(Almost) 5-Star Match Reviews: Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes II (featuring THE ROCK) – WWE WrestleMania XL

As of this writing Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes II is the frontrunner for many fans’ Match of the Year for 2024. It isn’t hard to see why: the match had this incredible sense of spectacle with the highest of stakes and had one of the most emotionally moving conclusions in years.

It’s a pretty good match and probably the most outwardly explosive and surprising contest in years…but to call it some kind of top-tier epic comparable to some of the GOATs is tenuous at best.

That’s because this is match had the potential to be a classic but it got bogged down by a serious of dubious decisions that shifted the story in a way that was entertaining in the moment but distracting from the central narrative that people were paying to see in the first place.

The Story

Cody Rhodes won the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match fair and square without any shenanigans. It was a predictable win and his choice of title challenge was just as obvious: he was going to avenge his loss from the prior year and “finish the story”. He had much more momentum going into this ‘Mania compared to the previous years, having beaten Brock Lesnar, The Judgment Day, and WWE’s #1 shithead heel in Dominick Mysterio. There was no storyline reason for Rhodes to challenge anyone else or for Roman Reigns to defend his title against anyone else.

But leave it to ego and “business” to throw a monkey wrench into things.

Around the same time as Rhodes won his second Rumble, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson returned to WWE. But he wasn’t just an on-screen performer like before; he was now on the Board of Directors as well. And upon returning he inserted himself into the WrestleMania XL main-event, effectively forcing Rhodes to sidestep the spot he earned fair and square. Why? Because Rock versus Roman would’ve drawn more money.

Never mind the fact that Rock magically inserting himself into any spot that can fit his now-Hollywood-sized ego didn’t endear him to either new fans or existing ones. Never mind the fact that Rock hedged his bets on being the same bottomless well of goodwill as he had been for two decades and thought he could get away with doing whatever he wanted. And never mind the fact that WrestleMania would’ve drawn millions with or without The Rock trying to shoehorn himself into a story that didn’t need him in it.

So when Cody shook Rock’s hand and presumed to hand Rock his main-event spot under the “what’s best for business trumps your own personal glory” mindset, it was met with vociferous backlash. And this wasn’t like 2014 or 2015 when small pockets of fans were pouting because their favorite guy didn’t win the Royal Rumble. This was a case of there being no storyline justification for Rhodes to do what he did. He spent over a year talking this same “finish the story” angle and talking about his daddy and all that. And now, when that win was within his grasp, he would just toss it aside for some part-timer who was only in it for his own glory? No wonder people were genuinely upset; they were along for the ride with Rhodes and now with the Rock getting involved they were going to be treated to something they didn’t want just so he could repair his public image following high-profile failures like Black Adam.

In the weeks that followed, Rock embraced being a heel, doubled down on his decision and lambasted Rhodes’ supporters as “Cody crybabies”. Then Rock slapped Rhodes in Las Vegas for daring to question the Anoa’i family, which added further credence to this ‘Samoan Mafia’ gimmick that began three-and-a-half years earlier. Though Reigns had since been promoting himself as being “on God Mode” or something like that, Rock began booking himself as The Final Boss who was even greater than Reigns, despite not having done anything to back that up. Egomania was running wild, brother. For a guy who thought he could be a babyface forever, he sure abandoned his humble roots quickly and embraced being a heel pretty quick, though I’m certain it must’ve ruffled his feathers that his magic tricks weren’t working on people as much as they used to.

Though now that I think about it, maybe this really was a complicated albeit meandering work all along to try and add some intrigue to the Reigns/Rhodes storyline. Without The Rock inserting himself into the match, most people presumed that this year, now that Cody had earned the big wins he needed to show he was close to Reigns’ level, Rhodes was always going to win. Despite WrestleMania selling itself on the name alone the show still needed a worthy main-event to not just sell out this show but give fans enough of a satisfying conclusion to want to come back next year. Had Reigns/Rhodes remained the vanilla story it was the year before, it might’ve failed to achieve one of those things since the conclusion would’ve been all but set in stone. Rock getting involved added a layer of intrigue and mystery to it, albeit one wrapped in backstage bullshit and delusions of grandeur.

