8 Ups & 6 Downs From WWE Raw (4 Mar - Results & Review)

2. An Explanation… Just Not A Good One

The build to a WrestleMania 40 main event double feature has been largely tremendous, save for one gaping plot hole that WWE has avoided for several weeks: Why did Cody Rhodes give up his guaranteed match at WrestleMania against Roman Reigns?

Monday, Rhodes finally commented on it (Rock has offered his view, but because he’s a heel, it’s tough to take his version at face value). And woof, that was a rough explanation. Cody called Rock a “master politician” and acknowledged the conversation, saying Rock used “honey” (sweet language) to convince him that people didn’t want Rhodes/Reigns, they wanted Rock/Roman.

Cody’s next line was about how the fans chanted, “We want Cody!” and that he finally was swayed when he saw Rock’s family tree at the Las Vegas media event that he reclaimed what was rightfully his, going back on his word.

Got all that? Virtuous babyface Cody Rhodes fought for an entire year to get his world title rematch, earned it and then stepped aside because Rock whispered sweet nothings in his ear, then went back on his word because of a family tree, which could be interpreted as jealousy.

What an awful explanation. After a full month, their storyline reason was no better than the one it appeared to be on the surface. Just a disappointing misstep when they had a chance to whitewash it much better than that.