Cody Rhodes Reveals Real-Life Conflict With The Rock During WWE Angle

Cody Rhodes has opened up about his personal struggles while working with The Rock during one of the most memorable WWE angles in recent memory.

The Rock morphed into his ‘Final Boss’ heel character during the build to WrestleMania 40, with ‘The American Nightmare’ being the main focus of his rage. However, that was not WWE’s original plan.

The company had wanted to main event WrestleMania with a clash between The Rock and Roman Reigns. In order to make that match, though, WWE had Cody hand over his WWE Championship match that he had earned by winning the 2024 Royal Rumble to ‘The Great One’.

However, fans hated the storyline and let WWE know it. As a result, The Rock was forced to turn heel at a pre-WrestleMania press conference. While on stage at the event in Las Vegas, Nevada, Cody struck a nerve when he brought up The Rock and Roman Reigns’ family during his promo.

Reigns was stunned into silence by the two-time Royal Rumble winner’s words. But the Hollywood star was quick to step up to the plate and address Rhodes. The Rock led with his fists, slapping Cody across the face. The furious Rhodes had to be held back by Triple H and his ally Seth Rollins.

To fans in attendance and those watching at home, the scene looked like a typical WWE storyline. The angle was designed to set up a tag team main event between The Rock and Reigns and Rhodes and Rollins, which would headline the opening night of WrestleMania 40.

Cody Battled Real-Life Conflict During WWE Storyline With The Rock

Credit: WWE

As far as Cody was concerned, though, the situation was far too real. The 40-year-old reflected on the slap during the latest episode of his ‘What Do You Want To Talk About’ podcast after his guest, Becky Lynch, complimented a ring that he was wearing.

Rhodes would go on to admit that he’d purchased the ring during a shopping spree to help him deal with the stress brought on by his conflict with The Rock. The reigning WWE Champion admitted that the tension between him and Rock was as “real as anything that’s ever happened” in professional wrestling. He did not elaborate on whether he was talking about their interaction on stage or behind the scenes, but there was clearly significant tension between the pair.

Cody recalled searching the Las Vegas strip for a tie bar to set off his outfit for the press conference, eventually deciding to purchase an ornate wedding band from Tiffany’s. But as his line of questioning to Lynch revealed, he also bought a gift for Lynch’s husband, Seth Rollins, ahead of their main event match at WrestleMania.

“Did he lose the watch I got him?” asked a coy Rhodes.

Responding with a high-pitched no, Lynch attempted to cover for her husband before admitting that she’d never seen The Visionary wear the watch. Rollins is well-known in WWE for his outrageous sartorial choices.

Rhodes’ apparently less-than-well-received gift was a precursor to what was to come on night one of WrestleMania 40. Rhodes and Rollins lost to The Rock and Reigns. The punishment for the loss meant that the following night’s WWE Championship match between Reigns and Rhodes would be a ‘Bloodline Rules match’, thus allowing anyone to interfere in the bout.

Against all odds, Rhodes emerged victorious with some help from Rollins, John Cena, The Undertaker, and Bloodline defector Jey Uso. But his feud with The Rock was far from over. After the dust had settled on his legendary victory, The Rock addressed Rhodes. Cody may have finished the story at WrestleMania 40, but his story with The Rock was just beginning.

Their feud would set up one of the most shocking heel turns in WWE history almost a year later at Elimination Chamber 2025. The Rock’s attempts to convince Rhodes to sell his soul to him fell on deaf ears, with John Cena thrilled by Cody’s refusal. But that adoration quickly soured into betrayal, as Cena turned on Rhodes, setting up their WrestleMania 41 title match.

Perhaps tellingly, The Rock has yet to make another appearance in WWE since Elimination Chamber. His status with the company as an on-screen performer remains unclear.