Cody Rhodes Has NO FEAR Of The Rock Taking WrestleMania 40 Spot

Dwayne Johnson's "big day out" didn't spook WWE's Cody Rhodes at all.

by Andy H Murray
Cody Rhodes
WWE.com

Cody Rhodes has no fear of Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson taking his spot in the WWE WrestleMania 40 main event, despite Johnson's recent SmackDown return.

'The American Nightmare' said as much during a recent appearance on Busted Open Radio. Having been felled by Roman Reigns in the WrestleMania 39 headliner, Rhodes is targeting another Undisputed WWE Universal Title fight in April, and he isn't "flinching" on it - no matter the competition.

On Rock, Cody said that if he and Rock were in the same room, Johnson would expect the same attitude from him - as it's how Dwayne conducted himself on the way to the top (h/t Figure Four Online/the Wrestling Observer):

Advertisement
"With that said though, no matter what he said, anyone who did ask me, anyone who did confront me on it, I said I'm not flinching. I'm not flinching. And I feel like if The Rock and I were in the same room, he would expect nothing less from me. If you think it's somebody else, I'm going to do everything I can to make sure you know it's me. And that's the same attitude that The Rock had when he was climbing the ladder."

The Rock returned to WWE SmackDown in mid-September, fuelling speculation of a potential WrestleMania 40 main event. A showdown with Reigns, his real-life cousin, has long been rumoured for Johnson, though Cody's inability to "finish the story" at WM 39 has kept him in or near pole position for the spot too.

Rhodes referenced "Rock's big day out" and namedropped LA Knight and Sami Zayn, claiming he was going to outrun everybody on the road to WrestleMania:

Advertisement
"I don't care who it is. If that happens to be The Rock, if that happens to be anybody who comes into this fray. A wonderful superstar like LA Knight. An absolutely stellar performer like Sami Zayn, who him and I went toe-to-toe in a way last year. Line 'em up and I'm just going to do everything I can to outrun them. I certainly am. And I mean that with the utmost respect to them. I wasn't shook at all by Rock's big day out. What I would say is: not flinching. If Rock's part of WrestleMania 40, that would be outstanding. He should be. It's The Rock. But I don't think he'll be in my spot."

WrestleMania 40 takes place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 6 and 7 April 2024.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.