Anyway, Cody fired back and defied Reigns, Rock, and everyone else in the extended Anoa’i family. He vowed to win for his family by stopping theirs. But Rock had far too much power and shined the spotlight on himself and away from Reigns. He beat up Rhodes several times, whipped him with a weight belt with MAMA RHODES written on it, left him in a bloody heap next to his own bus, and even through an F-bomb on TV to discourage him from ever messing with the Bloodline ever again.

But Cody wasn’t going to surrender that easily. He defied the machine and stood firm. After all, he earned his spot by every rule and law of WWE’s own universe so who was Rock to demand something that wasn’t his to claim? Determine to make the most out of these newfound parameters, a compromise of sorts was reached. Reigns/Rhodes II would go on as scheduled but on night two. Before that, though, Reigns would team with The Rock against the team of Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins to determine the stipulation for the second night’s main event. If Rhodes’ team won, it would be a pure singles match with everyone unnecessary banned from ringside. If the Bloodline won, then it would Bloodline rules which meant anything goes. And in a completely unsurprising turn of event, the Bloodline won to further stack the deck against Rhodes.

The Match

This took place on April 7, 2024. It was rated ****3/4 out of five by the Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer. This is a Bloodline Rules match for Reigns’ Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.

The bell rings and the crowd is already going apeshit, giving both guys a standing ovation seconds in. Nothing happens for first minute as both guys soak in the atmosphere and Reigns acts all smug as he is wont to do. Rhodes gets Reigns into a corner and we get a tense break in a corner. Reigns elbows out of a rear waistlock and shoulderblocks him down. Reigns gloats some more and riles up the crowd who are unyieldingly pro-Rhodes. Rhodes ducks down and hits a Goldust throat thrust and then dodges a corner charge which sends Reigns shoulder-first into a ringpost and to the floor.

Cody pulls out a table but Reigns hits first with a drive-by dropkick and then he hides the table. Nice minor heat spot. That’ll anger the spoiled fans who just want senseless destruction even if the story doesn’t require it. Rhodes reverses an Irish whip sending Reigns shoulder-first into the steel steps. Rhodes reaches through the ropes to grab Reigns but eats a kendo stick to the face instead. Reigns lands a few more stick shots but then Rhodes gets a hold of it and suddenly Reigns is dodging like his life depends on it. Rhodes follows with a running bulldog and a Figure-4 leglock. Reigns escapes by raking Rhodes’ eyes and stomps away, showing that the Figure-4 was not very effective in the end.

Reigns throws Rhodes around and about the ring and then hits him with a giant plastic bottle of Prime Energy. They brawl into the crowd until they reach a conveniently placed table/platform. Reigns tries to suplex Rhodes onto it but Rhodes reverses. Rhodes brings Reigns back into the ring and attempts a Disaster Kick but like last year he ends up eating a powerbomb instead. A snap suplex gets Reigns a two-count so he chokes Rhodes using the ropes. More trash-talk from Reigns as he lands a back suplex for another near-fall. Reigns follows with a cravate hold but Rhodes fights out so Reigns clubs his neck. Rhodes blocks another back suplex and tries his own but Reigns counters with a Perfectplex for two.

Reigns gloats as he lands some turnbuckle smashes and corner clotheslines. Reigns bounces off the ropes but runs into a superkick which leads to a kick exchange and a double-down clothesline spot.

Rhodes wins a yay/boo punch exchange and lands a flying forearm. He avoids a corner charge and lands a powerslam for two. A Disaster Kick gets a one-count. Rhodes tries a second Kick but Reigns catches him and lands his own Cross Rhodes. One, two, Rhodes survives. Reigns gloats some more and prepares a Superman Punch. Rhodes dodges and lands a punch combo followed by a bionic elbow. Reigns falls to ringside and Rhodes begins dismantling one of the commentary tables but then Reigns lands a low blow. Then Reigns powerbombs Rhodes through the commentary table causing it to collapse. He quickly tosses Rhodes into the ring and lands a Superman punch. One, two, Rhodes survives again.

