Cody Rhodes Makes Stunning Confession About Backstage Conflict With The Rock

Cody Rhodes admitted that the situation leading up to WrestleMania 40 was “as real as anything that has ever happened in the business.”

As the 2024 Royal Rumble winner, Cody Rhodes celebrated by pointing to the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, who was watching in a skybox.

However, as we found out in WWE’s Behind The Curtain documentary about WrestleMania 40, the plan was changed for Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to face Reigns at WrestleMania 40 because Cody literally stepped aside for Rock to have the spot.

The fan backlash was so bad that WWE pivoted, The Rock turned heel to become The Final Boss, and Cody got to beat Reigns in the main event of WrestleMania 40 on Sunday.

At WrestleMania 40 Saturday, The Rock and Roman Reigns teamed up to beat Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins, with Rock pinning Rhodes in what was Rock’s last match, unless he chooses to wrestle again.

On February 8th, 2024, Cody Rhodes interrupted The Rock and Roman Reigns at a WrestleMania 40 Press Conference in Las Vegas. Cody told Rock that he changed his mind, he wasn’t going to step aside and after some personal insults were exchanged, Rock slapped Cody in the face. There was some pushing and shoving while the stage was set for WrestleMania 40.

Cody Rhodes Bought A Wedding Ring In Las Vegas Right Before Infamous WrestleMania Press Conference

This week’s Cody Rhodes “What Do You Wanna Talk About?” podcast had WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch as a guest.

There was a discussion about Becky Lynch’s husband, Seth Rollins, who Cody Rhodes has wrestled with many times, and also teamed with in the main event of WrestleMania 40 Saturday. Cody discussed the Las Vegas press conference that set up the WrestleMania 40 main event, acknowledging it was a very real situation.

Based on what Cody said next, it sounded like WWE came up with the decision to change plans just before the wrestlers went out on the stage.

“That’s as real as anything that has ever happened in the business…everything that was going on in that situation. I was doing my best to deal with conflict. Part of me dealing with conflict is I’m doing alright, I’m in Las Vegas and I’m gonna go on a shopping spree. And all I was trying to do was find a tie bar. Just a bar to go across the tie. I went to every store I could possibly go to, I did everything, I walked into Tiffany’s, I got stuff for (wife) Brandi, I got stuff for (daughter) Libby, and then they had this wedding band, so I’ll get that.”

“And then by the time I got it, it was ‘Hey, please come to the building.’ And I came to the building and the rest is history. He had the green suit on – your husband – and he was out there yelling and Hunter’s yelling. I remember he’s in that ridiculous green suit. The giant family tree was on the wall.”

Cody went on to ask Becky if Seth had lost the watch that Cody got him. Becky said, “No” while also admitting she was a bad liar.

In present-day WWE, Cody Rhodes was taken out by Drew McIntyre’s Claymore Kick on the August 8th edition of SmackDown. It should lead to a WWE Title match between champion Cody and former champion Drew, but it may be down the road because Cody also has “Street Fighter” movie commitments. There hasn’t been an official match announcement yet.

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