How WWE’s WrestleMania 41 Plans for The Rock Took an Unexpected Turn

The Rock’s involvement in WWE’s WrestleMania 41 took an unexpected turn as behind-the-scenes changes revealed shifting plans for his match with Cody Rhodes.

Originally, the highly anticipated bout between The Rock and Rhodes was planned long before their confrontation at WrestleMania 40, with the idea of a one-on-one match being the centerpiece. But as Billi Bhatti explained on the Dirty Sheets Backstage podcast, WWE’s creative direction has evolved significantly over the past year.

Bhatti explained, “It was suggested that Roman Reigns be inserted into the Cody Rhodes vs. Rock match. This then became a way for The Rock not to be pinned by Cody Rhodes.” This change came after plans for a triple-threat match started to surface, a move that would have allowed The Rock to avoid a pinfall loss to Cody Rhodes while also keeping Roman Reigns in the mix.

The Rock, however, wasn’t sold on the triple-threat idea. “When The Rock came out at Bad Blood, that was about the time when the triple threat match was on the table. I would say the frontrunner, based on the conversations that I had,” Bhatti revealed. Despite this, The Rock eventually pushed to make the match a one-on-one affair with Rhodes.

Things continued to shift when The Rock began suggesting that WrestleMania 41 should center on John Cena, and he was willing to put his storyline with Rhodes on hold. Bhatti added, “If you put this storyline on hold, here’s what happens. You don’t lose to Cody Rhodes. That’s the only thing that doesn’t happen.”

As plans evolved, Bhatti noted that the shift was strategic. “The Rock knew, Nick Khan knew, and everybody knew that WWE needed a champion coming out of WrestleMania 41 and The Rock wasn’t going to be that guy,” Bhatti explained. “The Rock is not available after WrestleMania 41. That is the period where he’s generally not available.”

Now, with the possibility of a Cena-focused WrestleMania, The Rock’s role in WWE’s biggest event has been reshaped, leaving fans wondering what the final picture will look like as the show approaches.

Do you think The Rock is making the right call by pushing for a Cena-centric WrestleMania 41? Or should WWE stick to their original plans with Cody Rhodes? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!