WWE Rumors on The Rock, Cody Rhodes, Tiffany Stratton and Jacob Fatu vs. Solo Sikoa

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.

WWE Reportedly 'Shifted Plans' Around The Rock's SmackDown Appearance

The Rock returned to WWE programming on SmackDown with two purposes in mind. He announced Caesars Superdome in New Orleans will host WrestleMania 42, and he laid down quite an ultimatum before Cody Rhodes.

"The Final Boss" told Rhodes they should join forces, with the current undisputed WWE champion becoming "his" champ in their partnership. The Rock is expecting an answer at Elimination Chamber on March 1.

While this might've been WWE's plan for Rhodes and The Rock the entire time, PWInsider.com's Mike Johnson reported last Friday that Rock's appearance on SmackDown specifically "was literally something that happened last night and internally, the company shifted plans to pivot towards his appearance."

The creative team has also either played its cards close to the chest or was unsure of how Dwayne Johnson could be utilized at the biggest show of the year. Fightful Select (via Sportkeeda's Joel Varughese) cited one wrestler who said around Christmas they and their peers were "at the mercy of Dwayne" as it related to WrestleMania 41.

Now, it looks like The Rock will be featuring prominently in the main event storyline, whether it's getting in the ring against Rhodes himself or basically serving as the puppet master for one of the combatants in the match.

Stratton vs. LeRae Match Producer Reportedly Revealed

Fightful Select (via James Hetfield of PWMania) revealed the backstage personnel who helped put SmackDown together. When it came to the match between Tiffany Stratton and Candice LeRae, TJ Wilson was credited as the producer.

The contest helped to advance two ongoing feuds.

Charlotte Flair, who's challenging Stratton for the WWE Women's Championship at WrestleMania, diverted the champion's attention in the midst of the action.

After Stratton picked up the victory, Nia Jax attacked her from behind. Trish Stratus arrived to even the odds, but she and her tag team partner at Elimination Chamber could only fend off Jax and LeRae for so long.

Ever the opportunist, Flair walked into the ring and stood over a prone Stratton as she pointed to the WrestleMania 41 sign.

Wilson certainly managed to fit a lot of storytelling into one segment.

Fatu vs. Sikoa Reportedly Not on WrestleMania 41 Card

As evidenced above with The Rock and Rhodes, the full card for WrestleMania 41 remains a work in progress.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter's Dave Meltzer (via Cageside Seats' Randall Ortman) reported for now WWE isn't looking to have Jacob Fatu and Solo Sikoa face off at Allegiant Stadium in April.

Meltzer reported one of Fatu or Sikoa already has a WrestleMania 41 match penciled in, though he didn't specify which.

The company is definitely teeing up a confrontation between these two at some point. They suffered a defeat to Damian Priest and Braun Strowman on SmackDown, a match that saw Fatu inadvertently deliver a superkick to his tag team partner.

There's still some time to add Sikoa vs. Fatu to Elimination Chamber, but that might be rushing the story along too much. Conversely, dragging this out beyond WrestleMania might take some of the steam out of the feud.

If the match isn't earmarked for WrestleMania 41, then it's hard to see a more logical alternative.