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The Rock Makes Intriguing Counter Offer On WWE SmackDown

By John Canton • Published 2nd March 2024
The Rock pointing at the camera

The Rock had some thoughts on a WrestleMania 40 challenge by presenting a counter offer on WWE SmackDown.

At the WrestleMania 40 Kickoff Press Event in Las Vegas, Cody Rhodes told The Rock that he wouldn’t be facing the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 because Cody would be doing that. It was Cody’s right that he earned as the 2024 Royal Rumble match winner. After words were exchanged and insults were made about families, an angry Rock slapped Cody in the face.

During the Grayson Waller Effect talk show at WWE Elimination Chamber, Cody said he would fight back and challenged Rock to a match any time he wants it.

That challenge was addressed by The Rock on WWE Smackdown in Glendale, Arizona. After trashing the crowd for having alleged drug issues, The Rock addressed Cody’s challenge by saying no. According to The Rock, you can’t just get a match with him just because you asked for it.

As his promo continued, The Rock issued a challenge for Night 1 of WrestleMania 40 – the biggest tag team match in WWE and the history of professional wrestling. The Rock said it will be Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins against The Rock & Roman Reigns and it won’t just be a regular tag team match.

The Rock said that if Rhodes & Rollins beat Rock & Reigns at WrestleMania 40 then Cody’s championship match with Reigns at WrestleMania 40 Night 2 will be free of The Bloodline because they will be barred from WrestleMania. It was mentioned by Rock that they would put it in writing.

However, if Rock & Reigns win the match over Rhodes & Rollins on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40 then, according to Rock, it would be Bloodline Rules at WrestleMania. That led to Rock saying that it could be The Rock as an announcer, Jimmy Uso could be a referee and even Solo Sikoa could sing the national anthem, which led to a shocked Solo face. The fans chanted “Solo” for that.

Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins were invited to Smackdown next week in Dallas on March 8th to give Rock & Reigns their answer. The Rock threatened Rhodes by saying if you don’t accept this challenge then Rock will do everything in his power to make sure that Cody doesn’t win that title. This led to Rock ranting about how much power he has as a member of the TKO Group’s Board of Directors and nobody could stop him.

The Rock Tells Cody Rhodes: “F**k Your Story”

Earlier on Friday several hours before Smackdown took place, The Rock posted a 21-minute video on social media outlets like X/Twitter where he blasted Rhodes and Rollins for ruining the Reigns-Rock potential match that he claims true fans wanted to see. Concerning Cody “finishing the story” by winning the WWE Title possibly at WrestleMania 40, Rock said “f**k your story” so he’s not mincing words.

It was reported last month that The Rock pitched the tag team match at WrestleMania 40 for Night 1 with Rollins & Rhodes facing Rock & Reigns in a huge tag team match. Now that the challenge has officially been made, fans will have to wait until the March 8th Smackdown episode to see if Rollins & Rhodes accept the challenge.