The anticipation surrounding WrestleMania 40 revolves primarily around Cody Rhodes’ quest to conclude his saga against Roman Reigns.
Following the disappointment of last year’s setback, where Rhodes ended the night in despondency, fans are banking on The American Nightmare to triumph over the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion in Philadelphia and bring his storyline to a satisfying close.
Nevertheless, while Rhodes is poised to reach the culmination of his narrative, there’s a twist in the tale that could potentially disrupt expectations.
A significant development unfolding within the Stamford-based promotion might serve as a distraction for Rhodes, potentially resulting in a loss against The Tribal Chief.
The looming distraction comes in the form of none other than The Rock. Currently, Cody Rhodes appears overly fixated on The Great One rather than Roman Reigns.
Since The People’s Champion made his comeback to the WWE scene, it’s evident that The American Nightmare has shifted his focus entirely towards him and his theatrics.
Even a brief cameo by The Rock on Night Two could throw Rhodes off his game. This vulnerability could be exploited by Roman Reigns, enabling him to secure a second consecutive victory over the former Undisputed Tag Team Champion at The Show of Shows.
According to former WWE writer Vince Russo, The Rock’s psychological warfare has indeed rattled Cody Rhodes.
During a recent episode of Legion of RAW, Russo highlighted The Rock’s influence on Rhodes, suggesting that Rhodes has lost sight of his intended opponent, Roman Reigns:
“I’m listening to him, and I’m saying to myself, first of all, here’s my first question. Who are you wrestling at WrestleMania? The Rock or Roman Reigns? Because the way he’s cutting this promo, The Rock has already gotten in his head. You’ve forgotten all about Roman Reigns. Not a tag match, bro. The match against Roman Reigns, you waited a year for this. You’re not talking about Roman Reigns at all.” [From 22:18 onwards]
While it may seem like Cody Rhodes has become ensnared in The Rock’s allure, there’s still time for The American Nightmare to realign his focus and concentrate on Reigns and the coveted title, which ultimately constitutes his primary objective.
