At this year's Royal Rumble, Cody Rhodes became one of only a handful of WWE Superstars to win the 30-man match back-to-back. He immediately made his intention to challenge Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns known, only for something to quickly change.
Rather than have the American Nightmare make the match official, WWE started teasing the possibility of Rhodes instead facing World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins.
Seeing as he defeated The Visionary three times in a row when he returned to the company, it wasn't a prospect that excited fans. Also not helping matters was the fact Rhodes had repeatedly said winning the WWE Championship would finish his story, not the World Heavyweight title.
After an awkward segment which saw Rhodes allow The Rock to take his place against Reigns at WrestleMania, fans rejected the idea and made their feelings known on social media with #WeWantCody. WWE was forced to pivot and Cody has now revealed when he learned of plans for The Rock to take his spot on the Grandest Stage of Them All.
Here's what he told Busted Open Radio:
"One thing that might be revealed in the documentary and might put things in a different perspective for people is I find out about the possibility of The Rock vs. Roman Reigns the day of the Royal Rumble and I had to leave that room head up and make sure no one knew what could possibly happen and probably one of the more difficult days I've ever had in the wrestling business."
"But also, how could you complain when you're winning the Royal Rumble. When you're pointing at the sign [and] over 20,000 people in Tampa. It was such a high, such a low."
"I'll say this about the month leading up to WrestleMania 40. You try to create these ideal situations for yourself as an athlete...I just couldn't catch a break when it came to the ideal circumstance. I was just talking to Brandi about this this morning but my bus a few days before WrestleMania becomes a giant fireball out in the parking lot. Had to bring in a new bus for me."
"I'm sleeping in a bunk that was for a band...I was not gonna be presented with the ideal circumstances. I had given into that and conceded that before WrestleMania because I just had this feeling, even all the way back to the Royal Rumble. I had this feeling that it was gonna work out."
WWE did the right thing by returning to original plans for Rhodes, though it must have stung during the Rumble to know of The Rock's intentions to take his spot. Interestingly, this also somewhat contradicts claims the Brahma Bull only wanted the match with Roman to "save" WrestleMania after CM Punk's injury.
Perhaps the The Rock simply wanted the spotlight and little else?