WWE fans have united in mutiny at The Rock’s controversial return to WWE this past Friday on Smackdown.
The Hollywood megastar made his return to WWE on Smackdown to confront the reigning Undisputed WWE Universal Champion and his cousin, Roman Reigns. A Roman Reigns v The Rock match has often been viewed as a dream scenario for WWE fans. However, how this was done has sent WWE fans into total uproar.
What happened?
This past Friday on Smackdown, Royal Rumble winner, Cody Rhodes announced he was forgoing his much-anticipated WrestleMania rematch with Roman Reigns. He then introduced the man he was stepping aside for, Reigns’ cousin The Rock.
This decision was immediately panned by WWE fans on social media, despite the fans in attendance of Smackdown cheering rapturously.
The highlight clip of the segment from Smackdown has become the most disliked YouTube video from WWE of all time. It surpassed over 500,000 dislikes in under 36 hours.
The uproar would only grow bigger and louder. #WeWantCody became the top trend on X in the United States on Saturday, with over 200,000 posts.
Even current WWE superstars such as United States Champions, Logan Paul, and Ricochet showed support for the movement.
As well as this, mainstream media outlets such as TMZ, ESPN and USA Today have all reported on the movement.
‘Finish the story’
Embed from Getty ImagesCody Rhodes has long vowed to ‘finish his story’ and become WWE Champion, something his legendary father, Dusty Rhodes, never did. It has been at the core of his character since his return to WWE at WrestleMania 38 in 2022.
Cody won the 2023 Royal Rumble and challenged Reigns for the Undisputed Championship at WrestleMania last year, but was shockingly unsuccessful. A lot of fans were bewildered by this booking decision. However, it seemed blatantly obvious that WWE planned to run it back at WrestleMania 40.
For the entire year since Cody has referred to ‘finishing the story’ at WrestleMania 40 against Reigns. The feuds Cody has been in over the past year with Brock Lesnar, the Judgement Day and Shinsuke Nakamura have simply been placeholders until the WWE can start building to a rematch with Roman Reigns.
Embed from Getty ImagesThat building began with Cody’s second consecutive Royal Rumble win a week ago this past Sunday. He became the first man to win back-to-back Rumbles since ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin in 1997 and 1998. It is clear the standing he has within the company if he is matching records set by Steve Austin.
Rhodes immediately pointed to Reigns, who was sitting in a skybox at Tropicana Field, indicating his intent to challenge Reigns once again at WrestleMania.
For Rhodes to suddenly forgo his opportunity at redemption and fail to ‘finish his story’ undoes two years of storytelling. This is also out of character for WWE’s Chief Content Officer, Triple H, to abandon such a long-term storyline. In kayfabe, it makes no sense for any superstar to essentially give up his WrestleMania main event and a shot at revenge. Therefore, the fans have taken issue not necessarily with what has happened, but more with how it has happened.
The frustration also lies in the fact that Cody has been an impeccable face of the company since his return. He often stays behind after shows to thank every fan in attendance, gives the perfect answers in press conferences and has even gifted young fans with tickets to WrestleMania 40. Cody has done everything in his power to prove he is the present and the future of WWE and the fans are on board. Therefore, fans believe it is disrespectful and infuriating for Cody’s crowning moment to be given to The Rock, who has not wrestled for 11 years.
Behind the curtain politics
Embed from Getty ImagesThe key moment in this debacle was when Dwayne Johnson became a member of the board of directors for TKO, the company which now owns WWE on January 23rd.
It was not known then, but it appears this new role has given the Hollywood megastar increased power within WWE.
A match between The Rock and Reigns has long been rumoured but has yet to happen. There have certainly been hints that the match would take place. On the Day 1 edition of Raw last month, The Rock returned to WWE and confronted Jinder Mahal. In this segment, he referred to the Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns:
“When The Rock goes out to eat something in San Diego, should The Rock sit in a booth, or should The Rock sit at the bar? (Yeah, The Rock loves a bar too.) Or should The Rock sit at the head of the table?”.
Rumours began to swirl about a potential appearance from the Great One on this past Smackdown early on Friday. He was spotted at a Birmingham, Alabama gym, which was where Smackdown was taking place.
Of course, The Rock returned and the uproar began. It has been reported by Wrestling Observer Radio that the plans for The Rock to face Reigns at Mania were agreed back on January 3rd, as part of his deal with TKO.
There have also been reports that The Rock pushed to add himself to the picture to ‘save WrestleMania’ after the CM Punk injury and Brock Lesnar’s involvement in Vince McMahon’s sexual assault lawsuit.
Embed from Getty ImagesNo matter the reasoning behind the change of direction, it is clear The Rock has used his new power in WWE to strong-arm himself into the main event of WrestleMania 40.
As a result, fans have understandably turned on the People’s Champion. Fans have been waiting for Cody to ‘finish the story’ for two years, so how The Rock has usurped him catalysed this volatile reaction from the WWE Universe. Furthermore, whoever wins the proposed Rock v Roman match-up will feel like a loss for WWE fans. The Rock is 52 years old and will not be wrestling very often if he does win, something he has potentially been pushing for. Whereas, if Roman is victorious, his tiresome yet record-breaking reign will continue. After all, Roman has only defended the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship 3 times since WrestleMania 39 last April. Either way, the championship would continue to be held hostage by a part-time superstar.
WWE have put themselves in a lose-lose situation. Fans have already voiced their discontent during televised broadcasts. This was evident just last night at NXT’s Vengeance Day last night, with fans booing graphic advertising they recently announced the WrestleMania 40 press conference in Las Vegas this Thursday.
These boos will only grow louder and angrier as WWE progress with this decision. This will continue until it becomes unavoidable that WWE should pivot back to their original plans with Cody Rhodes.
The WWE fans have a history of successfully leading a revolt for true change at WrestleMania.
YESleMania
Embed from Getty ImagesThis issue is all too similar to the story of YESleMania. In early 2014, Daniel Bryan, like Cody Rhodes, was the biggest babyface in wrestling. He had been screwed out of his first WWE Championship right after winning it at Summerslam 2013 by Triple H and Randy Orton. Bryan was constantly cheated out of the title throughout the Autumn of 2013.
He was eventually moved out of the title picture completely and into a feud with the Wyatt Family. Despite this, the fans remained behind Bryan’s quest for redemption.
The moment this was abundantly clear was at the 2013 Slammy Awards. Bryan’s ‘YES’ chant hijacked the Championship Ascension Ceremony between Randy Orton and John Cena. Given the booking of Bryan in the Autumn, it seemed fitting he would go on to win the 2014 Royal Rumble. However, Bryan was not even an entrant in the match, leading to the fans completely turning on the match and eventual winner, the returning Batista.
Batista would be booed relentlessly throughout his return run. WWE had to pivot. And they did. Bryan would go on to end WrestleMania 30 as the WWE World Heavyweight Champion in one of WrestleMania’s most defining and cathartic moments.
A long way to go
Embed from Getty ImagesWhether WWE will repeat Bryan’s story with Rhodes is yet to be known. WWE are apparently ‘absolutely’ monitoring the reaction to the entire saga. That news may give fans hope that plans will change and they could still. The fans will not give up their fight and with 2 months still to go until WrestleMania 40, the pressure that will build on WWE and The Rock will intensify to uncomfortable levels. It will become unavoidable if it continues on its current trajectory. After all, in wrestling plans are always subject to change.
Image Credit: WWE
Thank you for the auspicious writeup