Cody Rhodes, the two-time Royal Rumble winner, is currently riding high with his elevation to the main event of WrestleMania 40. Originally, his match against Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship wasn’t a part of the plan, as the ‘Tribal Chief’ was scheduled to face The Rock.
However, due to overwhelming backlash from the WWE Universe and immense support for Cody, WWE was compelled to rearrange the match against Reigns. This underscores that ‘The American Nightmare’ is currently the most beloved WWE performer and it appears he got some unexpected support for standing up against The Rock.
Cody Got Incredible Support From A Young Fan For Standing Up To The Rock
Recently, the evidence of Cody Rhodes being one of the most beloved WWE Superstars was conveyed directly to the WWE Superstar, by a young fan who poured his heart into a heartfelt message. The child handed the handwritten note to Cody at a live WWE event, and Rhodes was so captivated by its contents that he shared it on his social media account.
On February 18, Cody took to his Instagram to share with his followers that whenever kids hand him notes at shows, he always takes the time to read them. He expressed, “Sometimes at shows, the kiddos will hand you a note… just know that I always read them and it’s the dang sweetest thing.”
Later, Cody posted the contents of a note he received from a young fan who also expressed a desire for him to ‘finish the story’. The note read, “Dear Mr. Cody, Me and my dad have been following your story, we are big fans. I think it was brave how you stood up to The Rock, I know you’ll be a champion. Love, Erika.”
Cody’s defiance against The Rock resonated well with fans, leading to widespread support for Rhodes over the former WWE Champion. Despite The Rock’s immense popularity, he struggled to gain momentum against Cody Rhodes for WrestleMania 40. The turning point came with The Rock’s slap to Cody at the Kickoff Press Conference, bolstering Rhodes’ determination. This influenced Triple H to announce Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes as the main event of the Showcase of The Immortals.
The overwhelming fan response, marked by ‘Rocky Sucks’ chants, compelled WWE to alter its plans. The chants were so impactful that even The Rock privately acknowledged the company should push Cody for the WrestleMania 40 main event.
Triple H Went The Extra Mile To Ensure Cody Rhodes Stayed In The WrestleMania 40 Main Event Picture
According to Dave Meltzer in The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Triple H played a behind-the-scenes role in keeping Cody Rhodes involved in the WrestleMania 40 main event storyline. Originally, there was an idea for an injury angle on the February 2nd Smackdown, where The Bloodline would attack Cody Rhodes.
The initial plan was to announce Reigns vs. The Rock for WrestleMania during the Kickoff event, with Rhodes making a comeback. The belief was that Cody Rhodes was never intended to be “screwed” and would still have his match against Reigns at some point.
However, plans changed due to CM Punk’s injury, and Rollins needed an opponent for WrestleMania. WWE decided against having Reigns involved in an angle to injure Rhodes, as it wouldn’t make sense for Rollins to face Rhodes in a match after such an angle.
“WWE didn’t want Reigns doing the angle to injure Rhodes, since if they did that angle, it would make no sense to do Rollins vs. Rhodes.”
As WrestleMania 40 approaches, Cody Rhodes’ journey from a planned match to facing unexpected twists showcases WWE’s unpredictability. Despite challenges and fan reactions, Rhodes stands resolute against Reigns, making it clear he won’t back down, as fans eagerly anticipate the culmination of the story at WrestleMania 40.
