12 Secret Mistakes You Didn't Realise WWE Have Already Made In 2024
5. Making Us Want Rhodes Vs. Rock More Than Rhodes Vs. Reigns Heading Into 'Mania 40
The decision to turn The Rock into a genuinely terrifying - but also consistently entertaining - version of his heel 'Hollywood' persona was an inspired pivot from all involved.
Watching 'The Final Boss' cut mesmerising 20-minute Instagram promos on Cody Rhodes, his mama, and even his dog Pharaoh was absolutely electrifying. However, a secret problem began to rear its head as Rocky continued to deliver some of the greatest moments in recent WWE history.
As 'The People's Champion' beat the life out of 'The American Nightmare', roaring "look at you now!" in the pouring rain and just generally felt like the biggest threat in the business, a thought likely crossed just about every fan's minds.
Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes wasn't the match they needed to see. Rocky vs. Cody was the real money blockbuster.
Though Reigns vs. Rhodes II certainly still turned out to be a magical rematch, and a nice way to finish off Cody's story after being screwed out of the belt a year earlier by Roman and his family, Rock's captivating involvement and the teases towards a Rhodes grudge match were the real highlights in that 'Mania 40 build.
And it was that fact which secretly and unintentionally took a bit of the shine off of the Night Two main event of this year's 'Show of Shows'.