Cody Rhodes on His Shocking WrestleMania 40 Main Event Change
Cody Rhodes’ road to WrestleMania 40 was fraught with unexpected twists, none more surprising than WWE’s brief decision to remove him from the main event against Roman Reigns. This dramatic shift, involving The Rock, not only bewildered fans but also left Rhodes in a precarious position, one that he candidly discussed recently.
The Unexpected Twist
Earlier this year, WWE orchestrated one of its most controversial storylines. After winning the Royal Rumble, Cody Rhodes was poised to face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. However, in a shocking SmackDown segment, Rhodes announced he wouldn’t be facing Reigns. Instead, he introduced The Rock as Reigns’ opponent, creating an awkward scene that did not sit well with fans. The segment became the most disliked WWE YouTube clip of all time, forcing WWE to revert to the original plan.
Discovery at the Royal Rumble
In an interview on Busted Open Radio, Rhodes detailed the moment he learned about the potential change. “It is revealed in that documentary [WrestleMania XL Behind The Scenes] and might put things in a different perspective for people; I found out the possibility of The Rock vs. Roman Reigns the day of the Royal Rumble. I had to leave that room, head up, and make sure no one knew what could possibly happen and probably one of the more difficult days I’ve had in the wrestling business, but how could I complain when you’re winning the Royal Rumble and you’re pointing at the sign. It was such a high, such a low,” he said.
The SmackDown Fiasco
The SmackDown segment that followed was a disaster. Rhodes, visibly uncomfortable, was meant to appear enthusiastic about The Rock’s involvement, but his true feelings were evident. Brian Gewirtz, a close friend of Dwayne Johnson and a former WWE writer, revealed that Rhodes struggled to conceal his disappointment, leading to an awkward and unconvincing performance.
A Happy Accident
WWE quickly corrected its course, reinstating Rhodes in the main event against Reigns. This correction, however, led to an unexpected silver lining. Fans turned against The Rock for what was perceived as an intrusion, allowing him to embrace a heel persona, delivering one of his best character performances as the “Final Boss.” The storyline evolved to include a tag team match on Saturday night, featuring Reigns and The Rock against Rhodes and Seth Rollins.
WrestleMania 40’s Legacy
The culmination of WrestleMania 40 exceeded expectations. The weekend concluded with The Rock taking a chokeslam from The Undertaker and Rhodes triumphantly finishing his story, becoming the Undisputed WWE Champion. What began as a potential disaster transformed into one of the most memorable WrestleMania events in history, showcasing WWE’s ability to adapt and deliver compelling narratives.
Cody Rhodes’ journey to WrestleMania 40 underscores the unpredictability of WWE storytelling. Despite the initial turmoil, Rhodes’ resilience and the WWE’s swift pivot resulted in a spectacular finale that will be remembered for years to come.
