Wrestlemania 40: Cody vs Roman, Will Rhodes finish the story?

After winning the 2024 Royal Rumble, Cody Rhodes knew exactly who he was going to

challenge on the Grandest Stage of Them All. Without hesitation, he pointed to the suite

that housed the Head of the Table, Roman Reigns. This is the second consecutive

Royal Rumble victory for Rhodes who failed to dethrone the Tribal Chief at last year’s

Wrestlemania but he is determined to finish the story. Whether that will happen or not is

the real question.

Something’s Cooking

On the first Raw of the year we saw The Rock drop by and hint that it was time for him

to sit at the Head of the Table. It was all but forgotten until February 2nd, 2024’s Friday

Night Smackdown. Emanating from Birmingham, Alabama a simple interaction between

Rhodes, Reigns and The Rock produced the most disliked segment on YouTube in

WWE history. It seemed as though Rocky was strongarming his way into the title picture

and leaving Cody in the dust. But then, there was a revolt. Online and at every WWE

event in the days leading up to the Wrestlemania 40 press-conference in Las Vegas, the WWE Universe made their voices heard with signs and chants in support of the

American Nightmare.

In front of a raucous Vegas crowd, Rhodes made his official choice to face Reigns at the Show of Shows. An infuriated Rock would answer by slapping Cody and joining The Bloodline in the process. Many questions remained until The Rock, flanked by The Bloodline, cut a scathing heel promo on Smackdown where he said he would do everything in his power to ensure Rhodes does not finish the story.

Following a one-on-one challenge from Cody Rhodes directed at The People’s Champ,

The Rock countered with a tag team match between Rhodes and Rollins against Rock

and Reigns in the main event of Wrestlemania 40 Night 1. It included the stipulation that

if Cody and Seth win, then the Bloodline is barred from ringside during the Rhodes vs.

Reigns Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match on Night 2 of the PLE.

However, if Rock and Roman win, then the April 7th title match would be contested

under Bloodline rules in which anything goes. While both Rhodes and Rollins accepted

this match, the American Nightmare was faced with a new caveat courtesy of the Most

Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment. The Rock expressed that due to his position

on the TKO board of directors, should Rhodes not defeat Reigns in their one-on-one

bout, then Cody would not be able to challenge the Tribal Chief for the title again.

Roman’s Reign Coming to an End?

Right now, it’s Cody vs. Roman for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at

Wrestlemania 40 and for the first time in a year, the Champ is the underdog. He’s built

up his prestige to the point where he is an attraction and doesn’t need to appear at

every show. In that same vein, he doesn’t need a championship and yet will still be able

to continue as a top tier talent. The fans know that and, more importantly, the company

knows it too.

Cody Claims his Kingdom

Unsurprisingly Rhodes is once again the favorite to come away with the strap in the City

of Brotherly Love. Booking him to lose to Reigns at Wrestlemania two years in a row

would be too much for fans, and not in a good way. The crowd at Wrestlemania 39

definitely wanted Cody to come up with the win and most felt it would have been perfect

timing to pull the trigger. While having Reigns keep the title now for 1000+ days has

made his segments must watch, he’s not walking out of Philly with the gold.

The Pick: Cody Rhodes -700

Plain and simple, Cody Rhodes finally finishes the story and beats Roman Reigns at

Wrestlemania 40. It’s risky to go with the same main event in back-to-back

Wrestlemania’s, especially when it also follows a repeat Royal Rumble winner, but

there’s a different feel this year. It was thought that WWE missed their moment at

Wrestlemania 39 in finally having found the right person to take down Roman but that

wasn’t the case. At -700, the odds are a bit better compared to last year’s -550 to win

when he looked to cement the Rhodes legacy in the history books. Yes, it would have

been poetic for Rhodes to put a bow on things at Wrestlemania 39 but now it’s poetic

justice that Cody will right last year’s wrongs and become elite.

For all the latest odds for Wrestlemania 40 Click Here.