The Undertaker Champions Cody Rhodes amid WWE Rumors on The Rock, WrestleMania 40

In comments made prior to the events of Thursday's WrestleMania 40 press conference, WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker threw his support behind Cody Rhodes.

Speaking on his Six Feet Under podcast (h/t Steve Carrier of Ringside News), The Undertaker gave his thoughts on the Feb. 2 episode of SmackDown when Rhodes seemingly stepped aside so The Rock could challenge undisputed WWE universal champion Roman Reigns at WrestleMania:

"I wanted to hear Cody's promo," The Undertaker said. "It was great. It was so good, and I was so invested,. When he said, '… just not at WrestleMania,' my freaking heart sunk into my stomach because I knew at that moment what was about to happen."

The Deadman was referencing a segment in which Rhodes came face to face with Reigns, seemingly setting the stage for the back-to-back men's Royal Rumble winner to make his WrestleMania decision.

Rhodes discussed his desire to beat Reigns and take the title that his father, late WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes, came agonizingly close to winning in the past. However, The American Nightmare said he would not do so at WrestleMania.

The Rock then made his way down to the ring and stared down Reigns, as Rhodes exited he ring and SmackDown went off the air.

In the days that followed, WWE fans threw their support behind Rhodes and got #WeWantCody trending on X. The WWE Universe was upset at the prospect of Cody not getting to finish his story on he Grandest Stage of Them All.

The Undertaker acknowledged on his podcast that the twists and turns of the road to WrestleMania could change things, and that is exactly what happened at the WrestleMania press conference in Las Vegas.

Reigns expressed his desire to face The Rock at WrestleMania, but Rhodes interrupted and reversed course, saying he would face Reigns instead. That led to a war of words and resulted in The Rock slapping Cody.

Now, WWE seems to be building a power struggle storyline with Reigns and TKO board member The Rock attempting to politic, while head of creative Triple H is remaining steadfast in allowed Rhodes vs. Reigns to happen.

It may still be quite some time before it is fully apparent what Rhodes, Reigns and The Rock will do at WrestleMania, but WWE has effectively taken a controversial situation and turned it into a compelling storyline.

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