WWE Rumors on The Rock, Cody Rhodes, Reigns, Rollins, Carmelo Hayes and Bron Breakker
Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from WWE.
WWE Reportedly Wanted Daniel Bryan-Like Reaction for Cody Rhodes
It turns out WWE was expecting fan frustration after The Rock replaced Cody Rhodes as the WrestleMania main eventer against Roman Reigns. The reaction was all part of the plan.
Or, well, at least part of it was.
Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio said WWE was hoping for a reaction similar to the one Daniel Bryan received ahead of WrestleMania 30. They just weren't quite expecting things to turn so sour on The Rock.
"They were expecting Cody Rhodes to turn into Daniel Bryan. They were expecting to make Cody Rhodes into a martyr and make him a bigger babyface out of that," Meltzer said. "Were they expecting the people to boo Dwayne? I don't know, because I've asked that one and haven't gotten a straight answer.
"The reaction for Cody, about Cody getting screwed and people getting behind Cody, that was part of the story. That was absolutely expected."
There are a few problems with this plan, with one being wildly obvious: WWE didn't have Bryan win the Royal Rumble a decade ago. They didn't have Bryan set up to complete his dream and then have him stand in the ring with his tail between his legs and expect him to smile as a part-timer stole his moment. And even if they had, Bryan was in an on-screen feud against WWE authority figures; it would have at least made some in-storyline sense.
The biggest issue here is that WWE's booking made zero sense. If The Rock was always the plan, why not have him win the Royal Rumble? There might have been some negative feedback, but it would have likely been obscured by excitement over The Rock's return.
Instead, WWE cut its biggest babyface out at the knees on live television and made him give up on two years' worth of storytelling seemingly for no reason. Rhodes earned the opportunity to challenge whoever he wants at WrestleMania at the Rumble. He's repeatedly said Reigns' championship was the only one that would allow him to "finish the story."
The whole thing has been a start-to-finish botch.
WWE Reportedly Fine With Reigns, Reigns Trading Barbs About Titles
One of the more eye-opening parts of the Rhodes storyline featured Reigns and Seth Rollins not only ripping each other but also dismissing the other's championship. Rollins called the WWE Undisputed Universal championship the "Hollywood" title, while Reigns essentially dismissed the World Heavyweight championship as a secondary title for people he already beat.
That writing goes against typical WWE booking, which has seen rivals rip their fellow performer but rarely rail against the championships themselves.
Fightful Select reported WWE higher-ups were perfectly fine with the barbs this time, noting the similarity to UFC, which regularly sees title holders go back and forth.
"Look who we're in business with now," one executive said.
The Reigns-Rhodes-Rock segment in particular made Rollins' championship seem like an afterthought, which it kind of is given it was created out of thin air last year. Reigns' historic run may have led to championships being held hostage, but it's also given the title prestige. Whoever beats him—whether it's Rhodes, Rock or someone else down the line—will be making history.
One could argue that, even in character, Reigns' in-ring comments flew a little too close to being the truth.
Bron Breakker, Carmelo Hayes Reportedly Avoid Serious Injury at Vengeance Day
At Sunday's NXT Vengeance Day event, Bron Breakker and Carmelo Hayes nearly suffered catastrophic injuries in botches seemingly caused by a loose top rope.
Breakker saw his head get caught between the ropes as he escaped a headlock from Hayes, while later Hayes slipped while attempting to climb the ropes for a dive. The match continued without incident in both cases, though Fightful Select reported both were a "little banged up." after the match.
Given the way the night ended, with Hayes attacking Trick Williams to finally set up their long-simmering feud, it's a good thing everyone left the match healthy.
Breakker and Baron Corbin were victorious over Hayes and Williams in the match to win the 2024 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.
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