Reigns attempts a spear but Rhodes kicks him and lands a Cody Cutter for two. Reigns fights out of Cross Rhodes and tries an uranage but Rhodes blocks it this time and hits a spear on Reigns. One, two, Reigns kicks out. Rhodes lands one Cross Rhodes and goes for the triple but here comes Jimmy Uso with a superkick. He starts guiding Reigns but now Jey Uso comes down to even the odds. The brothers brawl up the entrance ramp until Jey spear Jimmy off the stage through a table. This distracts Reigns for a moment and allows Rhodes to roll Reigns up. One, two, Reigns kicks out.

Both men bounce off the ropes and Reigns lands a spear of his of his own. One, two, Rhodes survives.

Reigns is stunned and frustrated for a moment and then locks in the guillotine choke. Rhodes pushes Reigns into a corner but Reigns maintains the hold until both men fall to ringside. They separate and then Rhodes spears Reigns through the barricade. Rhodes drags Reigns back into the ring and goes for the triple Cross Rhodes once more. He gets to the third but now here’s Solo Sikoa to spike him in the throat just like last year. Solo drags Reigns’ unconscious body onto Rhodes’ and walks away…but Rhodes kicks out.

Sikoa sets Rhodes up for a spear and Reigns connects with it…for yet another two-count. Sikoa stalks Rhodes when out comes John Cena for a monster pop. Cena makes a beeline for the ring and goes after Sikoa. He clothelsines Sikoa to the floor and hits an AA on Reigns, followed by an AA on Sikoa through the other ringside announce table.

But now here comes the “Final Boss”. Out comes The Rock!

Rock makes his way to the ring with much less urgency and has an intense stare-down with Cena. Cena winds up for a punch but Rock lands a Rock Bottom! Rock removes his MAMA RHODES weight belt when The Shield music plays. Rock looks around expecting interference and then Reigns hits a Superman Punch on Seth Rollins as he attempted to hit Rock with a chair.

Rock prepares to hit Rhodes with the weight belt when suddenly…GONG! The lights go out. It’s The Undertaker making his first WrestleMania appearance in four years. Rock swings at ‘Taker. ‘Taker hits first with a big chokeslam and then vanishes. So much for The Final Boss.

The lights come back on and all that’s left in the ring are the chair and the weight belt. Reigns grabs the chair and finds himself torn between hitting Rhodes and hitting Rollins. We come full circle as Reigns smashes the chair into Rollins’ back as revenge for when Rollins did the same to Reigns TEN YEARS EARLIER. Reigns charges for a spear on Rhodes. Rhodes lands another kick. Cross Rhodes #1. Cross Rhodes #2. And Cross Rhodes #3! The referee counts one…two…three! Rhodes wins! Rhodes beats Reigns!

Winner and NEW Undisputed WWE Universal Champion after 33:25: Cody Rhodes

Post-match, announcer Samantha Irvin announces Rhodes as winner emotionally and struggles to keep it together. Upon receiving the title belt Cody sinks down and shares the moment with his wife Brandi. He is then joined by many others who want to share in his moment of glory: Jey Uso, John Cena, Randy Orton, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, CM Punk, LA Knight, and Cody’s mom.

“For the first time…ever…a Rhodes can call himself…WWE Champion. Cody Rhodes finished the damn story.

I’ve known this young man since he was a little boy. I saw him at a Hall of Fame speech where knew he was going to be a star. He had ‘star’ written all over him. I went through internet shows with him. I had a damn Tag Team Championship match with him. He left here disgruntled, heartbroken, to go create his own story. And Cody Rhodes came back here…as a superstar. Cody Rhodes came back here and did something that his father, one of the greatest of all time, ‘the American Dream’ Dusty Rhodes, could never accomplish. Cody Rhodes came back here and won the WWE Championship. DAMMIT, I LOVE PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING!” – Michael Cole

Review

This could have been so much better.

