After winning the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble Match, The American Nightmare Cody Rhodes seemed poised to challenge The Tribal Chief for the second consecutive year. However, Rhodes surprised many by confronting the leader of The Bloodline and informing him that he would not be his opponent at this year’s Show of Shows and instead gave up his spot to The Rock initially.
The WrestleMania XL: Behind The Curtain documentary revealed Cody Rhodes’ immediate reaction following the shocking decision. Clearly dejected, Rhodes noted that he had to believe he wouldn’t lose the faith fans had in him.
“I have to believe, right, one thing, you can lose the faith of the fans. We’ve seen it tons of times. I have to believe that I won’t lose their faith. And there might be fans who are upset that I’ve been talking about this title for two years and haven’t decided to wrestle Roman Reigns at WrestleMania.”
WWE CCO Triple H revealed that Cody asked him about his future plans for The Showcase of the Immortals following the significant change. The Game admitted he originally had no idea what he had planned for Rhodes.
“Obviously, his next question is, where does that leave me? I’m, like, not sure yet. So that’s on me to figure out ‘cause this is all happening in real time. We’re gonna see, at least that’s how I saw it is, we’re going to see what the reaction is.”
Thankfully, the die-hard wrestling fanbase rallied behind Cody Rhodes, sparking a massive backlash. This pressure led WWE to ultimately schedule the main event match between Reigns and Rhodes, allowing Rhodes to finally finish his story.
The fans’ overwhelming support played a crucial role in shaping the main event of WrestleMania 40. Triple H’s willingness to listen to the WWE Universe and adapt to their reactions showcased a new era of fan engagement in WWE’s storytelling. As Cody Rhodes stood tall with the championship belt, it was clear that the decision to pivot and give the fans what they wanted paid off in a big way.
Cody Rhodes’ journey to becoming the Undisputed Universal Champion has been a testament to perseverance, resilience, and the power of the WWE Universe. His victory at WrestleMania 40 not only solidified his status as a top star but also demonstrated the importance of listening to the fans’ voices in the ever-evolving world of professional wrestling.
Are you glad WWE ultimately decided to have Cody Rhodes defeat Roman Reigns? Let us know in the comments section below!
