Cody Rhodes Addresses "Outside Forces Interjecting Into WrestleMania Plans" (WWE News)
A fiery promo from Cody Rhodes on the latest SmackDown put TKO, The Rock etc on blast.
Cody Rhodes appeared to aim fire at TKO and others during an incendiary promo on the latest episode of SmackDown. During his speech, Cody said that "outside forces" had been trying to "keep interceding and interjecting into [his] WrestleMania plans" pretty much since he returned to the company and began targeting the top title.
Then, the reigning WWE Champion said that those folks were now 0-3 in their efforts to prevent him from doing his thing. The interesting question here is...exactly who was Rhodes talking about? Pat McAfee is gone, and he was always cast as more of a mouthpiece/puppet for some 'higher power' anyway.
It's likely TKO, but some fans on social media are already speculating that Cody was referring to none other than The Rock. They've had beef on camera before, of course, but bizarrely patched things up before Rocky then facilitated John Cena's soon to be abandoned heel turn at Elimination Chamber 2025.
We haven't seen much of Rock since those days though, at least not on mainline WWE programming. So, was this the company's way of sowing seeds for an eventual Cody vs. The Rock showdown? Don't rule it out, although it does seem far more likely that Triple H would want to book Rock vs. Roman Reigns if he could tie Dwayne Johnson down at all.
It was a strong babyface promo from Rhodes regardless. He received booming cheers from the live crowd in Fort Worth, Texas - there was next to no booing from fans, which means there's a chance Cody has bounced back following a rough period pre-'Mania 42.
The champ can't wrestle matches until he's medically cleared following a nasty eye injury suffered during his match vs. Randy Orton in Las Vegas.