In response to intense fan criticism regarding a potential WrestleMania 40 bout between Roman Reigns and The Rock, WWE swiftly changed its plans as the Great One turned heel during the WrestleMania Kickoff press conference. Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship will instead headline WrestleMania 40.
The backlash became impossible for WWE to avoid after Reigns and The Rock went face-to-face on the SmackDown after Royal Rumble. From “#WeWantCody” trending for 72 hours consecutively to the outpour of messages in anything the People’s Champion posted on social media, the WWE Universe absolutely made their voices heard.
Embracing the chaos, The Rock has welcomed the rowdy social media comments, marking a drastic departure from his role as a beloved WWE legend on potentially his last full-time run. This shift also provides fans a glimpse of a heel persona they haven’t seen in decades.
The Rock has also dubbed Rhodes’ vocal fans as the “Cody Crybabies.” Riling them up further in kayfabe, he posted on Instagram calling out the “crybabies” that they have “no idea what’s coming.”
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3UDNKgrCv4/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
It’s safe to say it worked, with over 6,000 comments and counting.
Remarkably, in 2024, The Rock has transformed into a heat magnet. It’s almost surreal considering the reaction he received upon returning for the Day 1 episode of Raw in January. The tide has turned completely, and he’s now facing boos for the first time since his Hollywood Rock days in the mid-2000s.
The endgame for The Rock’s current WWE run remains unknown. His WrestleMania 40 remains unclear, but he could team with Reigns to take on Rhodes and Seth Rollins at the event. If this unfolds, it would mean Reigns, Rhodes and possibly Rollins wrestling twice each during the two-day extravaganza.
WWE has about seven weeks to build this storyline. Meanwhile, The Rock has the chance to generate more heat than ever before, and thus far, he is succeeding.
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