Will a Roman vs Rock dream match become Cody's nightmare?  Cody Rhodes fans have to be asking this now that it looks like the long-awaited Rock vs Roman Reigns match will happen, presumably at WrestleMania 40. Despite endless rumors that the WWE had its WrestleMania night two main event plans cast in concrete, it looks like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is playing jackhammer to Cody’s plans, a situation which could mean game over for Cody’s chances at winning the Undisputed Championship at WrestleMania or anywhere else.

Canceling Cody’s Quest

Right now, it looks like Cody’s quest to fulfill his dream is in jeopardy. If the WWE shoves Rhodes out of his spot at WrestleMania to book “The People’s Champion” vs “The Tribal Chief,” Cody will lose the momentum he’s been building up for the last year as he’s slain one dragon after another on the road to WrestleMania. Cody fought a hellacious series with Brock Lesnar (ultimately receiving Brock’s seal of approval), battled The Judgment Day, and is now dealing with Shinsuke Nakamura’s quest to derail his dream.

So far, this has been a superbly crafted and highly entertaining storytelling as it’s presented Cody as a determined babyface who isn’t looking for shortcuts and who didn’t make excuses after his WrestleMania 39 loss (unlike Drew McIntyre who is still whining about his loss to Roman Reigns at 2022’s Clash at the Castle).

However, if Cody doesn’t get his return match, when will he? Equally important, will the WWE Universe still be invested in watching Cody defeat Roman Reigns for the Undisputed Championship? It’s a vexing question, particularly when considering CM Punk is reportedly being prepared for a program with Roman Reigns.

Rhodes could always compete for the World Heavyweight Championship but it won’t be the same as a win over Roman Reigns. Seth Rollins has done a phenomenal job elevating RAW’s world title from a consolation prize for the many Superstars who have come up against Roman Reigns. However, Cody Rhodes’ story is deeply dependent on him defeating Roman. If Cody is denied his chance, it’s difficult to envision his character emerging unscathed.

There are several questions that need to be addressed regarding Cody’s quest and the apparent decision to forge ahead with the Rock taking on his cousin for a battle of tribal supremacy.

Does Roman Need the Undisputed Championship to Wrestle the Rock?

The idea of The Rock defeating Roman Reigns for the Undisputed Championship is ludicrous on many levels. Keeping this in mind, the WWE will have to stretch suspension of disbelief to the breaking point if it has The Rock go into a WrestleMania match against Roman with Roman wearing the belt. Still, the WWE’s booking of Reigns strongly suggests the promotion feels the only way to book him is with the Undisputed Championship. The WWE’s apparent obsession with Reigns racking up a record-setting run as champion (despite minimal title defenses) has seen the company pass on numerous opportunities to have him drop the title. Thus, while it might not make sense for The Rock to wrestle Roman for the title, it’s likely to happen.

Does the WWE Want Rock vs Roman to Happen at WrestleMania?

In a perfect world, The Rock vs Roman would happen on “The Grandest Stage of Them All.” The WWE has shown a willingness to book big bouts at shows besides WrestleMania and SummerSlam (such as Trish Stratus vs Becky Lynch), chiefly because the WWE is trying to build every PLE up as a must-see event. In The Rock’s case, the WWE may not have the option of booking him at WrestleMania due to The Rock’s shooting schedule.

However, if The Rock is available for WrestleMania, why wouldn’t the WWE book the match there? The match will give the WWE a healthy portion of the mainstream media it craves come WrestleMania. Although the ticket sales for WrestleMania 40 aren't an issue, the public relations coup will be justified.

Hope for Cody

While things look bleak for Cody, there are some hope spots for his dream coming true. These depend on the timing of the Rock vs Roman Reigns match and whether it will be a championship match.

One option is for the WWE to book The Rock vs Roman Reigns at Elimination Chamber. In a perfect world, the match would take place at WrestleMania, but it’s unknown if The Rock’s schedule is open for WrestleMania. If the match happens in Australia, Roman could defeat The Rock and go into WrestleMania with even more momentum.

Another option is to have Cody wrestle Roman at Elimination Chamber and capture the Undisputed Championship. The Rock could interfere in the match, not directly, but indirectly by keeping members of The Bloodline from interfering. This would add even more drama to a Rock vs Roman match.

It’s also possible that The Rock can’t wrestle Roman at Elimination Chamber or WrestleMania. The WWE might have to settle on him working a match somewhere else (preferably at a high-profile event like one of the Saudi Arabia shows or SummerSlam).

What If Cody’s Dream Becomes a Nightmare?

This doesn’t mean things will go Cody’s way. He certainly wouldn’t be the first wrestler to see his plans go awry due to a promoter seeing bigger bucks with another storyline. Triple H can talk about how he’s committed to long-term plans, but as a self-professed student of the game, he knows there are times when a promotion has to pivot or risk leaving a lot of money on the table. This is one of those times, and the only question is whether Helmsley can rearrange his original plans for Cody into his big-money plans with The Rock vs Roman.

Do you think Cody’s dream is in jeopardy? Is there any way to keep it from becoming a nightmare?

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