8 Genius Ways Wrestlers Got Out Of Terrible Matches
5. Cody Rhodes Makes The People Want Him And Avoids ANOTHER Seth Rollins Match
The anxiety was REAL in the days leading up to, during, and shortly after February 2, 2024's edition of SmackDown.
Coming into that blue show, Cody Rhodes had incredibly managed to win back-to-back Royal Rumbles, but rumblings of an incoming 'Great One' threatening to ruin his story still had folks worried about his chances of dethroning Roman Reigns at 'Mania 40.
Things only got more uncomfortable for Nightmare lovers when WWE teased a potential pivot into yet another Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins showdown on 'The Grandest Stage' on January 30's Raw.
Now, that match wouldn't have been horrendous by any means. It'd no doubt be as brilliantly worked as each of their prior three high-profile wars. But it was definitely seen by many as a frustrating alternative to the more desired Rhodes vs. Reigns II war.
But then, in an inspired move - intentional or not - that helped spark a movement which forced WWE into changing their plans for Rocky to challenge for his cousin's title, the always real Rhodes reacted to the reality of The Rock taking his place in that main event spot on that aforementioned SmackDown "like someone shot his dog in the face in the parking lot," as Brian Gewirtz would put it on The Masked Man Show (via WrestlingInc).
And just like that, any hopes some within WWE had of getting the people to want Rock vs. Reigns over that WrestleMania 39 rematch were dashed. How could you not rally behind that face?
Fans wanted Cody and Reigns going one-on-one, and that's what they ultimately got instead of the teased Rollins vs. Rhodes battle over the World Heavyweight Championship.