A new report provides more information on the situation involving Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, and The Rock.
Cody Rhodes won the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble, and many fans expected him to face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40, given his stated mission to finish the story. However, on the February 2 episode of WWE SmackDown, Rhodes said that he would not face Reigns at WrestleMania, as he instead brought out The Rock, who stared Reigns down at the end of the show.
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful (via Fightful Select) reports that Cody Rhodes was professional backstage about the situation, but he seemed “probably somber in retrospect”, given the circumstances. The report states that WWE has taken note of online polls, dislikes on social media, and mainstream coverage of the negative reactions to the outcome. Sapp writes that if the situation is a work, it is being kept close to the vest.
Additionally, Sapp writes that some sources believe that WWE either had motives, or may course correct. One WWE source notes that the reactions to The Rock was preferable to the coverage of Vince McMahon, but that will continue as well. This source says that the Cody/Rock situation can have peaks and valleys, and it can be justified, whereas the McMahon coverage was all negative. Sapp writes that many others echoed this sentiment.
More Details On Internal Reaction To Cody Rhodes, The Rock, And Roman Reigns
Sapp then cites some sources that were in denial about the reaction to Cody stepping aside being as one-sided as it was, and others pointed to the fact that nothing has officially been announced.
Some sources are positive about a potential match between The Rock and Roman Reigns, and they point to Rhodes still having a big match at WrestleMania. The report notes that people in the company are under the impression that Rock vs. Reigns and Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins are the planned matches for WrestleMania, but plans change constantly.
Furthermore, one source says they believe this week will be a big test, as The Rock was booed at a live event on Saturday, so it will be interesting to see how the fans continue to react. Sapp cites another talent who notes that perception is very important to The Rock, and they shared their belief that The Rock will likely address this in some capacity.
WrestleZone will provide more information as it becomes available.
