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The Rock could face Roman Reigns at WWE WrestleMania and fans aren't happy

jordan mendoza, usa today
·3 min read
59

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson made another thunderous return to WWE, but this time, not many fans are thrilled about it.

On "Smackdown," 2024 Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes met with Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, seeming to declare he will challenge for the championship at WrestleMania 40. Rhodes spoke about how "finishing the story" is taking everything away from Reigns, and how he wants to win the title over him, but "not at WrestleMania."

Rhodes then said he talked to someone who knows Reigns "very well," and that's when The Rock's music hit.

The Rock entered the ring and he had a minutes-long stare down with Reigns. After "Smackdown" went off the air, The Rock spoke to the crowd and talked about making history on Friday night.

Why are people mad about The Rock's return?

WWE fans all over social media voiced their displeasure with the return because it messes up the story the company had been building up for the past two years between Rhodes and Reigns. Rhodes came so close to winning the title at WrestleMania 39, and the chance to win it at WrestleMania 40 would culminate a decades-long quest for the legendary Rhodes family. But with The Rock likely facing Reigns now at WrestleMania, it scraps away the story for what would likely be his only match this year.

WWE's replies on social media were filled with negative comments, and terms like "We want Cody" were trending, with people pointing at how a star like Rhodes is being wasted for a big name that won't compete in as many matches as him, and his Royal Rumble victory goes to waste. People also noted how its the same situation CM Punk faced in 2013, when The Rock was chosen to main event WrestleMania over him.

The reception has been negative on YouTube as well; the full segment from "Smackdown" has more than 200,000 dislikes compared to 71,000 likes.

While it's not yet official, The Rock vs. Roman Reigns at WrestleMania is likely to be announced Thursday night at the WrestleMania 40 kickoff press conference in Las Vegas.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WWE fans unhappy about The Rock vs. Roman Reigns at WrestleMania