5 Ups & 6 Downs From WWE Raw (Feb 6 - Results & Review)

3. ‘It’s All A Work’

There seems to be a need to dispel the notion that all of this #WeWantCody backlash is a WWE-generated effort to make Cody Rhodes into an even bigger babyface heading into WrestleMania XL.

That might be the result of all of this, and WWE seemingly is leaning into fan-driven backlash, but that does not mean this entire situation has been a work from the start. WWE did not have Cody win the Royal Rumble and then sacrifice the title shot he fought for an entire year to earn, giving it to a Hollywood megastar because… family?

And The Rock did not return as the conquering hero to challenge the biggest heel champion in decades, only to be booed lustily and greeted in absentia with “Rocky sucks!” chants on Raw Monday night.

SmackDown’s closing segment belittled Seth Rollins’ World Title and anyone foolish enough to challenge for it, humbled Cody Rhodes, devalued the Royal Rumble victory, and set Rock up for a Kobayashi Maru situation, where he can’t win.

WWE might be trying to turn this into part of the storyline, but there’s one huge logic gap that can’t be overcome: Cody hyped up facing Roman Reigns and winning that title as the most important thing in his life… and then willingly, meekly stepped aside without explanation, at the biggest moment of his career, just as he was about to set into motion the conclusion to a two-year angle.

Even if WWE un-rings the bell and pivots dramatically, the damage has been done.