After winning the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match, Cody Rhodes came out on SmackDown and told Roman Reigns that he will face him for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship, but not at WrestleMania 40.
The Rock then came out and hugged Cody. Cody then let Rock have a face-off with Roman, thus giving up his WrestleMania XL main event spot.
Cody looked visibly unhappy giving up his spot during this segment, which led to the “#WeWantCody” movement on Social Media.
The American Nightmare then took back his WrestleMania spot from The Rock, and The Rock ended up turning heel. In the end, Cody walked out of WrestleMania as the new WWE Champion and finished the story.
During an interview on Busted Open Radio, Cody revealed that he was told about the change in WrestleMania 40 plans, with The Rock taking his place against Roman Reigns in the main event, on the day of the Royal Rumble.
Here’s what Rhodes said:
“One thing that might be revealed in the (WrestleMania 40) documentary and might put things in a different perspective for people is I find out about the possibility of The Rock vs. Roman Reigns the day of the Royal Rumble and 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 ever had in the wrestling business.
But also, how could you complain when you’re winning the Royal Rumble. When you’re pointing at the sign (and) over 20,000 people in Tampa. It was such a high, such a low.
I’ll say this about the month leading up to WrestleMania 40. You try to create these ideal situations for yourself as an athlete… I just couldn’t catch a break when it came to the ideal circumstance.
I was just talking to Brandi about this this morning but my bus a few days before WrestleMania becomes a giant fireball out in the parking lot. Had to bring in a new bus for me. I’m sleeping in a bunk that was for a band… I was not gonna be presented with the ideal circumstances.
I had given into that and conceded that before WrestleMania because I just had this feeling, even all the way back to the Royal Rumble. I had this feeling that it was gonna work out.”
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