By: COOPER ALBERS / CHIEF SPORTS EDITOR
Not even the People’s Champ can stop the man of the people from finishing his story.
Last week, WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes made his official decision on who he will face at Wrestlemania 40 during the event’s kickoff show in Las Vegas. After initially giving up his spot to a returning Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, the 2024 Royal Rumble winner made it clear that he will indeed go head-to-head with WWE Champion Roman Reigns at the Showcase of the Immortals.
Since returning to the company a couple of years ago, Rhodes has prioritized his connection with the WWE Universe, a relationship that helped him recapture his main event opportunity.
Rhodes’ initial run with WWE ended in 2016 after a stretch of silly gimmicks halted him from breaking into the main event scene. Hoping to follow in the footsteps of his legendary father, Dusty Rhodes, he grew increasingly frustrated with the direction of his character and walked away from the company to reach his full potential.
"For a decade I tried to convince both Vince [McMahon] and Triple H that I could be their star player," Rhodes once noted on social media. "It seems we have reached the point where neither saw that in me. It's been said to never leave money on the table, but no money is worth being less than you are."
The Georgia native then hopped onto the independent wrestling scene, where he clawed his way up from high school gyms to find widespread acclaim in top promotions like New Japan and Ring of Honor. On top of his many in-ring achievements, Rhodes emerged as one of the premier entrepreneurs in the business with his creation of All Elite Wrestling in 2019.
In his time away from WWE, Rhodes bet on himself and became the superstar he always knew he could become. He was no longer Stardust — he was the American Nightmare.
WWE’s prodigal son made his triumphant return to the company two years ago at Wrestlemania 38. Besting industry mainstay Seth “Freakin” Rollins in a back-and-forth battle, he cemented himself into a well-deserved spot on the main event scene.
Since returning to WWE, Rhodes has emerged as one of, if not the biggest star in the company. However, it isn't just the bleached hair, dazzling ring attire or awe-inspiring entrances that make him so popular amongst the fanbase.
Rather, it’s his unwavering passion for the business and devotion to consistently performing for the WWE Universe.
"The thing I was missing was a connection with the audience," Rhodes said. "I didn't realize how important it is to connect with them. You can't do this amazing high-speed, unbelievable sequence if no one's watching. You gotta bring them into it and then you can do whatever the heck you want."
Rhodes gives back to the audience every single night. Despite being an A-list talent, the 38-year-old competed in the most matches of any superstar in 2023 (113). Additionally, he has willingly fought with a torn pec and even agreed to be the best man at a fan’s wedding.
Fans find even more reason to rally behind Rhodes because of his relatable, family-driven motivation. The American Nightmare returned to WWE to “finish the story” by capturing the one belt that his father, the American Dream, never could — the WWE Championship.
Rhodes nearly achieved this feat last year. After winning the 2023 Royal Rumble, he challenged Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at Wrestlemania 39. With many expecting Rhodes to win, the Tribal Chief shockingly retained the belts with help from an interfering Solo Sikoa.
In the face of heartbreaking defeat, Rhodes remained undeterred from his mission and set his sights on the future.
“The only thing I learned was well, I gotta get back,” Rhodes told Robbie Fox of My Mom’s Basement. “That was bittersweet, I mean more bitter than anything. The only thing I was trying to do was look at as many fans as I could and let them know it'll be okay. It was a very tense, awkward, cold feeling at WrestleMania 39 so it opens up opportunities for WrestleMania 40 perhaps to be a different feeling.”
Despite coming up short at the Show of Shows, fans remained deeply invested in Rhodes’ storyline and rallied behind him to once again challenge Reigns for the illustrious WWE Championship.
In the year that followed, Rhodes remained the hottest thing in wrestling during his quest for redemption. On January 22, WWE announced the American Nightmare as the cover athlete for the upcoming WWE 2K24 video game with the tagline “Finish Your Story,” signaling his was far from over.
The following week, Rhodes grew one step closer to glory after winning his second-straight Royal Rumble. Guaranteed a main event match at Wrestlemania with the champion of his choosing, Rhodes wasted no time declaring his opponent by pointing directly at Reigns.
With the highly anticipated rematch on the horizon, it appeared that Rhodes would finally write the closing chapter in his story.
On February 2, Rhodes confronted the Big Dog and his Bloodline members on Smackdown for the first time since winning the Rumble. He emphasized that he’s not just coming for the belt — but for everything. However, fans were then shocked to hear him utter the words, “But not at Wrestlemania.”
Without much explanation, The Rock entered the ring and awkwardly thwarted two years of compelling storytelling. In a flash, The Brahma Bull was squaring off with his cousin and the American Nightmare was left in the dust.
Despite the prospect of a dream match, many members of the WWE Universe were sour to the idea of Rhodes watching his moment from the sidelines. The company’s decision drew widespread criticism from fans, current superstars and legends alike.
"I wanted to hear Cody's promo," noted WWE Hall of Famer, The Undertaker. "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."
After everything he’d given to the WWE Universe, the fans had Rhodes’ back and made their voices heard. Crowds began relentlessly booing The Rock, something unheard of in decades, and #WeWantCody became the #1 trending hashtag worldwide.
The uproar from fans was so powerful that WWE had no choice but to pivot from the original plan. The ‘We Want Cody’ movement came to a triumphant head on February 8 at the Wrestlemania 40 Kickoff Event, where Rhodes emphatically reversed his decision and confirmed Reigns as his opponent.
With the fans on his side, Rhodes transcended the Most Electrifying Man in All of Entertainment — forcing him to turn heel in the process — and emerged as the new people’s champion.
In his first address following the Kickoff event, Rhodes graciously thanked the WWE Universe for helping him recapture his opportunity.
“In the main event at Wrestlemania 40, I will be challenging for the Undisputed WWE Championship against Roman Reigns. It took me a while to even be able to say that and the only reason that I’m able to say it is because of you guys.”
The American Nightmare will take on the Tribal Chief at the Show of Shows on April 7 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For the viewers at home, Wrestlemania will be streamed exclusively on Peacock.
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