The recent buzz around The Rock’s WWE return and its potential implications for WrestleMania 40 created significant excitement among fans. Many believed that the wrestling icon would face Roman Reigns at the grand event. The match seemed almost certain as early as mid-January this year. However, WrestleMania 40 took a different turn, with Cody Rhodes ultimately defeating Roman Reigns to claim the Undisputed WWE Championship.
Behind-the-Scenes Discussions
Brian Gewirtz, while speaking on Busted Open Radio, revealed that talks about a possible Rock vs. Roman match had been intensifying since fall 2022. By January 1st, following a promo involving Jinder Mahal, the possibility of The Rock facing Roman Reigns at WrestleMania was gaining serious momentum.
A pivotal meeting took place in The Rock’s hotel room with Triple H, Nick Khan, Gewirtz, and The Rock himself. The group delved into the storyline details, with Triple H being particularly mindful of the ongoing Cody Rhodes narrative, which played a significant role in their planning.
The Head of the Table Tease
During this meeting, the idea of The Rock addressing the “Head of the Table” moniker came up. The team brainstormed how to subtly tease this concept to gauge audience reaction. When The Rock hinted at it during his January 1st promo, the reaction from both the live audience and online community was overwhelmingly positive, solidifying their direction.
The Rock’s commitment was underscored by his TKO announcement and a visit to WWE HQ, with extensive plans for merchandise and title belts already in place. Gewirtz revealed that by January, the Rock vs. Roman match was essentially locked in.
Cody Rhodes’ Rumble Win and Its Impact
Despite these plans, Cody Rhodes won the Royal Rumble, setting his sights on Roman Reigns for WrestleMania. Gewirtz noted that Cody became aware of the potential Rock vs. Roman match on the day of the Royal Rumble, adding complexity to the storyline. He expressed concerns that Cody’s Rumble win altered the narrative dynamics, suggesting that having CM Punk win the Rumble to challenge Seth Rollins might have maintained a clearer storyline distinction.
Gewirtz believed that Cody’s immediate focus shift after winning the Rumble complicated the “finish the story” narrative. He suggested that Punk winning the Rumble would have allowed Cody to earn his shot in a more organic manner, maintaining his underdog status.
Final Outcome and Fan Reactions
Despite the changes, Cody Rhodes ultimately triumphed at WrestleMania 40, defeating Roman Reigns. Gewirtz hinted at an alternative plan where The Rock might have won the WWE Undisputed Championship before handing it back to Roman Reigns, a scenario that many fans might have disliked.
In the end, many fans were pleased with how the storyline unfolded. Cody Rhodes’ victory resonated well, and the anticipated Rock vs. Roman match remains a tantalizing “what could have been” moment in WWE history.
The wrestling world continues to buzz with excitement and speculation, proving that even behind-the-scenes machinations can captivate the audience just as much as the in-ring action.
