Here is the very latest on the plans involving The Rock and Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40.
According to a report from Pwinsider, multiple sources claim that The Rock vs. Roman Reigns is still “100% the plan” for WrestleMania 40 despite the strong negative reaction from fans online. The report states that the match is a “done deal” and is likely “contractually locked in” due to the fact that this is one of the things that was agreed upon with The Rock being appointed to the TKO Board of Directors. One source went as far as to say there is “no scenario” where The Rock is not facing Roman Reigns short of something like an injury happening. Could they do The Rock vs. Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 (Night One) and Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns (Night Two)? Of course – but that wasn’t the plan as of Monday afternoon.
It is said that Brian Gewirtz, who works closely with The Rock, is expected to be at all major WWE events going forward. This includes the Elimination Chamber 2024 pay-per-view event. He’s also expected to be part of the creative process heading into WrestleMania 40.
While it is said that WWE “definitely took notice” of the reaction Cody Rhodes got, there are several in the company who have pushed for WWE to lean into the situation. The belief internally is that this will all make Rhodes a stronger babyface by playing up the fan support for him. With that being said, there were never any plans to turn The Rock heel or have it come off as if he was taking Rhodes’ spot in a malicious way.
The company can obviously adjust things week by week in order to “make it make sense,” as we’re still 61 days away from WrestleMania 40 so there’s plenty of time to change the fan perception. There are some who believe that with the shock of The Rock’s appearance wearing off, the creative team can now work on building everyone as strongly as possible going into the “Showcase of the Immortals.” It is said that there isn’t a single person in WWE who wants this to hurt Rhodes, as they know how important he is to the company. This includes live events and merchandise sales.
While there were some reports of Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns in a World Heavyweight Title vs. Undisputed WWE Universal Title match taking place at SummerSlam, that is all speculation at this point. That would be six months out and creative is not even being discussed for that show.
The Rock and Roman Reigns Set to Face Off at WrestleMania 40
There has been a lot of buzz surrounding the plans for WrestleMania 40, and one match that has been generating a lot of attention is the highly anticipated showdown between The Rock and Roman Reigns. Despite some negative reactions from fans online, multiple sources have confirmed that this match is still “100% the plan” for the upcoming event.
According to a report from Pwinsider, the match between The Rock and Roman Reigns is considered a “done deal” and is likely “contractually locked in.” This agreement was reportedly made when The Rock was appointed to the TKO Board of Directors. One source even went as far as to say that there is “no scenario” where The Rock is not facing Roman Reigns, unless an unforeseen injury occurs.
While there have been suggestions of alternative matchups, such as Cody Rhodes facing Roman Reigns on Night Two of WrestleMania 40, it seems that the original plan is still in place. However, the WWE creative team has the flexibility to make adjustments leading up to the event in order to address fan reactions and ensure that the storyline makes sense.
Brian Gewirtz, who works closely with The Rock, is expected to be involved in the creative process for WrestleMania 40. Gewirtz’s presence at major WWE events, including the upcoming Elimination Chamber 2024 pay-per-view, indicates the importance of this match and the effort being put into its execution.
While WWE has taken notice of the strong fan support for Cody Rhodes, there are individuals within the company who believe that leaning into this situation will only strengthen Rhodes’ position as a beloved babyface. It is important to note that there were never any plans to turn The Rock into a heel or have his involvement come across as malicious towards Rhodes.
With WrestleMania 40 still 61 days away, there is ample time for the creative team to shape the narrative and change fan perceptions. The goal is to build up all the involved wrestlers as strongly as possible leading into the “Showcase of the Immortals.” The company is fully aware of Rhodes’ significance and wants to ensure that this match does not negatively impact his standing within WWE, including live events and merchandise sales.
While there have been rumors of a potential World Heavyweight Title vs. Undisputed WWE Universal Title match between Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns at SummerSlam, these reports are purely speculative at this point. Creative discussions for that event are not yet taking place, as it is still six months away.
In conclusion, the plans for The Rock vs. Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 remain unchanged despite some fan backlash. WWE is committed to making this match a success and is taking steps to address fan concerns while also capitalizing on the support for Cody Rhodes. As the event draws closer, fans can expect further developments and surprises leading up to this highly anticipated clash of wrestling titans.