In a shocking development within the world of professional wrestling, WWE appears to have changed its WrestleMania 40 plans, setting up a faceoff between Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Roman Reigns instead of the previously rumored match between Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns.

While it’s important to note that nothing has been officially confirmed, pro wrestling plans can change rapidly. Many within the company are cautiously optimistic about this decision, especially considering the reaction WWE received from fans on a recent Friday night show.

As of the current plan for WrestleMania, The Rock is set to take on Roman Reigns, while Cody Rhodes will face Seth Rollins. Earlier creative plans had Cody Rhodes in a match against Roman Reigns and CM Punk going up against Seth Rollins, with Punk’s title shot to be set up at the WWE Elimination Chamber event. Plans for Brock Lesnar facing Dominik Mysterio at Elimination Chamber and a match between Lesnar and Gunther at WrestleMania have also been scrapped from creative plans, as both Lesnar and Punk have been eliminated from creative moving forward.

The timeline of events surrounding this change remains somewhat unclear. Cody Rhodes had vocally expressed his intentions to challenge Roman Reigns at the Royal Rumble, but there were already rumors circulating about The Rock agreeing to face Reigns. Some reports even mention the existence of WrestleMania-themed merchandise prototypes centered around The Rock’s “Head of the Table” character.

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The decision to shift plans has sparked discussions about its timing and potential implications. Some believe that this move was not meant to divert attention from ongoing WWE, Vince McMahon, and John Laurinaitis scandals and lawsuits but rather a decision that had been in the works for a while. It’s worth noting that The Rock has a longstanding relationship with Ari Emanuel, and his association with the Endeavor brand makes him a significant figure within the company.

While The Rock is expected to work a full-length match at WrestleMania, there is uncertainty regarding whether he plans to continue wrestling regularly after this appearance. Concerns have been raised about his ability to work a main event-length match at WrestleMania given his recent sporadic appearances.

All parties involved are set to attend a press conference in Las Vegas on February 8, where further details may emerge about this surprising change in WrestleMania plans.

Reactions within WWE to this development have been mixed. While some understand the business rationale, many are critical of the decision, believing it does not align with long-term WWE goals and may not resonate with fans.

This decision has stirred up controversy within the wrestling community and has raised questions about the power dynamics within the industry. The Rock’s involvement in this match has certainly shifted the landscape, and its impact on the wrestling world remains to be seen.

What are your thoughts on WWE’s decision to change its WrestleMania 40 plans, shifting the focus to a faceoff between Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Roman Reigns instead of the previously rumored match involving Cody Rhodes? How do you think this change will affect the overall WrestleMania card and the wrestling landscape in general? Let us know in the comments below.

Steve Carrier

Steve is the Founder of RingsideNews. He has been writing about professional wrestling since 1996. He first got into website development at the time and has been focusing on bringing his readers the best professional wrestling news at it's highest quality.

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