Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson has found himself in the midst of a social media backlash after his recent appearance on WWE Smackdown. The wrestling superstar made a surprise return to the ring and announced that he would be challenging his cousin, Roman Reigns, for the championship title at WrestleMania 40 in April. However, this turn of events has left many WWE fans furious, particularly Cody Rhodes supporters.
Cody Rhodes, the son of legendary wrestler Dusty Rhodes, has become one of the top stars in WWE since his return in 2022. Despite never winning a world championship, Rhodes has gained a massive following and has been involved in a compelling storyline for the past two years. After winning the 2023 Royal Rumble but failing to capture the championship at WrestleMania 39, Rhodes won the Royal Rumble again in 2024, indicating his intent to challenge Reigns once more.
WWE fans were excited about the prospect of Rhodes finally winning the championship in what promised to be an epic encounter. However, the script took an unexpected turn when The Rock made his appearance on Smackdown. Rhodes confronted Reigns, but The Rock intervened, leading to a handshake between the two and leaving Rhodes disappointed. This sudden twist in the story and the inclusion of The Rock in the match has left fans outraged.
The dissatisfaction of fans is evident in social media interactions. The segment of The Rock's return on Smackdown has become WWE's most disliked YouTube video ever, with over 200,000 thumbs down. The hashtag #WeWantCody has also gone viral, flooding posts about The Rock and Cody with messages and memes criticizing the decision.
There is a history of wrestling fans expressing their disapproval when a fan favorite doesn't get the payoff they feel they deserve. This happened in 2014 when Daniel Bryan, a beloved wrestler, was initially not given a title shot at WrestleMania. Fans made their voices heard, and WWE eventually had no choice but to include Bryan in the match. It seems that WWE might be hoping for a similar outcome with the current situation involving Cody Rhodes.
Confusion surrounds the booking decisions around The Rock's involvement in the match. Wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer believes that turning the negative fan reaction into an angle is part of WWE's plan. However, many questions remain unanswered, such as why Rhodes won the Royal Rumble if he was not intended to challenge Reigns at WrestleMania.
The Rock has been posting positive reactions to the moment, seemingly unaware of the overall consensus among fans. Nonetheless, these recent developments have potentially damaged his relationship with the WWE audience. The Rock has always been adored by fans and has been careful to maintain a positive image. He has been reluctant to be perceived as a loser, even when playing a villain.
The upcoming WrestleMania event is still a couple of months away, providing WWE with an opportunity to correct the course and turn The Rock into the hero fans still want him to be. However, the fervor behind the #WeWantCody movement suggests that the window for change may be closing. If Cody Rhodes is not reinserted into the championship match, both The Rock and WWE could face another public relations disaster.
As fans eagerly anticipate WrestleMania, it remains to be seen how this situation will unfold. Will WWE listen to the fans' demands and make the necessary adjustments? Or will they stick to their original plan, risking further backlash? Only time will tell, but one thing is clear: the world of WWE is feeling the heat from its loyal and passionate fanbase.
