The Cody Rhodes Story Thread (IT'S OVER)

[papagiorgio]

Feb 4, 2024 9:34:27 GMT -5 Stu said:

Well, I'm intrigued by how much momentum this is getting and the possibility of fans hijacking Raw tomorrow. I just hope none of you are so upset, that you're losing sleep over this.

This is probably the most annoyed I've been with a WWE storyline angle in a decade, but pro wrestling is just a form of entertainment to me like watching a movie, tv show, or sports team. If it were to cause me that type of stress, I would just stop watching. I think half the people commenting in this thread don't even watch WWE much. While I feel a little bad for Cody, he and his family are very well off financially and I do feel like he will get that belt at some point before he is done in the WWE. It is a first world problem at the end of the day. I do think fans should let their feelings known like in the Daniel Bryan days, though. There is always a chance, however small, that they could pivot because of it.

[xxshoyuweeniexx]

Feb 4, 2024 9:26:34 GMT -5 ace said:

I have had it with this Cody story nonsense. He didn’t even have the best story last year when everyone whines about him losing. Sami did. Sami spent months building his story with Bloodline.  He was in his hometown.  Cody entered 30 in a Rumble. It’s like everyone fell for some really lazy branding. Because he made up a story about Dusty having a photo on his nightstand so ridiculous it’s funny not moving. A photo that buries Dusty’s actually accomplishments winning an actual world title….whose lineage (we care SOOOO much about that right now right?) Cody already f***ing won. Not to mention the entire point of the story that everyone willfully misses…there is supposed to be a struggle. But no…Jhe should have won right out of the gate after 8 months away and entering last in a glorified Battle Royal. Because that was a good story? No. It wasn’t.

I mean, I don’t agree with any of that besides the Sami stuff. But do you realize if Cody had just beaten Roman last year, this huge negative reaction to Rock/Roman wouldn’t be happening right? Cody would have finished his story, gotten his due, everyone is good.

Instead they took the longest road possible and told every person who watches weekly that it was all a waste of time and to go f*** themselves.

[Jedi-El of Tomorrow]

Feb 4, 2024 8:51:27 GMT -5 BorneAgain said:

It doesn't help that with the Rock, is that for a lot of people there's not really a big hook to him beyond the big pops from fans at live events. His ring stuff never got back up to pre 2005 levels, his promos are fine (though wholly predictable), and even the novelty of him vs Reigns feels like it passed the window where it would have been most meaningful for Roman.

Its Batista in 2014 all over again without the likelihood of the returning name becoming a fun heel character like Dave did.

And I don't think Rock is gonna deliver 3 banger ppv matches in a row like Batista. Granted, Dave had help, but he more than did his part in the Mania triple threat (including tapping to Bryan) and the 2 Evolution vs Shield matches.

[Ozman]

This is getting ugly. It feels like more than just IWC/Smark talk. #WeWantCody has been trending worldwide. WWE might have no choice but to turn Rock heel. They could then “blur the lines” and say Rock in the storyline used his influence as a TKO board member to insert himself in the match with Roman.

[Snaptastic]

It'll either die down soon or it won't, and they'll change it around a bit.

I do think some people are getting far too invested and upset over this at the moment. I say let it play out, as we don't even know the end game right now. Furthermore, I don't trust Dave "Plan's Change" Meltzer with his explanation of a reshuffling. You don't just take the Rumble winner out of the obvious title match, without good reason.

[Kevin Hamilton]

Feb 4, 2024 9:26:34 GMT -5 ace said:

I have had it with this Cody story nonsense. He didn’t even have the best story last year when everyone whines about him losing. Sami did. Sami spent months building his story with Bloodline.  He was in his hometown.  Cody entered 30 in a Rumble. It’s like everyone fell for some really lazy branding. Because he made up a story about Dusty having a photo on his nightstand so ridiculous it’s funny not moving. A photo that buries Dusty’s actually accomplishments winning an actual world title….whose lineage (we care SOOOO much about that right now right?) Cody already f***ing won. Not to mention the entire point of the story that everyone willfully misses…there is supposed to be a struggle. But no…Jhe should have won right out of the gate after 8 months away and entering last in a glorified Battle Royal. Because that was a good story? No. It wasn’t.

Still, it's A story right?

This here is "Rock is Roman's cousin."

[Hulk With A Mustache]

A part of me really wants Cody to finish the story.

But, the part of me that just wants to watch the world burn really hopes they double down on Rock/Roman. Just push on through and have Rock end the reign. Just go for the biggest shitshow possible.

[Beets by Schrute]

Ten years later, and the WWE is once again ignoring the voices of its audience by putting in a part time Hollywood superstar in the main event of Wrestlemania.

Now all Cody needs is a “Monster” video.

[Finish Uncle Muffin’s Story]

I’ve never understood the whole “they’ve been telling the Rock/Roman for years!” line.

