WWE Rumors on Cody Rhodes, The Rock and Carmelo Hayes; Dakota Kai Injury Update
Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.
Rhodes Reportedly Expected Fan Backlash Over Rock Situation
Cody Rhodes reportedly anticipated that fans would not appreciate the sudden pivot that saw him introduce The Rock into his storyline with Roman Reigns last week.
According to Fightful Select (h/t Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News), Rhodes voiced his opinion beforehand, suggesting that The Rock's return would not receive the desired reaction from the crowd.
After falling short against Reigns in the main event of WrestleMania 39 due to interference from Solo Sikoa, Rhodes made it his stated goal to get another shot at Reigns and take the undisputed WWE Universal Championship.
The American Nightmare seemingly earned that opportunity by winning his second consecutive men's Royal Rumble match, after which he pointed at Reigns.
Many expected Rhodes to make the WrestleMania match against Reigns official on last week's SmackDown, but Cody brought out The Rock instead, and he had a stare-down with Reigns.
During his promo, Rhodes said he still wanted to take down Reigns and win the WWE universal title since it is the championship his father, Dusty Rhodes, fell just short of winning.
However, Rhodes declared that he would not do so at WrestleMania, which was essentially The Rock's cue to arrive.
While the live crowd popped for The Rock and his confrontation with The Tribal Chief, social media was taken over by the #WeWantCody movement for the next few days.
Wrestling fans on X, formerly known as Twitter, expressed their displeasure with Rhodes seemingly being cast aside and threw their support behind the idea of him finishing his story.
While Rhodes teased challenging world heavyweight champion Seth Rollins on Monday night's episode of Raw, it didn't happen, and WWE has been careful about not making any official announcements.
That could change Thursday when a WrestleMania press event is held in Las Vegas, as Rhodes, Reigns, The Rock and Rollins will all be in attendance.
Details on Massive Heat Drawn By Carmelo Hayes
After turning on Trick Williams at Vengeance Day, Carmelo Hayes became public enemy No. 1 on Tuesday's episode of NXT.
Hayes kicked off the show and was seemingly about to explain his actions in a promo, but he left the ring without saying much of anything.
During that segment, fans loudly booed Hayes and chanted, "F--k you, Melo," which forced WWE to cut the audio since the show aired on USA Network.
According to PWInsider.com's Ashley Colton, WWE staff "advised the crowd" to stop using F-bombs in their chants during the aftermath of the segment, and the fans were amenable to the suggestion.
When Melo came back to the ring later in the night to explain himself, the crowd responded with new, non-vulgar chants.
Hayes made it clear that he viewed Trick as a hype man and a sidekick, but when Williams jumped him in line for an NXT Championship match, it became personal and led to Melo's decision to take out his best friend.
To close the show, Hayes attacked NXT champion Ilja Dragunov and left him laying in the middle of the ring while he held up the NXT title.
That could lead to a title match between Hayes and Dragunov, although it seems likely that Williams would return and get involved to cost Melo the championship.
Kai Suggests Return from Injury Is Forthcoming
Dakota Kai has been out of action for the past nine months after tearing her ACL, but her time on the sidelines may be nearing its conclusion.
On Tuesday, Kai posted video of herself in her ring gear on Instagram with the accompanying captions "comeback szn" and "not cleared yet... soon."
Kai suffered the injury while teaming with Iyo Sky in a Women's Tag Team Championship match against Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez in May, leaving Damage CTRL one person short.
Even so, Kai continued to appear on screen alongside Sky and Bayley in a managerial role, and helped add Asuka and Kairi Sane to Damage CTRL as well.
Bayley won the women's Royal Rumble match, and while it initially looked as though she was going to challenge Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 40, she reversed course and challenged Sky instead after she realized that Sky, Asuka and Sane were talking behind her back.
Kai was not present for the dissolution of Damage CTRL, so it remains unclear if she will side with Bayley or the trio of Sky, Asuka and Sane.
Once Kai is cleared to wrestle again, she figures to get physically involved in the angle, and it is possible she could even have a hand in the result of Bayley vs. Iyo at WrestleMania.
Kai is a top-flight talent in the ring, and her presence has been missed by the WWE women's division, so her eventual return will provide a significant boost.
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