Report: WWE Scrapped Major World Title Plans For WrestleMania 39

Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns is set for WWE WrestleMania 39, BUT...

by Andy H Murray
Cody Rhodes Roman Reigns
AEW/WWE

WWE has scrapped plans to create a new world championship on the back of WrestleMania 39.

Dave Meltzer reports on Wrestling Observer Radio that had WWE booked Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson to face Undisputed Universal Champion Roman Reigns at 'Mania, it would have created a new belt on 39's first night. Cody Rhodes would have likely ended up walking away with it.

Meltzer added that if not Rhodes, one of Drew McIntyre or Seth Rollins would have come away with the new belt, citing WWE's desire to go back to having two world championships.

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The Rock was long rumoured to face family member and current WWE kingpin Reigns at WM39. This was dashed at Royal Rumble 2023 last month, where Rhodes triumphed in the titular men's bout, punching his ticket for the WrestleMania main event. That match has now been made official.

WWE has operated with a single, unified world championship since WrestleMania 38. Reigns, already the Universal Champion, scored the WWE Championship that night, felling rival Brock Lesnar. Reigns has since been successful in every single defence, meaning he has been on top of WWE for well over two years.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.