On the February 21st episode of Smackdown, The Rock showed up and spoke with Cody Rhodes. During their segment, he told Cody that he wants his ‘Soul’ and he wants his answer at the Elimination Chamber PPV.
You can check out my latest WWE predictions video on Youtube: Wrestlemania 41 predictions: John Cena vs Cody Rhodes.
I am a big fan of The Rock but this was a weird segment. I feel like he might have forgotten some of his lines? I am not 100% sure but it was definitely a confusing promo and not his best work on the mic.
It did leave fans with intrigue though for what is coming next in this storyline. So mission accomplished from that standpoint.
I think that many fans are wondering what this means and what this storyline could be leading to. I figured that I would give my predictions.
We received a hint at the press conference after Smackdown from The Rock. He said something along the lines that his character and Cody Rhodes are in a unique place where it doesn’t necessarily have to culminate into a match.
The Rock might be lying here (as this is pro-wrestling) but I am going to take him at his word for now. I don’t think they will do Cody Rhodes vs The Rock at Wrestlemania 41. It doesn’t really make sense unless the Rock is going to put himself into the Elimination Chamber match and then win it. I don’t really see that happening. If Cody and The Rock are going to face off, it probably won’t be until Wrestlemania 42 next year, where they have more time to build.
For my predictions, I want to start with the short-term, which is Cody’s decision at the Elimination Chamber.
I think that Cody is going to decline the offer from The Rock at the PPV. If they were going to do corporate Cody or that type of storyline, I think they would have done more of a surprise reveal. If he just walks into the PPV, says he accepts the offer, it would feel a bit weird to me.
The question is, what is going to be the long-term implications of Cody turning this down?
My prediction for this storyline is that Cody is not going to sell his soul to the Rock but somebody will. Someone is going to take The Rock up on his offer and sell their soul to him. This person will become The Rock’s corporate Champion.
This will lead to that person winning the title from Cody, likely after some help from the Rock to do it. That feels like the way that this is going. Cody says no but someone else says yes and that person wins the title.
There are a lot of interesting options for where this could go and who the person will be that accepts the offer.
John Cena is definitely the most interesting route that they can go in my opinion. A desperate John Cena, who wants to win his 17th Championship, turns heel and aligns with the Rock. Cena turning heel and aligning with the Rock would be a major twist and make for a memorable moment.
I don’t think it will be Cena though as that feels like it would be a longer term storyline. And If Cena is retiring over the next year, I am not sure that they will go that route. He also never turned heel in his whole career, so I don’t think he will do so at the very end. I am not going to write it off completely and I would love for this to happen, but I am not going to predict it.
My current prediction is it will be CM Punk who takes up the Rock on his offer. I think Punk will win the Elimination Chamber match and then accept the Rock’s offer, which leads to Punk winning the title at Wrestlemania 41 (likely with The Rock’s help).
I think this makes the most sense from a storyline standpoint. Punk sells out in order to get the main event match at Wrestlemania that he has always wanted.
I think it would be an exciting moment and parallel back in the day when Stone Cold shook hands with Mr. McMahon.
Long-term, this would lead to: Cody Rhodes vs The Rock at Wrestlemania 42 next year. It could also lead to CM Punk vs Roman Reigns at Wrestlemania 42 next year.
What do you guys think will happen? I also posted a video on this, so please check that out as well