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| Credit: Cultaholic |
It's been awhile since I posted anything on here. Wrestlemania is WWE's flagship PPV of the calendar year. As an avid wrestling fan since grade school, it's a pro wrestling event that I have looked forward to every spring. With the season fast approaching, one particular match in particular I was stoked for was the anticipated rematch between Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes.
At Wrestlemania 39, The American Nightmare fought the Tribal Chief in a hard fought contest. Things were going really well with Cody getting the upper hand, laying out Roman with multiple Cross Rhodes. Just when it appeared he had him beat, Cody failed to finish the story when Solo Sakoa, despite being barred from ringside earlier, interfered in the match to cost him the match. The crowd was left stunned and somewhat baffled by the result. In the months that passed, there have been mixed opinions in the online wrestling community whether it was the right decision not to put the belt on Cody. Fast forward into 2024, he would go on to win the Royal Rumble for the second year in a row, solidifying himself as the number one contender for the top prize of his choosing: Raw's World Heavyweight Title or Smackdown's Universal WWE Title. As the PPV ended, Cody turned his attention to Roman from the sky box indicating to be the one he would be challenging for the belt. Optimism was in the air after that night. By the end of the week, however, that joyful fan in me began to witness the football deflating in front of my eyes.
After making a surprised appearance on the first Raw of the New Year, The Rock popped back on Smackdown aka The Rock show aka the show he helped built nearly 25 years ago. While Cody came out to confront Roman, rather than challenging him to a Universal Title rematch at the Showcase of the Immortals, he opted NOT to use his title clause. Instead, the Rock came out to the arena to confront Roman, teasing a marquee match that will take place at Wrestlemania XL. Like many of the passionate folks in the wrestling fandom, I'm heartbroken.
What in the world is WWE thinking? In 2022, Cody made his return at Wrestlemania 38 after a brief stint in AEW. They've been crafting a character arc for him to rise to the cream of the crop by winning the big gold belt that his family members never got to hold. His performance against Seth Rollins inside Hell in a Cell was infamously remembered for his performance despite working injured. When he won the first of 2 Royal Rumble matches, Cody went on to challenge Roman Reigns for the Universal Title at Wrestlemania 39 in a losing effort; Not just losing clean in the ring but under shady circumstances that screwed him out of the title. Despite a bump in the road, Cody spent a majority of 2023 feuding with the likes of Brock Lesnar, Shinsuke Nakamura, & the entire Judgment Day faction. So you're telling me that he spent a whole year rebuilding his momentum that even though he won the Rumble twice, he's just going to sacrifice that opportunity to a Hollywood action star who hadn't wrestled a match in over a decade? Not surprising yet very disappointing.
Don't get me wrong. I loved watching the Rock. He was one of my favorite wrestlers growing up at a time when wrestling became white hot again in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Along with Stone Cold and Hulk Hogan, they were the gateway in regards to my interest in the "sport." It reminded me of a time before Social Media where I'd get together with my sister and my late father every Monday and Thursday night watching Raw Is War and Smackdown respectively. Rock's charisma, physique, and his ability to cut savage promos on his rivals were what had me invested in him as a character. Then Hollywood came calling. Overtime, he started to appear on TV less and less. By 2005, WWE cut ties with the Rock as he ventured forward into the world of acting.
When he returned in 2011, the fan in me cried with joy. His initial match with John Cena at Wrestlemania 28 was phenomenal. The one year build and the promos they cut along the way really had me invested in their program. The year after that, they attempted to capitalize on that success with a rematch, this time with the WWE Championship on the line. However, it didn't go well with the audience in attendance. That same night, Rock tore his abdomen by the end of the match. As Cena celebrated with the WWE Title back around his waist, many fans believed to be The Rock's final match as a competitor (I don't count the squash match he had with Erik Rowan at Wrestlemania 32 BTW). After making countless one off appearances in the years since, the Brahma Bull has come out of retirement AGAIN to take on his blood cousin in a match to determine the undisputed Head of the Table.
I am disappointed by the news. Cody spent two years clawing his way to the top. When he returned to the Rumble in 2023 from a tear in his pectoral muscle, I was stoked. Seeing him embrace the fans with his cadence and his blue collar outlook, it made me respect him for the guy. The American Nightmare being the potential conquering hero to put an end to Roman Reigns's two and a half year title run. Wrestlemania 39 rolled around, and just when Cody had him beat, interference from Solo played a role in costing Cody the match. I was one of those folks that was unsatisfied by the end result. Part of me wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt that somewhere down the line, they'll run a title rematch where, after overcoming adversity, Cody would finally be the knight that slays the unstoppable dragon once and for all.
Or so we thought...
