Cody Rhodes, known as The American Nightmare, highlights a tumultuous journey leading up to WrestleMania 40, ultimately resulting in his historic triumph over Roman Reigns to claim the Undisputed WWE Championship at the grand event.
One of the standout moments of his journey occurred on the March 8 episode of Friday Night SmackDown. On that night, Rhodes and his ally, Seth Rollins, confronted the formidable duo of The Rock and Roman Reigns, challenging them to a tag team match at WrestleMania 40.
The Rise of The American Nightmare
Despite their efforts, Rhodes and Rollins ultimately lost the match against The Rock and Reigns, setting the stage for Rhodes to face The Tribal Chief in a Bloodline Rules match the following night.
Reflecting on that episode of SmackDown in a recent interview with Jimmy Traina on the SI Media Podcast, Cody expressed how the confrontation was a defining moment for him. He found humor and satisfaction in seeing The Rock’s reaction to their challenge, realizing that The Rock may not have fully grasped Rhodes’ capabilities until that moment.
“There was a moment, in the ring, live, happening in real-time where Seth and I came down through the people to confront the Tribal Chief and Final Boss. I got a big kick out of seeing them see us,” Cody explained. “I’ve given a lot of respect to The Rock, and will certainly continue to do so, but I think he didn’t know who I was as a player.
I think in the moment, he saw, ‘Geez, they’re all doing the WOAH. He’s signing autographs on the way down here.’ It’s a different type of individual than perhaps he maybe saw a picture online or one clip.”
This moment of confrontation, coupled with Rhodes’ audacious slap to The Rock as a repayment for a previous altercation, set the stage for an electrifying showdown at WrestleMania 40.
Following The Rock’s confrontation with Cody Rhodes on the RAW after WrestleMania 40, fans eagerly anticipate The Final Boss’ return from his hiatus and wonder if WWE will continue to develop this fascinating storyline in the future.