50 Greatest WWE Raw Moments Ever
8. The Rock Bloodies Cody Rhodes In The Rain (March 25th, 2024)
In 2024, The Rock infuriated just about every plugged-in WWE fan before going on to delight them in equal measure after an inspired creative pivot.
His return as a "babyface" to take Cody Rhodes' spot on SmackDown had gone disastrously wrong, but after six days of protest voting from an otherwise-deliriously happy audience, a WrestleMania 40 pivot (and with it a political victory for Triple H in his own never-ending war with 'The Final Boss') confirmed that good booking and the right call could at long last trump the historic thirst for keeping the big names happy. Dwayne Johnson himself knew his revised role almost instantly, and seemed to genuinely embrace being the top heel again after years of being a tired returning hero.
With Cody and Rock now set to clash as part of Night One's main event, things came to a bloody head between between the two when 'The Great One' showed up unannounced at a Chicago Raw in March. Rock beat Cody bloody in the car park and in the rain, swearing up a storm as he went. All of this spoke to a megastar in total control of his own destiny, which itself became perfect fodder for the build in the post-kayfabe world. 'The Most Electrifying Man In Sports Entertainment' was so convincing as a (seemingly legitimately) insurmountable obstacle that he cast actual doubt on Rhodes' ability not just to win in the ring, but to curry enough backstage stroke to finally get it done one year after he fell short. Never mind the WWE Universe, the shoot one was into it too; the pouring rain mixing with Cody's blood to stain his body, clothes and the "Mama Rhodes" weight belt couldn't have added more to a perfectly pitched atmosphere.