WrestleMania 40 Sunday delivered an incredible night of wrestling, highlighted by Cody Rhodes’ monumental victory over Roman Reigns, crowning him the new Undisputed Universal Champion. This historic win came amidst a backdrop of uncertainty, as Triple H revealed he initially had no plans for Rhodes at this year’s event.
After securing victory in the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble Match, Cody Rhodes seemed destined to challenge Roman Reigns for the second consecutive year. However, in a surprising twist, Rhodes confronted Reigns and declared he would not be his opponent at WrestleMania 40, initially giving up his spot to The Rock.
The recently released WrestleMania XL: Behind The Curtain documentary showcased Rhodes’ immediate reaction to this unexpected turn of events. Clearly dejected, Rhodes emphasized his determination to maintain the faith of his fans:
“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.”
Triple H, WWE’s Chief Content Officer, recounted Cody’s concern about his future plans for WrestleMania. The Game admitted that he initially had no concrete plans for Rhodes following the decision to give The Rock the main event spot:
“Obviously, his next question is, where does that leave me? I’m, like, not sure yet. So that’s on me to figure out cuz 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.”
The documentary revealed the real-time decisions and adjustments made behind the scenes. As it turned out, the die-hard wrestling fanbase rallied behind Cody Rhodes, sparking a massive backlash against the initial decision. This overwhelming support and pressure from the fans led WWE to reconsider, ultimately scheduling the main event match between Reigns and Rhodes.
In the end, Cody Rhodes managed to “finish his story,” defeating Roman Reigns and solidifying his place as the new Undisputed Universal Champion. This victory marked a significant moment in WWE history, proving the power of fan support and the importance of adaptability in the ever-evolving landscape of professional wrestling.
The journey back to the top of the mountain began for The American Nightmare at the 2024 Royal Rumble, where Cody won the 30-man over-the-top-rope melee to punch his ticket to the main event of WrestleMania 40. The victory came amidst the return of The Rock, who, at that point, was scheduled to battle Roman Reigns instead of Cody Rhodes.
Cody 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. However, the fans rejected The Rock and sided with Cody Rhodes. This led to The Final Boss using his influence to change the main event at WrestleMania 40 and give the fans what they desired to see with Cody Rhodes emerging on top at The Showcase of the Immortals.
In the end, the fans’ voices were heard, and Cody Rhodes triumphed, fulfilling his destiny and proving that he is indeed the top star WWE needs. His victory at WrestleMania 40 is a testament to his resilience and the unwavering support of his fans, who stood by him through thick and thin. As the new Undisputed Universal Champion, Cody Rhodes’ story is far from over, and the WWE Universe eagerly awaits what lies ahead for The American Nightmare.
