The Cody Rhodes Story Thread (IT'S OVER)

[Boozeman]

As much as I hate Rock shoehorning himself into the main event, I have to admit that him joining the TKO board and essentially being Hunter and Shawn's de-facto boss is the most undeniable proof I've ever seen that karma is in fact real.

[Gus Richlen: Ruffian]

According to Fightful the backstage reaction was one of shock so Rock's ego just might cause more problems than just fan anger.

[UN PLOMBIER NIGHTMARE #blm]

Can you imagine being some kid who has never seen the rock wrestle, getting to be a huge fan of Cody in some type of modern Cena way (except this time almost everyone loves him and agrees) and then this f***ing bozo clown shows up?

Go away bozo. You're not even supposed to be here. I hope you don't j-

[Jindrak Mark]

Let's forgot about behind the scenes for a second. Just purely in kayfabe Rock is a massive prick of a babyface here. The Rumble was less than a week ago. If he wanted a title shot at Roman he could have entered and attempted to earn it. Instead he thinks he just has to walk out a few days later, stare at Roman and that gets him the prize that people usually have to battle all year for then win a Rumble/chamber.

My only hope is that Rock/Cody are working together to trick/outsmart Roman, make him think Cody isn't picking him so he agrees to sign the contract for the Rock match then Cody reveals that was part of their plan and he is facing him after all and now Roman is locked into working both nights of Mania. The only thing that's giving me even a slither of hope is that they haven't announced Seth/Cody yet. Normally their social media/website immediately posts the PPV match graphic if a match is official which you'd think Seth/Cody would be if Cody has simply made his decision with no more twists but they haven't said anything about Seth/Cody yet.

The second I see that Cody/Seth match graphic/official announcement any excitement I had for Mania is gone. Cody beat this man 3 times, the final time even with his shoulder looking like a horror movie, there is no drama in him now at 100% beating a Seth who is now injured. And he's spent 2 years saying his story is specifically about Roman's title. Hell just last week Roman and Seth were both sitting in the stands and Roman is the one he pointed at after winning the Rumble. No matter the real world reasons there is no salvaging how terrible Cody will look in kayfabe if he chooses to face Seth and isn't holding Roman's title before Mania goes off the air.

I've been wanting Roman/Rock for 3-4 years but they might end up doing it in the one scenario I have no interest in. If it is a Mania main event it needed to be a non-title dream match. If it was a title match it needed to happen on literally any other PPV. Doing it at Mania and for the title means either Roman's reign has to continue when Mania 40 is the perfect time to end it or 50 year old Rock is the person to end it which is somehow even worse.

[ChitownKnight]

Feb 3, 2024 12:39:55 GMT -5 Boozeman said:

As much as I hate Rock shoehorning himself into the main event, I have to admit that him joining the TKO board and essentially being Hunter and Shawn's de-facto boss is the most undeniable proof I've ever seen that karma is in fact real.

Now we just need Rock to get his karma

[DichEvans]

Brian Gewirtz's timeline is filled with pure joy

[Dub H]

A big movie star former wrestler comes in to make the world title match about him instead of the fresh face that people have rallied behind for a year
Those who don't learn from history really are doomed to repeat it

[HIM]

f*** Rock man. He turned into one of the people that he hated back in mid 90s. It's wild man. Kids today see Cody as their "Rock" so to see him come back and do this isn't right. I saw a clip the other day that said that you know how old someone is by who they refer to Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as. If they're adults they say The Rock but if they're kids they say Dwayne Johnson. These kids don't care about Dwayne Johnson like this. They want their "Rock" which is Cody.

[Schizo]

Given the social media backlash the minute SmackDown went off the air, thinking/hoping there’s going to be tons of negative backlash in the coming weeks WWE simply won’t be able to ignore. Like the next time Roman and Rock come face to face the arena is drowned by loud Cody chants or when Cody challenges Seth on Raw to make it official there’s loud boos around the arenas. I think fans are not going to let this on slide, WWE are going to quickly regret this

[Lizuka #BLM]

Feb 3, 2024 12:55:46 GMT -5 Schizo said:

Given the social media backlash the minute SmackDown went off the air, thinking/hoping there’s going to be tons of negative backlash in the coming weeks WWE simply won’t be able to ignore. Like the next time Roman and Rock come face to face the arena is drowned by loud Cody chants or when Cody challenges Seth on Raw to make it official there’s loud boos around the arenas. I think fans are not going to let this on slide, WWE are going to quickly regret this

WWE won't give a flying f***. They buckled once on Bryan and have spent the subsequent decade hammering in over and over and over and over and over that it will never happen again.

