Wrestling is weird. It’s this bizarre intersection of soap opera, high-level athletics, and carny tradition that shouldn't work in 2024, yet here we are. If you’ve followed the journey of Cody Rhodes WrestleMania 40 was more than just a big show. It was a massive, loud, tear-jerking exorcism of decades of family baggage. For years, the story was that a Rhodes couldn't hold the big one. Dusty never did it. Dustin never did it. Cody had to leave, reinvent himself as a "Nightmare," and come back just to prove the gatekeepers wrong.
He did it.
The atmosphere in Philadelphia was freezing. You could see the breath of the fans in the front row of Lincoln Financial Field, but nobody cared about the wind chill because the tension was thick enough to cut with a folding chair. It wasn't just about a belt. It was about "finishing the story," a phrase that became so synonymous with Cody that it almost felt like a burden by the time Sunday night rolled around.
The Chaos of Bloodline Rules
Let’s talk about the main event. It was a mess. A beautiful, over-the-top, nostalgic mess. When you look at Cody Rhodes WrestleMania 40 and the Bloodline Rules match against Roman Reigns, you aren't looking at a technical wrestling clinic like Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels. You're looking at an Avengers-level crossover event.
Roman Reigns held that title for 1,316 days. Think about that. In the world of modern entertainment, keeping people interested in one person for nearly four years is basically impossible. But Roman did it. And to beat a god, Cody needed more than just a Cross Rhodes. He needed an army.
The run-ins were legendary.
First, Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso took their sibling rivalry to the entrance ramp. Then Solo Sikoa—the man who cost Cody the title at WrestleMania 39—showed up to ruin things again. It felt like a repeat. The crowd literally groaned. We’d seen this movie before, right? Cody gets close, Solo spikes him, Roman pins him.
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But then the music hit.
John Cena sprinted to the ring. In 2024. Seeing Cena take out Solo Sikoa felt like a fever dream. But the WWE wasn't done playing with our heartstrings. The Rock, the "Final Boss" himself, came out to stare down Cena. It was a callback to their legendary rivalry, and the stadium nearly collapsed from the noise. Rock took out Cena. It looked bleak for Cody.
Then the bell tolled.
The lights went out. When they came back on, The Undertaker was standing behind The Rock. One chokeslam later, the path was clear. This wasn't just about Cody; it was about the entire history of the WWE coming together to end the tyranny of the Bloodline. It was chaotic, loud, and exactly what pro wrestling should be.
Why the Story Actually Mattered
Honestly, if Cody had won at WrestleMania 39, it wouldn't have felt this good. Success is boring without the struggle.
Cody spent a year in limbo. He won the Royal Rumble twice in a row, a feat only achieved by legends like Stone Cold Steve Austin and Hulk Hogan. But there was a moment where it looked like the fans might turn on him. Remember when The Rock initially stepped in to take his spot? The "Cody Crybabies" movement was a real thing, started by The Rock to mock the fans, but it backfired. The fans wanted Cody. They demanded Cody.
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That organic connection is rare. You can't fake it. You can't manufacture it with a marketing budget. People saw themselves in Cody—the guy who was told he wasn't "the guy," who left his comfort zone, worked the indies, helped start a rival promotion (AEW), and then came back to claim what he felt was his birthright.
The stakes for Cody Rhodes WrestleMania 40 were basically "all or nothing." If he lost again, his character would have been dead in the water. He would have been the guy who almost did it. Instead, he became the face of the company.
The Aftermath and the "New Era"
When the referee’s hand hit the mat for the three-count, something shifted. The "Triple H Era" was officially in full swing.
The celebration in the ring lasted forever. Brandi Rhodes was there. Triple H came out. Even guys like Kevin Owens, Randy Orton, and CM Punk showed up to hoist Cody on their shoulders. It felt less like a scripted ending and more like a locker room finally breathing a sigh of relief.
But what does this mean for the business?
- The end of the "Part-Timer" dominance: For years, the big titles were held by guys who only showed up a few times a year. Cody is a workhorse. He’s at every house show, every Raw, every media appearance.
- Emotional storytelling over "Workrate": While the wrestling was great, the emotion drove the sales. People paid for the feeling of seeing the underdog win.
- The Rock’s involvement: The Final Boss isn't gone. The confrontation on the Raw after Mania proved that while Cody finished this story, the sequel is already being written.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Win
Some critics say it was too overbooked. They argue that Cody should have won "on his own" to show strength.
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That misses the point entirely.
The Bloodline didn't play by the rules for four years. Roman Reigns never won alone. He had his cousins, his "Wise Man" Paul Heyman, and his status to protect him. For Cody to win a "Bloodline Rules" match, he had to survive the gauntlet. The interference from Cena and Undertaker wasn't a hand-out; it was a leveling of the playing field. It was the universe correcting itself.
Also, can we talk about the belt? The Winged Eagle design—the one Cody’s dad, Dusty, held in that famous "Champion without a title" photo—is what Cody wanted. While he won the current undisputed title, he brought that legacy back to the forefront. He validated a family name that had been used as a punchline in WWE for years (never forget Stardust).
The Practical Impact for Fans
If you're a casual fan who tuned in for Cody Rhodes WrestleMania 40, you picked the right time to jump back in. The product has changed. It's grittier, the promos feel less scripted, and there's a sense that anyone can win on any given night.
So, what should you do now if you're trying to keep up?
- Watch the "American Nightmare" Documentary: If you want to understand why he cried when he handed the title to his mom, you need to see the backstory of his exit from WWE in 2016.
- Follow the "Final Boss" Arc: Keep an eye on The Rock's social media. He is playing a version of himself that is genuinely terrifying and brilliant, and his eventual return to face Cody is the next "mega-match" on the horizon.
- Look at the mid-card talent: Guys like Gunther and LA Knight are benefiting from the "Cody effect." Now that the main title is back on a full-time wrestler, the rest of the roster has something to actually chase again.
Cody Rhodes didn't just win a wrestling match in Philadelphia. He saved the "Big Gold" dream for a new generation. He proved that even if you're the son of a plumber, you can eventually own the house. It took 40 years of WrestleMania history to get to this specific moment, and honestly? It was worth every second of the wait.
The next step is simple. Stop looking at wrestling as a fake sport and start looking at it as a long-form narrative. Cody’s win was the season finale of a decade-long show. Now, we're in the premiere of the next chapter. Pay attention to how Cody handles the pressure of being the hunted rather than the hunter, as that's where the real character work begins.