25 Best Wrestling Moments Of 2024

8. The Rock Bloodies Cody Rhodes

WWE Raw The Rock Cody Rhodes
WWE

The Rock was spectacular as the Final Boss. The transformation was so tremendous (and so necessary) that his dire segment with Jinder Mahal feels like it happened in 2019 under the direction of Vince McMahon. 

Rock tried to screw Cody out of the WrestleMania main event before reading the room and uttering the fantastically Dwaynian phrase: 

“What if I became the greatest bad guy of all-time?”

He pretty much did, as well. That’s almost certainly recency bias-informed hyperbole, but it felt that way at the time. He was on unreal Hollywood Rock form at all times, he recorded 20 minute supplementary Instagram promos purely because he was so dialled-in, and he swore as well as any character penned by David Mamet. 

He was toxic, sinister, menacing - new/old character work best acted when, deep into WrestleMania season, he bloodied Cody Rhodes in the rain. This felt like WWE’s post-Vince McMahon vision of “cinema”, realised: a great set, a climactic show-down, good visual effects, a genuine actor at the top of the marquee. 

This was as big-time as wrestling could ever hope to feel. 

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!