In a chaotic turn of events, Undisputed WWE Universal Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns declared Cody Rhodes‘ window of opportunity in choosing the champion he will face (by virtue of his victory in the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble) had expired. Reigns, accompanied by our boss (his #SpecialCounsel and #Wiseman) Paul Heyman, announced to the world that he had taken the liberty of deciding his own challenger for WrestleMania 40, and that challenger would be The Rock!
But as The Tribal Chief, The People’s Champ and The Wiseman started to hype the main event of WM40, they were joined on stage by Cody Rhodes. It would be an understatement to report The American Nightmare was fed up with the roadblocks thrown in the way of his pursuit to Finish the Story. And so Rhodes, by virtue of the fact the winner of the Royal Rumble gets to choose the champion he (or she) will face at WrestleMania, chose Roman Reigns.
Reigns was livid, and couldn’t hide his emotions. He didn’t even try. Rhodes, a second generation superstar who came oh-so-close to defeating Reigns for the title at WrestleMania 39, exclaimed that if Reigns’ grandfather saw how Reigns was conducting himself, Reigns’ grandfather would be ashamed. Rhodes also stated that if The Rock‘s grandfather, who took a blood oath with Reigns’ grandfather, saw the way Rock and Roman Reigns were handling themselves, Rock‘s grandfather would be ashamed.
This incensed Rock, who stepped forward and actually slapped Cody Rhodes.
As WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” LeVesque and a number of executives and producers tried to maintain order at the Kickoff Event, battle lines were drawn right in front of our very eyes. Cody Rhodes, along with WWE World Champion Seth Rollins on one side. WWE Undisputed Universal Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns (along with Paul Heyman) and The Rock, believe it or not, on the other.
What’s going to happen next on the Road to WrestleMania? We can’t wait to find out!
