The wrestling world is buzzing with speculation as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson appears to have surged ahead of Cody Rhodes, the consecutive Royal Rumble winner, to vie for Roman Reigns’ Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania 40 in April. Recent reports suggest that The Rock actively advocated for this match, with some sources indicating that he even lobbied to win the title in Philadelphia, potentially concluding Reigns’ historic title reign of nearly four years.
Political Maneuvering and Immediate Returns
Amidst these developments, insiders reveal that the decision to prioritize The Rock’s match over a potential rematch between Rhodes and Reigns is viewed as politically driven. This move, reportedly supported by WWE’s parent company TKO, is believed to offer a more lucrative immediate return compared to the alternative bout. Despite assurances that the decision wasn’t intended as a slight against Rhodes, there’s acknowledgment that the audience’s patience with the situation may have been underestimated.
Fans React to The Rock’s Return on SmackDown
Cody Rhodes’ World Title Opportunity
While Rhodes finds himself shifted from the main event scene, he’s not entirely sidelined from championship contention. He’s slated to challenge Seth Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship, offering him a significant opportunity despite the altered trajectory from his Royal Rumble victory.
The Rock
The shift in WrestleMania plans stems partly from the absence of key figures like CM Punk and Brock Lesnar. Punk’s injury during the Royal Rumble and Lesnar’s purported involvement in the Vince McMahon scandal led to their exclusion from the event. Punk was initially scheduled to face Rollins, while Lesnar’s potential dream match against GUNTHER was also scrapped, prompting creative adjustments in the WrestleMania lineup.
Conclusion: Unpredictability Reigns Supreme
As WrestleMania 40 approaches, the landscape of WWE’s biggest event of the year continues to evolve with unexpected twists and turns. The decision to feature The Rock in the title match against Reigns adds an element of unpredictability, reshaping the championship picture and setting the stage for a potentially historic showdown.
