WrestleMania 39: WWE's Major Changes For Cody Rhodes & More Revealed

Backstage update on WWE's creative changes ahead of WrestleMania 39.

by Andy H Murray
Cody Rhodes
WWE.com

Cody Rhodes, Bianca Belair, Charlotte Flair, and other top stars have been the subject of WWE creative changes ahead of WrestleMania 39.

In collaboration with WrestlingNews.co, Fightful Select reports that as recently as November, WWE's internal rundowns listed two men's World Championship matches for the April two-nighter. One would have taken place on Mania's first day, with the other on the second. The Universal Title match was down as Roman Reigns defending against "TBA/Cody Rhodes. Elsewhere, Seth Rollins vs Rhodes or Drew McIntyre was listed as a WWE Title match.

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Cody was always in line to win Royal Rumble 2023. McIntyre's tag team with Sheamus has taken off, while Rollins now looks set to face Logan Paul at 'Mania. Currently, Rhodes will challenge for Roman's Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at 'The Show of Shows', with the idea of two major title fights scrapped.

WWE has also made significant changes in the women's division, noting that current SmackDown Women's Champion Charlotte Flair was originally set to return on the Raw brand. Flair instead showed up on SmackDown last December, besting former title-holder Ronda Rousey on her first night back, and is now set to defend against Rhea Ripley at 'Mania. These switches came following adjustments to Ronda Rousey's creative for the show.

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Rousey, who is back on television after taking January off, is expected to team with Shayna Baszler in a Women's Tag Team Title match, as reported by Dave Meltzer.

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.