Challenge accepted.
On the March 8 episode of WWE SmackDown, World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes confronted The Rock and Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns. The duo responded to The Rock’s challenge to a tag team match at WrestleMania 40.
After an intense showdown, Rollins accepted the challenge. Reigns and The Rock made it clear that Rhodes would never get another shot at the title if he lost. The Rock then called Cody Rhodes a mistake, and Cody slapped him.
Here’s how the confrontation broke down, courtesy of our play-play coverage.
Rhodes says there’s a lot of bad blood, but he feels lucky to be standing here. He says the four of them should take a moment to “feel this.” Cody brings up The Rock’s challenge and asks if he has the authority to make that stipulation. He notes that The Rock acknowledged Reigns as his Tribal Chief last week. Cody is about to give his answer, but The Rock tells him to shut up. The Rock says he will drop some gospel on them, as he explains that he acknowledged Reigns because they are family. He reiterates his challenge and the stipulations, which state that a win for Cody would spell a Bloodline-free match against Reigns, but a loss would make it a Bloodline Rules match.
Rollins tells The Rock to shut the hell up. He says they know the future of the industry is on the line. He calls The Rock Mr. Mid-Life Crisis and accepts the challenge.
Reigns calls Rhodes an idiot and says his story will be over when he loses at WrestleMania 40. The Rock says he is their boss, and if Rhodes loses at WrestleMania, he will never get another shot at the title. The Rock highlights Cody’s family and says Cody was a mistake. Rhodes slaps The Rock, and The Rock stares down Rhodes as SmackDown ends.
Triple H then confirmed that the match was official for WrestleMania 40 Night One on April 6.
Per the stipulation of the match, if Rollins and Rhodes win, The Bloodline will not interfere in Cody’s match against Reigns. However, if they lose, it will be a Bloodline Rules match, meaning anything goes.
The tag team bout will mark The Rock’s first match since WrestleMania 34, where he beat Erick Rowan in six seconds. He has not had a standard match since WrestleMania 29, where he lost to John Cena.
RELATED: WWE SmackDown Results (3/8/24): Rhodes And Rollins Respond To The Rock
