Cody Rhodes Surprised by Camera Attention After Giving WrestleMania Spot to The Rock

Since capturing the WWE Undisputed Title at WrestleMania 40, Cody Rhodes has been on a remarkable streak. The American Nightmare has successfully defended his title multiple times, but this run of success might not have been possible had The Rock vs. Roman Reigns remained the planned main event for WrestleMania.

During the February 2nd episode of WWE SmackDown, Cody Rhodes declared his intention to take everything from Roman Reigns, though he made it clear that this would not happen at WrestleMania. In a surprising move, he introduced The Rock, seemingly stepping aside to allow The Rock to face Reigns at WrestleMania XL, despite having won the men’s Royal Rumble.

Brian Gewirtz previously commented that Cody’s promo was intended to be more uplifting. Instead, Cody’s portrayal came across as despondent and genuine. Gewirtz noted that he didn’t blame Cody for how the promo was delivered.

“Cody is a human being who is genuine and real, and he wears his heart and emotion on his sleeve. In Alabama [February 2nd WWE SmackDown], certainly, even if you tell me, ‘that would never work, it’s stupid to propose it.’ The idea was supposed to be, it’s like the Nixon-Kenedy debate a little bit where you read the transcript, you’re like ‘Nixon kicked his ass.’ If you watch the actual footage, ‘Oh, he was a sweaty terrible mess.’ Cody, it was supposed to be, in some form, ‘Yeah, Fuckin A! Go get em Rock! You’re going to get your ass kicked, Roman! Let’s do this!’ and this uplifting promo. Instead, he looked like someone shot his dog in the face in the parking lot. Just look at his expression. By the way, someone else, even when the team wins, looks forlorn and upset and despondent. Julius Randle [laughs].

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“That, I don’t think, helped matters. It might not have changed or affected anything. Certainly, on paper, and I don’t blame Cody for that, he’s real and one of the realest people I’ve ever met. He said what he had to say in the promo, but you couldn’t mask what he was really feeling, and I think the fans felt that a lot. They felt like ‘he doesn’t mean a word of this. This is being forced for him to say.’ He’s despondent. He’s literally doing the Michael Cera-Arrested Development, Charlie Brown walk out of the arena when he’s supposed to be on cloud nine. I think that had a lot to do with it.”

In a recent interview with Inside The Ropes, Cody Rhodes was asked if Brian Gewirtz’s observations about the promo were valid. Cody responded to say that he may have a point with that statement.

“He might. He might have a point. He might, only because I didn’t think of myself…the moment was so real, I guess I didn’t think of myself in a performance sense of ‘You’re not smiling’ or ‘You are smiling.’ The Final Boss [The Rock] had whispered something in my ear that was actually really kind and nice, and I did smile. I think, not so much about my face, the thing I remember about it is I wanted to get out of there. I wanted to get out of there. I did want them to have their moment. I wanted to be gone. I didn’t want people to linger on me. I would never shade our production team, especially with what Brian Fadem and Lee Fitting and everyone is doing.”

“I think they might have spent a little too much time focused on me in the first place and not focused on that potential matchup. Brian (Gewirtz) probably has a point, I don’t think I offered up the best faces for what that should have been. I certainly wasn’t trying to be boo-boo face. Boo-boo face is famous in the industry when something is up and you can tell upon somebody’s entrance. Maybe I was the number one case of it of all time. Who knows. I did not think they would spend so much time on me. I did not think they would be looking at me while I was in the aisle. I just wanted to get back to my bus. I didn’t go through Gorilla. I walked around it. I didn’t want to see anybody. I sprinted, got on my bus, and locked the door.”

The shift in WrestleMania’s main event was influenced by what fans dubbed the “Cody Crybabies,” and ultimately, it was The Rock’s decision to alter the match, considering his significant role on WWE’s Board of Directors.

The Rock has announced his return to WWE, and it seems he is eyeing a WrestleMania match against Cody Rhodes next year. As the build-up to that potential clash begins, fans are eagerly anticipating how this high-stakes encounter will unfold.

What are your thoughts on The Rock potentially facing Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania? Do you think Cody Rhodes benefited from this entire situation? Share your views in the comments section!