presenting a united front, Rhodes, having earned his opportunity with a Royal Rumble victory, essentially ousted The Rock from the WrestleMania 40 spotlight.
Rhodes escalated the situation by mentioning the ancestors of the Anoa’i family, stating that they would be ashamed to witness The Rock and Roman Reigns taking opportunities away from others. This declaration prompted The Great One to slap Cody Rhodes, triggering a brawl on the stage. As a result, The Rock turned heel for the first time in 21 years, a development that fans thoroughly enjoyed.
Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania 40 Story Almost Got Ruined By The Rock
According to information from Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Rhodes was initially informed that he would face Reigns in the fall, with no mention of The Rock’s involvement until later, despite an agreement made on January 3rd.
Meltzer elaborated, stating, “Any interview he did about concluding the story before the Rumble was with the idea that he was definitely in the match, even with the Rock rumors circulating.”
Reportedly, Rhodes learned about The Rock’s involvement on the day of the Rumble, even though plans were for him to win the Rumble match. He was also informed that a match against Reigns would still take place later, suggesting that the post-match buildup was not to surprise fans but to lay the groundwork for a future encounter.
“For those wondering what Rhodes knew about the situation, he was told he was facing Reigns in the fall. He was not informed about Rock getting the match as part of his deal on 1/3, so any interview he did about concluding the story before the Rumble was with the idea that he was definitely in the match, even with the Rock rumors out.”
Dave Meltzer added,
He learned on the day of the Rumble that Rock was facing Reigns, even though he was winning the Rumble. He was also told that they would be going to Reigns against him later, so all the post-match stuff building that match wasn’t there to surprise people as much as to build a later match. However, the fact that it was not going to be Reigns vs. Rhodes was kept secret from almost everyone (obviously, a few knew) because Rock wanted the angle the next Friday to be a surprise.”
Some individuals within WWE were aware of these changes before Rhodes, but the specifics were kept confidential until the WrestleMania press conference. Nonetheless, we will have to wait and see how WWE will continue to book Cody Rhodes’ feud with The Bloodline as we slowly approach WrestleMania 40.