After winning the Rumble a second time, Cody had to make a decision on which championship belt he'll choose. It was either the World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins on Raw or the Universal WWE Champion Roman Reigns. After all of that anticipation, you'd think he would finally announce the rematch to settle the score. This past Friday night on Smackdown, after a confrontation with the Tribal Chief, he agreed to challenge him for the championship (wait for it)........but NOT at Wrestlemania. It was that moment I knew what had to come after.
The Rock makes his startling appearance to close out the show, hugging while whispering to Cody Rhodes. He had one of the most insincere smiles I've seen. The crowd in attendance may have been cheering for the Great One. I realized the wheels started to fall off.
I respect him for all the good he's done inside and outside the ring. Just recently, he was appointed as the head of the Board of Directors with TKO, a conglomerative company that owns the UFC and WWE. However, I do not agree with the creative direction they went with. It's no secret pro wrestling is staged; Match outcomes, and storylines are predetermined or planned in advance. How is it that after all of these years of whether or not he was going to get back into wrestling one more match, it came at the worst time? Imagine if Stone Cold earned a World Title shot at Wrestlemania XIV only to call an audible and pass up on that opportunity only to have a returning legend to take his spot as the number one contender instead? There may have been no Attitude Era, and therefore, the wrestling landscape would be very different.
Roman Reigns versus The Rock had been a dream encounter that had been thought about as far back as when Roman ventured off as a singles competitor following the Shield's breakup. He returned to help his cousin win the 2015 Royal Rumble to a negative reception. As we approached into the new decade, it was originally announced that Wrestlemania 37 would take place at Sofi Stadium in Los Angeles, California. With LA being the home to the glitz and glamor that is Hollywood, rumors began to circulate that Roman and Rock could possibly face off at the Grand Daddy of Them All. Then the pandemic happened. Everything was either shut down or were confined to a limited capacity audience. Scheduled events had to be postponed or canceled indefinitely. So a possibility of that star studded match was off the table.
It was also during the pandemic in which started a generational run. Roman Reigns, after taking time off throughout a good portion of 2020, returned as he formed an alliance with Paul Heyman. Under his influence, he would go on to win the Universal Championship, a title in which he still holds to this day. For the next three years, he would rack up wins against every elite WWE superstar of the past two decades - the likes of Daniel Bryan, Edge, John Cena, Brock Lesnar, Drew McIntyre, Randy Orton, and AJ Styles. You talk about an overpowered created superstar from the 2K WWE games with a 99 overall as they plow through the competition. That is Roman's title reign in a nutshell. Not only that, but he would also add more gold to his collection in the WWE Championship at Wrestlemania 38. Along with his Samoan family in Jimmy & Jey as well as the late addition of Solo Sakoa, the Bloodline dominated WWE TV for nearly four years (they have surpassed the nWo's time on top in WCW in the late 90s).
As of this post, it's February 2024. Long ago, I would have been all in for supporting this match. Roman was the Big Dog struggling to win over fans in his all around good guy persona, and a guy like the Rock was generally well liked by the audience. Granted this may sound like a potential rehash of his feud with Cena in the early 2010s. During the beginning stages of Roman's Tribal Chief run, perhaps Wrestlemania 37 (had the pandemic not happened) or Wrestlemania 39 would have been the ideal time to do just that.
Roman's time on top has started to wind down. After feuding with his now ex-Bloodline teammate in Jey Uso, he began to disappear from television at the tail end of 2023. Although he came back to defend the title in a 4 Way with LA Knight, AJ Styles, and Randy Orton, it was only a matter of time before someone would put Roman in his place. Even despite Cody's Rumble victory and his intended target to go after the wrestler that beat him unfairly, all of that may be put on hold. I had to ask myself, "How long can this go?" He didn't win it at 39, he didn't get a shot at Summerslam later that year, and just when it seemed clear that it would all come down to the grand finale at Wrestlemania 40, alluding to CM Punk's promo to Cody, there's something in the distance stopping him from getting that title opportunity. All of a sudden, Rock storms his way out of retirement, pushing the hot commodity aside to show him what "real" star power is like. Imagine if an employee who spent an extended period of time performing their job position to the best of their ability; Just when it seemed like they're on the verge of receiving a promotion, the boss hires back a former employee and takes over their spot like they never left the company.
Throughout Social Media, there have been mixed opinions regarding who should main event Roman. Some favor Cody, others favor Rock. Even if WWE has good intentions and decide to pivot, the last thing I want to see is a Triple Threat match or Roman pulling double duty on both nights. In a few years time, how are people going to wonder as to how Rock got into the title picture only to find out he got there without doing the work? As for the possibility of Roman performing double duty and potentially losing the belt, he'll downplay it as though he was screwed. These are complex scenarios that have a catch to them.
I am exhausted for words. I know it's a TV show I invest every week and I certainly have taken the liberty to get off the internet and do what I can to enjoy my day. It's what happens no matter which fandom we support. Bottom line is we can agree to disagree regarding the ideal route WWE should take. I wish it didn't have to resort to this.
-JimmytheTVFanatic