I’ve read tons of comments about this match and its purported ‘cinematic’ execution, how it’s the Avengers/MCU of professional wrestling. I’ve seen those movies and understand the comparison. And maybe that’s some people’s cup of tea, but it’s not mine. While this match was much better than the previous Reigns/Rhodes match it had its own set of drawbacks, courtesy of the additional players that were thrown into the mix unnecessarily. Some people liked having the Rock added to the mix but I didn’t, despite my earlier theory about him being nothing more than a wrinkle in the story to give it more intrigue. Some people liked the conveyor belt of surprise appearances, even though one of them made some sense but still had flash-in-the-pan execution (Cena) while another made no sense at all (Undertaker), but I found them distracting and largely inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. I get that the stipulation required some chaos at the end but better planning could’ve gone into this match to give it an even more cathartic and emphatic conclusion.

Let me start with the good here. Reigns and Rhodes know how to wrestle in a modern style while still retaining some degree of classic structure. Rhodes was tremendous as the underdog selling a beating and never giving up. Reigns turned the smug meter up to eleven and managed to elicit strong reactions out of the tiniest gestures. When Reigns was in control he shined; the guy is a natural at being the smug prick who slows the match down because he knows his opponent can’t do shit to him. When Cody was fighting back he exuded plenty of emotion that made everyone, from those who followed the story from the start to people tuning in for the first time, believe in him and rally behind him. Both men were in their natural elements here. When they were in the ring by themselves the match was completely fine. Repetitive and eerily reminiscent of their previous one to the point of being a near carbon copy, but fine nonetheless. Then the madness began.

One by one people began interfering in intervals like this was turning into a pseudo Royal Rumble match. The first few guys made sense: Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa were Reigns’ staunch allies so them aiding Reigns was understandable. But then Jey Uso came out to attack his brother…alone. Why weren’t Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, two other men with critical ties to the larger Bloodline storyline, there with him to even the odds, especially given Reigns’ status as this nigh-unkillable force that can’t be beaten by conventional means? I mean, if you’re going to go overboard with interference, it only makes sense when you bring in people whose appearance makes sense in universe and not just some random person from a bygone era appearing just so you, the viewer, can shout “hey, it’s that guy” for and be surprised for ten seconds.

Maybe I’m getting a bit too utilitarian in my analysis here, but after watching so many matches that’ve gone long without good reason, when I invest my time and energy in something I don’t want my time wasted with nonsense and that’s what happened more and more as this parade of interlopers continued. John Cena came out next and he actually made an impact on the match by removing Solo Sikoa from the situation and then went after Reigns for good measure. But then he stood there as The Rock made his way down to the ring, slowly. Time stood still for everyone, including both Reigns and Rhodes, who sold like they were so pained and exhausted giving their lack of motion. Why didn’t either one of them try to crawl or cover the other as this was happening? Oh, right, because we had to stop all proceedings for the Rock to stroke his ego and have a stare-down with Cena that probably won’t lead to anything substantive.

So Rock and Cena waste time and Cena sells a Rock Bottom like death. Then Rock teases hitting Rhodes with the weight belt and it’s at this point that things got annoying. Wouldn’t it have been better for Rhodes to eat a few shots from the Rock, hulk up, and stand up to the supposedly impervious bully with all the power in the world behind him? Wouldn’t it have been better for Rhodes to rip the belt away from Rock and put the fear of God in him, even for a moment? Even if Rock has that “no lose” clause in his contract that protects his reputation, wouldn’t another tease of a one-on-one encounter between Rhodes and Rock have been more cathartic and satisfying than what we actually got, which was a surprising but ultimately unnecessary cameo from the Undertaker? If your answer to these questions is yes, then congratulations, you have a more vivid imagination and a better understanding of cohesive storytelling than the agents who put this nonsense together.