They haven’t. Rock has shown up on TV several times, never interacted with Roman. There’s never been a hint of Rock being the one to lead up “the Tribal elders.” Heyman’s said Rock’s name once or twice. Rock made one hint at it on his TV show that got cancelled. For all the people saying they feel like they’ve told no story with Cody, I feel the same way with Rock. Jey Uso vs. Roman Reigns has more of a story right now than Roman/Rock.

People are confusing “potential story” with what has actually unfolded on screen with the exception of his last two appearances.

[khali]

Cody and the rematch got more over despite how Triple H booked. After the Lesnar feud, they didn’t really have anything of great importance for Cody to do. But he’s so beloved that he was able to succeed not doing a whole lot.

And they sure didn’t have much for Roman to do. He barely defended the title all year, one of them being a cold match against Jey that resulted in Jimmy eventually rejoining him, because the Bloodline story is creatively bankrupt and treading water.

Despite all that, it was still going to work in the end! They were all set for a huge moment with the hottest babyface they’ve had in forever.

And now it’s not happening.

[Fade]

Feb 4, 2024 10:04:49 GMT -5 Ozman said:

This is getting ugly. It feels like more than just IWC/Smark talk. #WeWantCody has been trending worldwide. WWE might have no choice but to turn Rock heel. They could then “blur the lines” and say Rock in the storyline used his influence as a TKO board member to insert himself in the match with Roman.

Everything he does is to promote a “positive public image”. He will not turn heel.

[The Rick Jericho]

[Soultastic]

We're talking about a guy with a Hollywood clause that says he always has to be the hero and he always has to win. He literally lied about Black Adam's performance to try and save face and then pointed fingers at everyone else.

I believe he'll close his eyes and ears and let the crowd shit on every show before he admits he made a bad move, because evidence suggests that to him, that admission is what would truly make him look bad.

[Fade]

Feb 4, 2024 10:37:22 GMT -5 Soultastic said:

We're talking about a guy with a Hollywood clause that says he always has to be the hero and he always has to win. He literally lied about Black Adam's performance to try and save face and then pointed fingers at everyone else.

I believe he'll close his eyes and ears and let the crowd shit on every show before he admits he made a bad move, because evidence suggests that to him, that admission is what would truly make him look bad.

Ppl gotta let him hear it. Just like with black Adam. Just like the Oprah Hawaii thing.

[The Rick Jericho]

[The Rick Jericho]

[DrBackflipsHoffman]

Cody shouldnt be throwing away good will at a time like this

Feb 4, 2024 10:44:06 GMT -5 The Rick Jericho said:

[The Rick Jericho]

[The Rick Jericho]

[krozor]

Put me firmly in the not letting HHH off the hook on this camp. He made the call to put Roman over Cody last year - the reports last year were all that Vince himself was "You're not puttin' Cody over, pal?" about the ending and HHH could not possibly have been more smug when asked about the decision after the show. And this is 100% HHH's style, he's addicted to his beloved heat all costs approach. Heels winning the Wrestlemania main event starts with him, along with the endless misery slog booking style for his time on top as a performer and authority figure. He's the one who, by all reports, made the suggestion of having himself beat Booker at 19 because it would give him more heat to put Goldberg over, then to beat Goldberg in the Chamber anyway for even more heat and completely missing the window on making the most of Goldberg. And as a booker himself, he had the DIY break-up angle in NXT where he kept putting off perfect moments where Gargano could have come out on top and put a perfect bow on a perfect story, instead stringing it out for more and more heat until the window passed with an injury and it turned into a muddled mess that petered out with a long slog of a match (basically what HHH vs. Rollins and HHH vs. Reigns ended up being).

What did he actually book this year? He never bothered to come up with the reason why Brock attacked Cody in the first place. And according to HHH himself, it was Brock Lesnar of all people who decided to end the feud with the respect spot for Cody on his own in the ring. So he didn't bother booking a good beginning OR ending to that feud. And the Bloodline ended up being Jimmy leaving the Bloodline only to immediately rejoin and nullify that payoff, and apparently has ended with Jey just shrugging and leaving. And all that time, a Money in the Bank out that just never got used anywhere.

The payoff to the misery slog of missing "perfect" chances by passing on Drew and Sami at unbelievably perfect moments was Cody winning, and HHH did his thing and pulled his "I'll go a little later, I'll go a little later!" move and now he's going to need the fans to bail him out. Just put the belt on Cody last year, let everyone be happy, and you're basically gifted a killer championship run vs. a surprisingly game Brock who has logical motive to attack, and the same Bloodline slow collapse that - with a diminished, title-free, desperate Roman - would have been paying off perfectly vs. Rock right now. And Roman stays off TV basically the same amount anyway.

He did it to himself.

Can they still get out of it? Yes. Ironically with two guys he never liked and didn't like him. The ideas that people have thrown around of leaning into Rock, intentionally or not, abusing his new seat of power in storyline and Punk coming back to pep talk Cody into not letting the corporate machine take what he and the fans want away from them can still bail them out. But damn, to have not learned any lessons over the last 20 years and need to pull off a miracle again?