On Friday (March 1), The Rock dropped a 20-minute promo blistering Cody Rhodes, his canine, and Rhodes’ new greatest pal, Seth Rollins. As wrestling monologues go, this was one other masterful efficiency by the Nice One which was as reducing because it was entertaining.
However above all else, The Rock stated it greatest relating to Cody Rhodes’ fabled quest to seize the WWE Championship.
“F*** your story.”
Earlier than I am going any additional, I need to preface this by saying that I respect Rhodes as a performer. His character’s presentation and promo styling are nonetheless not my cup of tea, however I love his work ethic, respect his professionalism, and perceive why so many individuals like him.
I additionally worth a portion of his fanbase, those that put on their hearts on their sleeves and overtly show their affection for the son of Dusty Rhodes regardless of dealing with criticism for it. Being somebody who overtly expresses admiration for Roman Reigns, my Tribal Chief, I can sympathize with their scenario as I navigate by unfavourable suggestions with a smirk and a glass (or two) of Teremana.
However since Cody’s return to WWE in 2022 and declaring his intention to win the title that eluded his father, the phrase “End the Story” and its variants have change into nails on the chalkboard of my soul. It’s been repeated an infinite variety of instances on WWE programming, by numerous wrestling web sites, and is the advertising slogan for the online game WWE 2K24.
Whereas I might by no means go in opposition to my Tribal Chief, there is part of me — no greater than a grain of sand — that’s rooting for Rhodes to win the title at ‘Mania simply to slay that annoying catchphrase, which makes tinnitus look like the candy sound of Clifford Brown.
That does, nonetheless, carry up an attention-grabbing query.
What occurs when Cody Rhodes lastly completes his saga?
If and when Cody Rhodes turns into the WWE Champion, he’ll embark on a collection of title defenses like each champion that’s come earlier than him. That’s apparent. However his fairytale ends as soon as his hand is raised and the title is strapped round his waist.
By clinging to the narrative as he has, Cody Rhodes has primarily based his complete profession on this one aim. As soon as he reaches the height of Mount WWE, he may have no worlds left to beat, and there will likely be no increased excessive for his followers to expertise.
Ah, sure, the followers.
Simply as I’ll possible go to the grave with a finger within the air acknowledging the Head of the Desk, multitudes of Nightmare disciples will proceed to assist their hero by thick and skinny. However there are numerous bandwagon followers who’re merely alongside for the trip and can rapidly abandon the Cody Specific upon recognizing the primary off-ramp.
Bryan Danielson, throughout his time in WWE, stated it greatest. Followers are fickle; they cheer for you as we speak, they boo you the subsequent. They’re the individuals who chanted CM Punk’s title for eight years, solely to leap ship on the first signal of bother. The identical sorts who whisper aloud on social media that Seth Rollins, ten months into his marketing campaign because the World Champion, has held the title too lengthy.
As soon as Rhodes realizes his dream, these fickle fanatics will flee in droves as soon as their euphoria dies down and one other shiny object grabs their consideration. “We would like that man as our champion,” they’ll say. And so they received’t hesitate to present Rhodes the thumbs down as soon as they get fixated on the subsequent massive factor, whoever that’s.
Apart from WWE extending Rhodes’ quest so long as it will possibly, the very best case for Rhodes is to win the championship and have it instantly taken away in probably the most heartbreaking Cash within the Financial institution cash-in of all time. In that situation, Rhodes would have a brand new journey to set sail on, one most followers will fortunately tag alongside for.
However these are issues for Cody and his revelers.
As an astute aficionado of the artwork and historical past of sports activities leisure, I’ll gladly undergo by one other 4 years of Rhodes’ drained mantra for one purpose: Might 4, 2028, the day Roman Reigns would break Bruno Sammartino’s report because the longest-reigning world champion in skilled wrestling historical past.
Throughout my practically 40 years of professional wrestling consumption, I’ve seen data made and damaged. The Honky Tonk Man turned the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion. Although it took 35 years, Gunther got here alongside and smashed that mark into the tiniest of items. Demolition dominated WWE’s golden age of tag staff wrestling. Nearly 30 years later, the New Day broke Ax and Smash’s championship report, just for the Usos to in the end blow each groups out of the water.
However the massive one stays.
Ought to Roman Reigns survive WrestleMania and make it to late summer season with the Undisputed WWE Common title intact, he’ll surpass Hulk Hogan for the third-longest world title run in firm historical past. Whereas I subscribe to the speculation, “When you’re not first, you’re final,” watching Reigns run previous and over my childhood icon and champion is of private significance. And on condition that Hogan’s lengthy reign was the final of its sort, it makes Reigns’ journey all of the extra significant.
However greater than that, for Reigns to usurp Bruno, the person whose report stands like Gangkhar Puensum, the world’s highest unclimbed mountain, it could be the last word achievement, spoken of for generations, akin to Barry Bonds breaking the all-time dwelling run report.
For all of those causes, I respectfully and humbly echo the phrases uttered by the Individuals’s Champion.
Cody, f*** your story.