Wrestle Pedia
Cody Rhodes overcame astronomical odds on the road to WrestleMania 40 and triumphed over Roman Reigns to become the new Undisputed WWE Champion in his quest to ‘Finish The Story.’
The journey back to the top of the mountain began for The American Nightmare at the 2024 Royal Rumble, where Cody won the name-sake 30-man over-the-top-rope melee to punch his ticket to the main event of WrestleMania 40.
The victory came amidst the return of The Rock, who, at that point, was scheduled to battle Roman Reigns instead of Cody Rhodes. In the WrestleMania XL: Behind The Curtain documentary, WWE CCO Triple H revealed that considering the year-long buildup for Rhodes, not having him win the Royal Rumble would have derailed his momentum and credibility as the top star.
Moreover, still a bit sceptical about the main event at that point, The Game wanted to see the audience’s reaction to Cody Rhodes’s victory and then make a decision, despite himself informing Cody of the heartbreaking news regarding WrestleMania earlier in the day.
“My gut was that if Cody fails, that damages him. We gotta have him win the Rumble and see what the reaction is, and then go from there.”
However, as it turned out, the fans rejected The Rock and sided with Cody Rhodes. This led to The Final Boss using his influence to change the main event at WrestleMania 40 and give the fans what they desired to see with Cody Rhodes emerging on top at The Showcase of the Immortals.
What are your thoughts on Triple H’s decision to book Cody Rhodes to win the 2024 Royal Rumble match? Sound off in the comments!
