“WWE’s Surprising WrestleMania 40 Plan: Cody Rhodes Sets Sights on New Challenge Against CM Punk, Paving the Way for Epic Showdown”
WWE is allegedly taking an unexpected turn with Cody Rhodes’s trajectory toward WrestleMania 40. Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated reports that Rhodes won’t be the headline act in April, and he won’t conclude his storyline by defeating Roman Reigns for the undisputed Universal Championship.
According to a recent report by Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, sourced from individuals close to Paul “Triple H” Levesque, there’s a growing indication that Cody Rhodes may not culminate his narrative arc at WWE WrestleMania 40. The report suggests that Rhodes is not slated for the headline match nor is he expected to contend for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at the upcoming marquee event.
The revelation surrounding Rhodes’ potential WrestleMania placement aligns with mounting speculation of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s comeback to face his cousin, Roman Reigns. While some harbored hopes of Rhodes securing a rematch against Reigns in April notwithstanding Johnson’s return.
During a recent episode of “WWE Raw,” Rhodes engaged in a segment with CM Punk, garnering notable viewership both on television and digital platforms. While it’s hinted that a Rhodes-Punk confrontation may materialize at WrestleMania, the specifics of this development remain uncertain, whether derived from insider sources or speculative analysis of recent events on “Raw.”
Since his WWE return in 2022, Rhodes has been committed to “finishing the story” initiated by his father, Dusty Rhodes. Despite ascending to the pinnacle of the industry, Dusty never clinched the WWE Championship, a title now symbolized by the Undisputed Universal WWE Championship. Rhodes came close to this achievement in last year’s main event but fell short against Reigns. While many anticipated Rhodes’ resurgence in this year’s main event, if the report holds true, his pursuit appears to have been deferred due to Johnson’s return.
As WrestleMania’s dual main event scenario unfolds, enthusiasts anticipate more clarity following the forthcoming 2024 WWE Royal Rumble scheduled for this Saturday. As customary, winners of the battle royales will earn an opportunity to vie for their preferred title at “The Grandest Stage of Them All.”
Instead, they could purportedly planning a match between Cody Rhodes and CM Punk at WrestleMania, setting the stage for the Reigns vs. The Rock dream match as the main event on Night 2.
In the previous year, Rhodes won the 2023 men’s Royal Rumble match and challenged Reigns for the title in the main event of WrestleMania 39. However, interference from Solo Sikoa led to Rhodes falling short.
Since that pivotal loss, Rhodes has consistently emphasized the significance of completing his narrative by earning another opportunity against Reigns and emerging victorious at WrestleMania.
Rhodes and Punk stand as the primary contenders to triumph in the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble, evident in their heated promo segment on Raw. However, the prospect of them clashing at WrestleMania implies that another participant, possibly intercontinental champion Gunther, could emerge victorious in the Rumble. Gunther’s recent promo targeting the injured world heavyweight champion Seth Rollins on Monday night Raw suggests a potential foreshadowing of their unfolding plans.
Regardless of the unfolding scenario, they strategically positioned itself to construct a riveting WrestleMania card. Although Rhodes potentially not concluding his narrative may disappoint a considerable faction of his fanbase, the envisioned clash between Cody and Punk has the potential to become a monumental fixture in the WrestleMania history, even in the absence of a championship on the line.
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The Rock should be on the main card
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, in an unexpected turn of events, reappeared on Raw, referencing Roman Reigns’ moniker “The Head of the Table,” intensifying speculations among fans regarding a potential showdown between the real-life cousins. Despite expressed interest from both Reigns and The Rock in the past, such a matchup has yet to materialize. Johnson’s recent appointment to the TKO Group Holdings board and subsequent appearance on ESPN’s First Take fueled discussions about the likelihood of a clash with Reigns.
In the interview, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson described himself as a “long-gamer” and emphasized the importance of a robust build-up to the anticipated match, prompting conjecture that WWE might opt to delay the Reigns vs. The Rock encounter until WrestleMania 41.