HUGE Changes To WWE WrestleMania XL Plans

A new report indicates major changes to plans for the Royal Rumble AND WrestleMania XL.

By Andrew Pollard / January 24, 2024

WWE

Well, the WrestleMania XL line-up that we all expected to happen may not be unfolding quite as many presumed.

With it long believed Cody Rhodes would be finishing his story and facing - and likely beating - Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship in the main event of 'Mania XL Night 2, a new report suggests that will not be the case.

Per Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, sources close to Triple H claim the American Nightmare won't be finishing his story at this year's Showcase of the Immortals, nor will he be closing out the PLE's second night. Instead, Barrasso offers up the Rock as being the likely WrestleMania opponent for Reigns.

Elsewhere, this story adds how "a new plan is in place", with GUNTHER now the favourite to win the men's Royal Rumble and face World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins on the first night of WrestleMania XL. If so, a GUNTHER win there would potentially allow Der Ring General to walk into WWE Bash in Berlin with the World Heavyweight Title over his shoulder come August time.

So, with Cody Rhodes nor CM Punk winning the Royal Rumble, where would that leave two of the hottest stars in the company? Why, this report suggests the two will face each other at the Granddaddy of Them All. Of course, Cody and Punk had a phenomenal face-off on this week's Raw, showing plenty of respect for one another but making it known that there'll happily go through the other in order to win the Royal Rumble this weekend.

It's worth noting, elements of this report seem to be more a case of suggesting where things could go for WrestleMania XL, but it was made clear that sources indicate Cody Rhodes won't be finishing his story and that GUNTHER is the new favourite to win the men's Rumble on Saturday.

Obviously, as ever, things can easily change before the Royal Rumble and certainly before WrestleMania XL.

Authored by Andrew Pollard

Senior Writer

Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main dayjob, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks, Jamie Hayer, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg.

Posted On: 24th Jan 2024

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Cody Rhodes WWE Royal Rumble 2024 WWE WrestleMania XL