The Rock, who was built up as this supervillain, didn’t get even a hint of comeuppance in this series of events and left WrestleMania largely unscathed. The promo on the following night’s RAW had this bygones-be-bygones air to it – possibly to hold off a Rhodes/Rock match for later – which came off as deflating. If all of this comes from his purported no-lose contract clause, then it weakens his drawing power because it limits the conclusions to most if not all of his appearances, promos, and matches. When you enforce a certain narrative the way he does then it creates familiarity and therefore contempt.

And speaking of nonsense, the bit with Seth Rollins took away from Cody’s big win because it was a distraction that led to Reigns losing focus. That sequence could be interpreted in one of two ways: as Reigns getting revenge for Rollins’ betrayal from 2014, or as Reigns being momentarily distracted by something utterly petty in the biggest match of his life. Both of things could be true at the same time, yet which of these things dominated the narrative of the match is up to interpretation. Most people choose the former; I personally think it’s the latter because Reigns had built himself during this latest run on rarely letting himself make rash decisions and the whole Rollins betrayal thing seemed to be too far in his rear-view mirror to warrant jeopardizing his title reign by shifting his focus away from Rhodes. So when Reigns turned around after hitting Rollins, Rhodes basically capitalized on Reigns’ own irrational decision rather than overcoming the odds fully, taking everything Reigns had to offer, and still coming out strong in the end. By making this creative decision Rhodes’ big win lost some of its meaning because he hadn’t earned that final moment by himself.

Contrast this match and all of its many moving parts with Triple H vs. The Rock at WWF Judgment Day 2000, which is the poster child for overbooked finishes done right. Even with a few moves done slightly off cue that match had the wildest and most exciting five minutes out of any shenanigans-filled non-finish angle you’ll ever see. The difference between that match and this one is night and day. That one had wrestlers appear without warning, their arrival only heralded by the sound of intense fan booing and cheering. Here, because they were in a massive stadium, they HAD to use entrance themes to signal to the nosebleeds what was going on which, as a result, lessened the element of surprise to begin with. That match had a clear sense of focus, which was to out-number, overpower, and beat up the babyface. Here, different people went after each other, with Cena being the only person to actually attack Reigns and Solo and Jimmy being the only ones to attack Rhodes. In that match the overbooking and shenanigans played directly into the finish and gave them a sense of gravitas. Here, Rhodes and Reigns basically slept through a protracted series of distractions that went after each other, and once all the other bodies were done they resumed their match right where they left off with the same level of energy and exhaustion as they had before, as if all those extra attackers had never been there in the first place.

Final Rating: ****

I was originally going to go ****1/4 or possibly ****1/2 here because up until the moment Jey Uso came out the match and the story were proceeding as they should have. But the interference spots really took away from the story no matter how much they tried to tie everything into the match itself. It all just became too self-indulgent and about creating a momentary pop that meant less in the grand scheme of things. It was like the action version of Mick Foley’s “happy to be here in [CITY NAME]” cheap pop: slightly inflating but ultimately irrelevant. Rhodes’ story was meant to be deep and serious; throwing in what was basically light-hearted comedy and cheap shocks didn’t fit the setting, tone, or pacing as well as many people might think.

If you take away The Rock and The Undertaker, replace them with Owens and Zayn, shave off ten minutes, and keep the interference to a shortened minimum designed to even the playing field and not crowd it, this would be an honest-to-God classic of a WrestleMania main-event. As it stands, though, it’s a great match with a satisfying finish and a delightful post-match celebration. Yet there was potential for so much more. Many people have tried to separate the story from the wrestling and praise one over the other, as though you can’t excel in both at the same time. As many great matches to stand the test of time have shown, you can have compelling action and tell a great story, under the right circumstances.

It was an ambitious project but I think some of their ideas caused them to miss the forest for the trees. Adding all these extra players to the story made them lose the plot and left the match with the right finish yet a slightly less satisfying tone than what it should’ve been. Though this isn’t the fault of either Cody Rhodes or Roman Reigns: they made the best out of the cards they were dealt but it’s too bad that the dealer was actively working against them for his own personal reasons.

Thanks for reading.