Cody Rhodes set the record straight regarding WrestleMania 40.
The build to WrestleMania 40 was full of twists and turns. When Cody Rhodes won the men’s Royal Rumble match, he pointed straight to Roman Reigns and said he was coming for The Tribal Chief, a clear indication that he intended to finish his story with Reigns on the Grandest Stage of Them All.
However, on the February 2nd episode of SmackDown, Rhodes declared to Reigns that he would not be coming for him at WrestleMania after all and introduced a faceoff between Reigns and The Rock.
After fan backlash, Cody Rhodes declared that he’d be facing Roman Reigns after all, and in the main event of night two, Rhodes finished his story and defeated Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Championship.
Speaking in a new interview with The Pivot, Cody Rhodes opened up about his admiration for The Rock as a performer and a professional wrestler.
“I grew up a huge fan of The Rock. I have a lot of respect for The Rock. Maybe more than anybody in any locker room. When I made eye contact with The Rock for the very first piece of business we ever did, I got an instant understanding of who he is. He’s not a movie star. He’s not a potential Presidential nominee, which would be great at this point. He’s not a businessman with all these partnerships.
When I looked at him in the eyes, I saw exactly what he is. He’s a pro wrestler. He’s a pro wrestler who understands the nature, ‘I like this crowd. I’m going to get them really excited. Then really upset. Then as excited as they’ve ever been. Then I’m going to get them to tell their friends to come back.’ At that moment, I had the utmost respect for him because in my heart, that’s how I feel. I could do a bazillion other things, but I’m a wrestler. To see that from the biggest movie star on the planet, it’s a lot of respect.”
In recent news, Cody Rhodes recalled winning over the crowd at the 2024 Royal Rumble.
“Rock Should Know I Wouldn’t Be Cool With It” – Cody Rhodes
Despite Cody Rhodes’ respect for The Rock, the star made it clear that he was not going to be fine with giving up his WrestleMania main event and the chance to dethrone Roman Reigns.
“Where we would butt heads is in the idea that you could just come back in the midst of a story that was taking place and just because you’re The Rock, you can step into the starting lineup and take WrestleMania for yourself. A lot of people said, ‘He’s The Rock. He can do whatever he wants.’
I saw a podcast with two wrestling heads talking and they said, ‘I’m sure Cody is fine stepping aside for WrestleMania and doing it later in the year.’ In my mind, I’m thinking, ‘That’s insane.’ That’s the Super Bowl of what we do. The last day of WrestleMania, the last match, it’s our literal Super Bowl. The idea that somebody thought I would be cool with it. They don’t know me. That’s nonsense.
I worked my whole life for this. Rock should know I wouldn’t be cool with it. Maybe that’s an understanding him and I have. He found out, I’m not cool with it. That’s a good thing. You know who wasn’t cool with The Rock? Steve Austin. They made magic together. They rubbed together so much it created diamonds. I do have a lot of respect for him.”
Leaning into the memes, Cody Rhodes finally went full Homelander in a new ad.
h/t Fightful