Do You Smell What The Rock Is Cooking?

Well, let the speculation run rampant once again. The Rock says the door is open for him to wrestle his cousin Roman Reigns at WrestleMania next year in Philadelphia. If it happens, it would absolutely be one of the biggest matches in WrestleMania, WWE, and professional wrestling history. Will it happen? That remaines to be seen. According the The Rock, it almost really did happen at WresteMania 39 back in April, but it ended up not happening. Allegedly there was a handshake deal in place, but it didn’t come to fruition. Should it happen and should the title be in the line? Let’s talk about it.

If Rock vs. Reigns happens in Philly, then what happens to the presumptive favorite to face Roman right now, Cody Rhodes? Will WWE delay his legacy cementing win AGAIN or can they find a way to figure it all out that works for everyone. In my opinion, I think it will be Cody in the Night 2 main event against Roman for the title because I don’t believe that The Rock will agree to the match in time. I will believe it when I see it. I will believe it when he’s standing in the ring across from Roman on Smackdown in late February/early March or whenever they make the match official. As far as the story itself, it is my opinion that Cody deserves his Mania moment with the championship and Roman vs. Rock does not the title on the line to be a main event match.

Let’s say for argument’s sake that Rock does sign and they do the match with Roman. If it is to be for the Universal Championship, then that mean Cody would have to wrestle for the World Heavyweight Championship and presumably main event Night 1 of Mania. He could wrestle Seth again, but I believe the more intriguing match for him would be to go against Gunther. Gunther could win the title sometime late this year or early next year, Cody could win the Rumble again or win a chamber match, then dethrone Gunther in Night 1’s main event allowing Rock/Roman to main event Night 2. I think the best scenario would be to just have Cody beat Roman at the Royal Rumble, have Gunther win the Royal Rumble match and get his title shot against Cody in the Night 1 main event. If Rock signs on for the match, then the story could be that Roman doesn’t deserve to be Trible Chief anymore because he lost the title and destoryed the rest of the family with his antics. Like Rock/Cena in the past, Rock/Roman doesn’t need to have the title on the line for the story to work.

If Rock doesn’t come back to face Reigns, then I think it’s pretty clear already that they’re planting the seeds for the Roman/Cody rematch with Cody getting Jey on Raw and potentially being the trade asset sent to Smackdown to replace Jey. That could put him right back in Roman’s crosshairs for “interfering with Bloodline business.” I think the way things are going right now, Gunther is the favorite to win the Royal Rumble and face either Seth Rollins or possibly Brock Lesnar in the Night 1 main event for the World Heavyweight title. Cody can win the Elimination Chamber in February and get his rematch with Roman where he win finally wins the big one at WrestleMania.

However this situation turns out, I think Triple H deservese a lot of credit for having enough credible stars to put into a main event world title spot at WrestleMania next year. You have guys like Roman, Cody, Lesnar, Drew, Seth, Orton if he returns, Edge if he comes back, Bobby Lashley, Gunther, KO, Sami, Finn Balor, Damien Priest, Jey Uso, and possibly The Rock to fill in the main event scene for Mania in Philly. They have options and that’s always necessary when you don’t know if a certain scenario is actually going to happen. Remember when TNA was teasing the return of the Main Event Mafia before Kevin Nash and Booker T went back to WWE? Yikes. I don’t think we’ll be seeing that kind of situation play out here.