With his Royal Rumble win in the rearview mirror, Cody Rhodes is looking ahead to his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match with Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39 in Los Angeles, CA.
The star made his return from injury at the Royal Rumble in San Antonio, having last been seen inside a WWE ring in June, where he faced Seth Rollins inside Hell in a Cell with a torn pectoral muscle. While his return and Royal Rumble win fit well into the story of Rhodes wanting to win the top championship that eluded both his father and his brother, the story between The Bloodline evolved during his absence, and many fans are calling for Sami Zayn to be the one to defeat Roman Reigns and end his record-breaking championship run.
Speaking to Alex McCarthy for the Daily Mail, Cody Rhodes commented on whether or not his storyline conflicts with that of The Bloodline, particularly now that Sami Zayn has severed ties with the group after hitting Reigns with a chair at the Royal Rumble. He also praised his old foe Seth Rollins for his work in carrying Raw while Rhodes was dealing with his injury.
“I love that you bring it up that these stories are running parallel, I think sometimes wrestling fans think it’s got to be one or it’s got to be the other, whereas I subscribe – and I’m not in charge – I subscribe to give them everything.
“That’s where it really takes smart planners and creative individuals on how you layer it, but it’s very important and this is something I learned when I was away, is that if someone’s doing great, and they are entertaining and helping move that ship forward – and I would say Seth Rollins is another example on Raw.
“He was another when I was gone who’s really changed and continued to carry Raw on his back. I was fully expecting these things to converge, and I’m still expecting them to converge just because we have these wonderful options.”
Cody Rhodes Believes The Current WWE Roster Is Telling Better Stories Than A Potential Dwayne Johnson Return
One of the other rumors leading into WrestleMania season was the potential of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson making a return to WWE to face Roman Reigns as they are both members of the famed Anoa’i family. However, that return looks less and less likely as WrestleMania nears, and recent reports indicate that if Dwayne Johnson does make an appearance, it won’t be to wrestle.
Cody Rhodes spoke about the possibility of The Rock coming back to WWE, and says that while he respects the man for everything he’s done in the industry, he believes the current roster is telling better stories at this time and that Dwayne Johnson’s return isn’t necessary.
“With all the respect in the world to one of the GOATs, The Rock, it looks like the options we have here within the roster are even better because of the stories that are happening.
“One story about finishing something that started in 1978 – seven years before I was even born – and another story of really the tragedy of being welcomed into the Bloodline and then what you saw unfolds.”
Continuing, Cody Rhodes made it clear that his eyes are firmly fixed on winning WWE‘s top prize, no matter who is holding the title going into WrestleMania. Roman Reigns is set to face Sami Zayn at the upcoming Elimination Chamber in Montreal, so there’s a possibility of a shock title change before superstars find their way to the Grandest Stage of Them All.
“I think with the amount of time between now and WrestleMania, it’s important I keep my eyes squarely fixed on WrestleMania, squarely wrestling for the WWE Undisputed Championship and as you hinted that may not be against Roman Reigns.
“Now I don’t know if anyone can beat Roman Reigns, I truly don’t, but for me, it’s about picking up the chip. I love the melodrama, I love the heaviness in these stories that develop in our industry, but I am very simply a man who’s looking for a belt.
“I’m looking for a championship title belt, the most important one in our world the biggest in all – not just in the WWE bubble but in all the bubbles – and be the first to say as a Rhodes I did it. And it wasn’t Dusty Rhodes and it wasn’t Dustin Rhodes – it was Cody Rhodes.”
h/t Daily Mail