SMACKDOWN LIVE SUPERTHREAD

CastorTroy

If they go the triple threat route, I'm worried they might have Rock give Roman the Rock Bottom and letting Cody take the pin which while they think it makes the Rock look good, it doesn't help Cody.

Agent Coulson

HHH has a long memory...well execpt when it comes to real crimes.

Lord TSC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121716086#Comment_121716086

Yeah, that crossed my mind too.

End the title reign but not cleanly. Would be a stupid mistake, cause the title change deserves a clean finish. And yet, I could totally see it happening.

JP Liz V1

The top babyface finally beating the big bad tribal chief monster, one on one, was / is the story and I say this as a big Rock fan

Loughc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121715932#Comment_121715932

Correct. Thats why mania is practically a sellout before a match was made.

The Nal

They 100% want Reigns to beat Hogans record which means he still needs to be champ towards the end of 2024. No sense in beating Cody again this year. Reigns will lose it at Mania 2025.

Cotts72

I'm still skeptical... There's was such backlash last year that they have to deliver some end result for Cody... The raw title isn't that

Loughc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121716484#Comment_121716484

The press event all but confirms Rock Reigns. They need the big name match for the casuals I guess. Shame they buried Cody by going this route.

Would have made more sense if Cody didn’t win the rumble.

Necro

Even if this was a planned direction what was the need for Roman to completely bury the Raw title and Rollins alongside it. It makes no sense devaluing the other major strap in the company and Cody then essentially going after it.

Mind you, they were quick with Bayley/Io graphics whereas there's been nothing bar the major presser announced for Mania for the two major belts yet so... I guess they've left some minor wiggle room to pivot if there's enough backlash.

JP Liz V1

Cody even looked deflated walking off from the ring, from rumble winner, face of 2k24, the top babyface to stepping aside for The Rock, gotta feel for him

DM_7

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121716829#Comment_121716829

Seth ripped Roman and his title on Monday also. There was no sense in devaluing that title and Cody going after it either.

DM_7

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121716830#Comment_121716830

That has to lead to something though?

Wrestlemania is 6th if April. Between them it is 18 (I think) Raw and Smackdown shows to go before it happens. Lots can and needs to happen before then.

Lord TSC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121717166#Comment_121717166

The irony being, he called it the Hollywood title, and was immediately proven right by having two super part timers going for it, lol

JP Liz V1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121717188#Comment_121717188

Well Cody is advertised for Smackdown next week

DM_7

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121717221#Comment_121717221

He is going to have to carry both shows the next few weeks I think.

Loughc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121717260#Comment_121717260

This. He literally has to build for a match he is no longer involved in as the other two are part timers.

Hope cody is getting a bonus out of that 😂

JP Liz V1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121717489#Comment_121717489

TKO should be awarding him with shares

Well I'd say agenda completed in getting media away from Vince and on The Rock but if reports of The Rock inserting himself into the WM main event are true not a good look for him, getting slaughtered on Twitter X and most disliked segment ever for WWE on You Tube

Lord TSC

https://eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/2024/02/03/the-rock-roman-reigns-wwe-wrestlemania/72463869007/

you know that Rocky did this to get some feel good PR, and will be disgusted at the reaction, especially if some mainstream places pick this up.

JP Liz V1

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1753638038440235387

..

martingriff

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121716830#Comment_121716830

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121717188#Comment_121717188

Didn't him and Punk basically spelt this out happening

Ridley

Still time to pivot to Rhodes vs an NXT champ Corbin. 😉

Lord TSC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121718427#Comment_121718427

To me, that promo was Punk threatening to be The Rock this time. That Cody was playing the role of CM Punk from a decade ago, and Punk was going to sweep in, steal his spot and main event Mania instead. Just like Rock did back then.

That it immediately turned into a prophecy of a repeat is an incredible coincidence.

ThePott

The Rock vs Reigns is a match that I think needs to happen. If not it would be one of those matches in the years to come we always wonder why it never happened. The whole Tribal chief, head of the table thing has always hinged on the question of; but what about the Rock? On paper, it makes business sense and the amount of opportunities you have to do it must be limited given the Rock's age and schedule.

BUT... the way they did it was bad and nonsensical. Had Cody not won the Rumble it might have worked better. I think Cody not winning last year actually felt fine because it looked like it was about to pay off. Him stepping aside for the Rock just doesn't make much sense. I think Cody toppling Roman doesn't have to be done at Mania but it felt like the natural point. Summerslam could work if it's a title unification and feel like a big match.

There's been so much backlash maybe things could change to make it a triple threat or something and I don't think it's an unsalvageable mess but they've really damaged their top babyface Cody with this.

Agent Coulson

Cody should go full Homelander heel now he has a very justified reason to turn now.

The Nal

Amazing how bad and dull The Rock is on the mic now.

CastorTroy

Considering how these days they're aware of the smarky crowd they get for Mania weekend and Raw after Mania, they should know the match could get a very cold reception from them after this. Could either be booed and/or have constant "We want Cody" chants.

Lord TSC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121719077#Comment_121719077

No way. It would be idiotic.

Cody is on the verge of being their biggest babyface since Cena, and this whole thing with the Rock is rallying people massively behind him.

Turning Cody would be like when they tried to turn Bryan, to be spiteful to the fans who desperately were letting it be known who “their guy” was. Fans wouldn’t boo Cody. They’d take it as a “go **** yourselves” from WWE to the fans, and would just give up.

CastorTroy

They need to decide quickly what they're doing as if they are still going to have Cody face Roman, an opponent for Seth will be needed. Will see what happens on Raw tomorrow.

The even more recent example than Bryan is when they tried to turn Becky after she turned on Charlotte and the fans were having none of it. I really hope they don't have Cody go out there to try and sway the fans to back the Rock/Roman match. I should hope Cody has enough say to refuse to do it if they ask him.

Wonder what the Rock said to Cody. Something like "Smile like you're happy this is happening. Good! Now remember we still have your dog so don't do anything stupid"?

martingriff

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121718520#Comment_121718520

Oh ya that makes sense

Lord TSC

https://twitter.com/KingRicochet/status/1754204928677966175?t=Mpatpxc1daz_DT8xKxwXDQ&s=19

We into work status now, boys.