[Dub H]

Feb 3, 2024 12:43:52 GMT -5 Gus Richlen: Ruffian said:

According to Fightful the backstage reaction was one of shock so Rock's ego just might cause more problems than just fan anger.

Cody is Banned from Smackdown.

[UN PLOMBIER NIGHTMARE #blm]

Also yeah, I've seen enough to consider that report as confirmed and my mark heart is pitch black. This absolutely cooks the Rock forever for me. Selfish, selfish clown. Even if they reverse course cause they see how bad the reception is, he can f*** off forever for this. I was really hoping and pleading that shit wasn't true, I grew up a Rock megafan and now, nah. f*** aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaall the way off.

[fw91]

God damn, it seems like that damn proboards bear doesn’t want Cody to finish the story

[Lizuka #BLM]

If nothing else I kind of want to know how much Cody must absolutely f***ing loathe this dude after this, especially when just like a week ago he said he didn't think Rock was the type of person to do it. There's probably going to be a brutal shoot interview about this in a decade or two.

[papagiorgio]

Cody vs. Seth and Rock vs Reigns Night One and the winners face night two in a unification match is 99% not likely, but it seems to be the only way to save the situation. If they thought there was even a slight chance the Rock would wrestle at Mania, Punk should have won the Rumble.

[Schizo]

Feb 3, 2024 12:59:06 GMT -5 Lizuka #BLM said:

Feb 3, 2024 12:55:46 GMT -5 Schizo said:

Given the social media backlash the minute SmackDown went off the air, thinking/hoping there’s going to be tons of negative backlash in the coming weeks WWE simply won’t be able to ignore. Like the next time Roman and Rock come face to face the arena is drowned by loud Cody chants or when Cody challenges Seth on Raw to make it official there’s loud boos around the arenas. I think fans are not going to let this on slide, WWE are going to quickly regret this

WWE won't give a flying f***. They buckled once on Bryan and have spent the subsequent decade hammering in over and over and over and over and over that it will never happen again.

It was a different management team at the time, it’ll be interesting to see how Triple H’s regime handles this

[The Rick Jericho]

STAMFORD, Conn.,

February 3, 2024 – WWE®, part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), today announced that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Roman Reigns will face off at an open-to-the-public fan and media event – WrestleMania XL Kickoff – live from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas this Thursday, February 8 at 4 p.m. PT.

Doors open at 2:30 p.m. PT.This non-ticketed event, delivered by Pizza Hut, is free for all to attend.

Fans and media will hear from both The Rock and Roman Reigns, as well as WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque. Onsite interview opportunities for media will immediately follow the event with both participants, Cody Rhodes, Seth “Freakin” Rollins, Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley.

Building on the anticipation for the already-record-breaking WrestleMania XL, Thursday’s event will be hosted by Monday Night Raw commentators Michael Cole and Pat McAfee, and stream live on WWE social and digital channels as well as Peacock.

VIP experiences for WrestleMania XL Kickoff through exclusive partner On Location are available for purchase at onlocationexp.com/wrestlemaniaxlkickoff.

WrestleMania XL takes place across two nights on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7 at 7 p.m. ET live from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia and stream live on Peacock in the U.S.

There pretty much will be no turning back now.

Oh well. Time to accept it for good.

[ChitownKnight]

Feb 3, 2024 13:01:10 GMT -5 Lizuka #BLM said:

If nothing else I kind of want to know how much Cody must absolutely f***ing loathe this dude after this, especially when just like a week ago he said he didn't think Rock was the type of person to do it. There's probably going to be a brutal shoot interview about this in a decade or two.

I think Cody is too nice of a guy to trash the Rock/wwe, but I don’t think a single person would blame him for going scorched earth. This man needs to go back to AEW

[Allie Kitsune]

Congratulations, Rock. You stuck around long enough to become the villain.

[UN PLOMBIER NIGHTMARE #blm]

Feb 3, 2024 13:01:10 GMT -5 Lizuka #BLM said:

If nothing else I kind of want to know how much Cody must absolutely f***ing loathe this dude after this, especially when just like a week ago he said he didn't think Rock was the type of person to do it. There's probably going to be a brutal shoot interview about this in a decade or two.

He's gonna not say anything for ages because he is a true professional but all you have to do is look at his face last night. Even in kayfabe, that face doesn't make any sense. It is out of kayfabe where you see it for what it is, a face of "how f***ing dare you and what the f*** are you doing".