The Rock Doesn’t Need WWE Match With Cody Rhodes
The Rock returned to SmackDown with a message for WWE Champion Cody Rhodes but apparently, it doesn’t mean a match between the two stars is needed.
The Rock had two things on his mind when he returned to WWE on the February 21 edition of SmackDown. The Rock revealed the dates and location of WrestleMania 42 in 2026 before he had a special offer to make Cody Rhodes.
The Final Boss wants Rhodes to be his champion and told the American Nightmare that he’d see him at Elimination Chamber to get his answer. With the WrestleMania announcement coming with Rhodes and Rock’s confrontation, many are expecting a match between those to be made official at WrestleMania 42 but that might not be the case.
The Rock Doesn’t Need To Face Cody Rhodes
Speaking at the post-SmackDown press conference, The Rock explained why given his history in the business and the unique situation being built between him and Rhodes, it doesn’t necessarily need to end in a match:
For those of you guys that don’t know, I grew up in the world of pro wrestling. My dad, my grandfather, and to be able to come back in this way as the Final Boss and to be able to get in the Final Boss’ skin and be able to become that in this venue here in New Orleans?
And really, I think, take the audience on a fun experience and ride where I’m singing, I’m dropping the announcement of WrestleMania, here we come 2026, I’m singing, ‘Oh when the Saints come marching in…’ Then I tell them, ‘You can’t sing with me!’ Then bring Cody Rhodes come out and offer him this big ideology of, ‘You know, you are our champion and you’re amazing but I want so much more for you.’ And then at the end, the Final Boss says, ‘I want your soul.’
“And I think what that does in this wild, crazy world of pro wrestling is that to me, it just becomes something that’s unpredictable. In the world of pro wrestling, as we all know, everything will culminate to a match. Whatever happens, it will all end up in the ring. What I really love about this rare air space that we’ve gotten to with the character of the Final Boss, is like this white whale unicorn.
With the Final Boss and Cody Rhodes, it’s not about the WWE Title, it’s not about having a match. It’s not about punching or kicking or bleeding or any of that that is so a part of this world. It never has to culminate to a match. That’s a really special place to be I think, like creatively, and just think character-wise and how much fun you can have. I grew up in the business, as did Cody.
His dad and my dad were friends, they’re no longer with us. But to be able to have a storyline with two characters who are very popular — to never have to get in the ring for a match but still hold this really unique, compelling, and off-putting and kinda weird, ‘He wants his soul, what does that mean?’ I loved it, I loved every minute. And Cody did too as well. We had a few tequilas after tonight.