The Rock’s Deal with TKO Reportedly Included Terms for Roman Reigns WrestleMania Match

As noted before, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson joined TKO Group’s Board of Directors this past January. Johnson made a surprise appearance at this past Friday’s SmackDown show teasing a match against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 after Cody Rhodes had given up his chance to do so as the winner of this year’s Men’s Royal Rumble match.

Dave Meltzer reported in a recent episode of the Wrestling Observer Radio that his sources stated that the terms of Johnson’s deal to join TKO’s Board included having a match with Roman Reigns at WrestleMania. Meltzer reported that TKO officials agreed to give Johnson this match for WrestleMania 40 when he had signed his deal with them on January 3rd.

Meltzer reported that it is still not known why WWE officials went ahead with having Rhodes winning this year’s Men’s Royal Rumble match and tease his choice of Reigns for WrestleMania at the show if they were not going to actually follow through with it.

Meltzer also reported that very few people, if any outside of WWE President Nick Khan and Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel, within WWE were aware of this deal that was made for Johnson for WrestleMania 40. The general belief backstage at WWE’s Royal Rumble 2024 event reportedly was that Reigns would be facing Rhodes at WrestleMania.

In regards to the negative reception over the decision to drop Rhodes in favor of The Rock for Reigns’ WrestleMania 40 match, Meltzer reported that this is something that WWE officials are currently planning on turning into a storyline for Rhodes. Meltzer reported that those spoken to confirmed that WWE officials still do have plans for Rhodes vs. Reigns rematch to take place at some point but not at WrestleMania 40.

In regards to WWE’s reaction to the negative backlash, Meltzer reported that WWE officials had expected for Rhodes to turn into Daniel Bryan over the backlash Friday’s segment generated with the idea to make him into a “martyr” and a “bigger babyface out of that.” Meltzer also reported that it is currently not known if WWE officials had expected for Johnson to be booed for taking Rhodes’ spot based on those spoken to.

Meltzer also reported that WWE officials might not end up caring if fans reject The Rock vs. Reigns match due to them getting more “eyeballs for this match than any match they’ve ever had” and it is going to generate more sponsorship revenue based on Johnson wrestling. WWE officials reportedly are likely under the assumption that they will just let fans boo their decision since this is the biggest money match that they can ever make and will be stead fast on this decision to go ahead with it.