7 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE Raw (24 Feb - Results & Review)

3. Rollins Serves As Cody’s Conscience

The Rock’s meandering, wildly inconsistent promo on SmackDown might have been distilled down to a helpful two-minute video package on Monday night, but the premise and the cloud of uncertainty it has cast over WrestleMania is still hanging in the air.

Cody Rhodes tried to make sense of it all during an in-ring promo Monday night, but before he could go too far down the line, Seth Rollins came out to put things into focus. Rollins rightly pointed out that he sacrificed everything at WrestleMania 40 to help bring down the Bloodline – Roman Reigns and The Rock – so Cody could capture the Undisputed WWE Championship. If Rhodes – who already made peace with Roman – went and sided with Rock, it would be a slap to Seth’s face, with the implication that it would be a slap to fans’ faces too for going back on everything they fought against last year.

To his credit, Rhodes pushed back by pointing out Rollins’ flaws while thanking him for having his back. But Seth recognized that as a deflection and left it very bluntly with Cody: “Don’t make me hate you.”

No one can say that Cody is heading into his decision at Elimination Chamber with his eyes closed. If he stays the course, then his conscience is intact. But if he chooses The Rock, it’s clear CM Punk is right and the pressure has finally gotten to him.