Update on Backstage Reactions to WWE’s Decision for The Rock vs. Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40

As noted before, this past Friday’s WWE SmackDown show in Birmingham, Alabama featured this year’s Men’s Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes giving up the chance to have his rematch with Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania 40 in favor of letting Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson have that chance instead.

Fightful Select reported that TKO officials have definitely taken note of all the various negative online and mainstream coverage of the change in creative direction from the expected Rhodes vs. Reigns match for the Undisputed WWE Universal title at WrestleMania 40.

One source spoken to reportedly stated that you can not rule out the possibility of this all being a work by WWE officials from the very start or at else becoming one after a while. This same source reportedly also stated that if this was indeed all just a work, then everyone who are involved are keeping it very quiet.

In regards to the internal reactions within WWE, it was reported that the general reaction has seemed to have slightly changed since the initial negative reaction following Reigns, Rhodes, and The Rock’s segment at this past Friday’s show. One source spoken to reportedly stated “Well, this is preferable to the coverage of Vince McMahon, but that’s not going anywhere either. At least with this there can be peaks and valleys, and some sane people can justify it. With the coverage we were getting last week, it was all negative.” Another source spoken to reportedly a different view stating “maybe the company prefers to appear inept than malicious by proxy of Vince [McMahon].” This view reportedly was shared by many others within the company.

It was reported that there are some within WWE who are oblivious to all the negative reaction from fans with even some outright denying how fans have been looking at it. One top talent spoken to reportedly stated that they think The Rock vs. Reigns is a great match to have at WrestleMania 40 and claimed that the fans are excited for it. This same talent reportedly also stated that Rhodes will still get a huge match at WrestleMania and all this issue will do for Rhodes is make the fans rally behind him even more coming out of it and believes everything will be fine.

Another talent spoken to reportedly stated that Johnson is the type of person who is impossible to dislike if you meet him. This same talent reportedly also stated that they think a lot of what Johnson has built himself on would be undermined by him actually going through with all of this. This same talent reportedly also stated that if you listen to many of the things Johnson has said, especially to people like them, it makes them think that this match against Reigns will not happen the way it currently appears.

Another talent reportedly stated that they feel that this is just a big test due to The Rock got cheered by the crowd at this past Friday’s show and then booked when he appeared on the big screen at this past Saturday’s house show even in Knoxville, Tennessee. This same talent reportedly stated that when this same video is played again on the big screen at Monday’s RAW show, this Thursday’s press event in Las Vegas, and this Friday’s SmackDown show, it will be telling of what the situation really is. This same talent reportedly also stated that they do not even know if The Rock will be at this Friday’s SmackDown show.

Another talent spoken to reportedly stated that if they known Johnson like they think they know him, then public perception is very important to him. This same talent reportedly also stated that they think the chances are high that Johnson will take this issue head on and address it in some capacity.

It was reported that many within WWE are currently under the impression that The Rock vs. Reigns and Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins are the planned top matches for WrestleMania 40 but that planned top matches at past WrestleMania events have changed before as the event drew closer. Many people also reportedly brought up how the public reaction to the matches is not what was expected internally when the company had planned out everything in advance.

In regards to Reigns’ promo at this past Friday’s show taking negative shots at Rollins and the WWE World Heavyweight Championship that he holds, one high level WWE official spoken to stated “look who we’re in business with now. That happens all the time. One champion has a reason their title is more valid than another’s… Perception is reality in that kind of situation. We definitely want to create that discussion. Do you value the guy who isn’t around as much and beat everyone, or do you value the guy who is around all the time and Roman didn’t actually beat? It’s not an accident.”

In regards to Rhodes, it was reported that mostly everyone within WWE is current confident that regardless of how everything plays out, Rhodes will handle it professionally and just “roll with the punches” as things happen.