WrestleMania 40 is set to be a monumental event in the world of professional wrestling, with fans buzzing about the involvement of three major stars: The Rock, Roman Reigns, and Cody Rhodes. While there has been some controversy surrounding the lineup, it seems clear that The Rock is embracing his role as a heel in this WWE run.
At the WrestleMania Kickoff press conference, the most viral moment occurred when The Rock, feeling disrespected, slapped Cody Rhodes just days after they had seemingly made amends on SmackDown. This unexpected turn of events shifted the focus away from the reported plan of The Rock facing Reigns and instead put the spotlight on Rhodes' feud with The Rock, stemming from The Rock's desire to steal Rhodes' WrestleMania main event spot.
Fans are eager to see more of The Rock and Rhodes' rivalry unfold, and if a match between the two were to take place, it would make sense for it to be the Night One main event. The winner of that match could then go on to face Reigns in the headlining match on Night Two. While the path to this outcome isn't yet clear, one possibility could be Rhodes defending his Royal Rumble victory and No. 1 contendership against The Rock. Ideally, Rhodes would defeat The Rock and follow up with a victory over Reigns less than 24 hours later.
Interestingly, despite The Rock and Reigns appearing to be on the same page for now, defending their family's honor as the true 'royal family' of pro wrestling, tensions between the two are likely to resurface. The Rock has made it clear that he intends to become the 'Head of the Table' of The Bloodline, Reigns' faction. Unless The Rock is planned for multiple future matches leading up to WrestleMania 41, it is expected that he will eventually face Reigns as an opponent rather than an ally.
While a triple threat match involving Rhodes may not be the ideal choice, given that it could take away from Rhodes' shine and potentially allow Reigns to lose his title without being pinned, the prospect of a triple threat match between Reigns, Rhodes, and The Rock is undoubtedly intriguing. The star power involved and the complex dynamics among the three wrestlers would make this a must-watch event.
There have been rumors that WWE is considering the unification of the Universal and World Heavyweight Championships by SummerSlam. This could explain Seth Rollins' involvement in the WrestleMania Kickoff press conference. Rollins' WrestleMania opponent will be determined in the Elimination Chamber, but that wouldn't prevent him from wrestling both nights. In this scenario, Rollins could retain his title on Night One, Rhodes could do the same, and it could set up a Fatal 4-Way match with The Rock on Night Two.
While a Fatal 4-Way match could be seen as a solution to lessen the workload for The Rock, who hasn't wrestled in a decade and is now 51 years old, this ambitious match may not be the best creative choice. It could potentially overwhelm the storyline and jeopardize the impact of each individual wrestler's reign and character development.
It was previously rumored that The Rock would have an Undisputed Universal Championship match against Reigns at WrestleMania as part of a lucrative deal. However, given the negative reaction to this plan, the WWE may have decided to change direction. Nevertheless, with both The Rock and Reigns vying for the top spot in the wrestling industry, a singles match between the two seems inevitable. The question remains: when will it happen? The Rock has hinted at a long-term storyline, and if WWE decides to speed up the narrative, The Rock vs. Reigns could occur on Night One of WrestleMania 40, with the winner defending the title against Rhodes on Night Two. However, considering the complexity and layers of this storyline, it is more likely that the clash between The Rock and Reigns will take place at a later date.
It is unclear if Seth Rollins' involvement in this storyline has any long-term implications. With his WrestleMania opponent yet to be determined, Rollins may have already moved on. However, after the events of the WrestleMania Kickoff press conference, it seems plausible that Rollins could team up with Rhodes to take on The Rock and Reigns in a tag team match, possibly on Night One. This matchup would undoubtedly be one of the biggest tag team matches in WrestleMania history and could provide a breather for The Rock, who may not be able to deliver his peak in-ring performance at this stage of his career.
Regardless of how The Rock is utilized at WrestleMania 40, one thing is certain: he will step into the ring, whether it be as Reigns' opponent or as his sidekick. The anticipation for this star-studded event is building, and fans can't wait to witness the twists and turns that will unfold on the road to WrestleMania.
