WWE says Viva Las Vegas!

To set the stage for WrestleMania 40, WWE is going XL! It’s a huge press event in Las Vegas to officially declare the Universal Championship match!

The WrestleMania XL Kickoff begins!

On the road to the BIGGEST WrestleMania of all time, WWE enters the T-Mobile Arena, with Michael Cole, Pat McAfee, Big E Langston and CM Punk as our hosts! Pat is excited to stand alongside the handsome Big E and the legendary Punk as a major decision will be made, a decision that will be talked about until the end of time! Big E says he’s here so Punk doesn’t get fined. And The Voice of the Voiceless, arm in a heavy brace, has the fans chanting for him as he says it helps his heart to be here. And to be here with Cole and the “Cole Miners” is great, too.

Before getting to business, how is Big E’s neck? Oh he’s doing good. He loves everyone for checking in and sending the love. And Punk, how are the triceps? Well, this sucks, for one. He is one week out from surgery and yet he’s not 100%, he’s a little disappointed in himself. He is heartbroken he won’t be competing at WrestleMania, but don’t worry, he’ll still piss a lot of people off because his mouth and brain still work. Cole brings up Pat having The Rock on the Pat McAfee Show today, which fans boo, but others chant for “Rocky! Rocky!” Pat says The Rock brought the WWE to new heights and has a massive legacy.

Fans duel, “We Want Cody!” “No We Don’t!” Pat says there’s the fans who have respect for the American Nightmare, who wants to finish the story as he has rightfully earned. Of course, The Rock called many of those fans, “Cody Crybabies.” Cole brings up Punk how he had a similar situation happen, and Punk says, yeah, where were all these fans in 2013? But what then should happen in Punk’s opinion? Punk thinks that the Road to WrestleMania will be really spicy. If everyone plays their cards right, and he’s talking about Cody, about Roman, and even about Seth Rollins and The Rock, we could be in for a hell of a roller coaster.

But what needs to happen from all these guys is chips on shoulders. From an NFL perspective, which Pat should get, there are a lot of Quarterbacks, Tom Brady got in the Super Bowl after those other guys carried the team into the championship. If Punk is that other guy, he’s not happy about it, but he also understands how it goes. He understands the box office, but also about making a name for yourselves. Cody and Rollins are in such a position to truly make a name for themselves, but especially Cody.

Cole then turns to Big E, who also had to fight to get to the top. That is what Cody is also trying to do, so where does Big E see this? Big E says he is here to “beat the drum for Cody.” Cody is someone who has a special connection with the fans, who does the Make A Wishes, and really relates to people authentically. Big E saw how Cody reached out to the Huber family after Brodie Lee/Luke Harper past. That connection is what you want out of your top guy, who will carry this show every week and even go to the live events. Big E knows pro-wrestling isn’t a pure meritocracy, it’s just not how it works. BUT what Cody has done in and out of the ring is proof he is the guy to carry WWE forward.

Michael Cole sends it backstage.

Jackie Redmond confirms The Rock is here, making the rounds, including that “feisty” appearance on Pat McAfee’s show. The Rock says tonight will be historic and it will cement his Road to WrestleMania.

Byron Saxton is with Paul Heyman, and asks The Wise Man what Roman Reigns’ mood is, given he has to prepare for WrestleMania and his face-to-face with- Heyman cuts Byron off to repeat, “Mood? Mood?! Oh, he’s honored to be here since you’re in The Bloodline locker room, Byron. Thank you so much. It has made his mood so much better to come to Vegas just to see you. Did that answer your question about his mood? Here’s the mood in the Bloodline locker room, ladies and gentlemen. The mood in the Bloodline locker room is no different than it has been for three and a half years.

“We look out at the outside world, and what do we hear? We Want Cody! We Want Cody! And then we also hear everybody chanting, we also hear everybody cheering, we also see all the love for the biggest movie star in history, The Rock. And for once it’s not about Cody, everybody wants to talk about The Rock. But do you know what everybody’s really talking about? Which one of them gets to main-event WrestleMania with Roman… Reigns! That’s what this is all about. That’s what the hype is about. That’s what the controversy is about. That’s what the discussion is about.

“Who gets to fight the Tribal Chief? Who gets to share the spotlight with the Head of the Table? Who gets to step into the ring with the reigning, defending, undisputed WWE Universal Heavyweight Champion? Who gets to main event WrestleMania? And until someone beats Roman Reigns, that’s where the main event of WrestleMania will remain to be.” Heyman grins, then tells Byron that is Roman’s mood. The Wise Man storms off, and mockingly asks Roman his mood since Byron wants to know! Heyman said what he said, but will that “mood” change before the end here?

We return to the panel.

Michael Cole brings up that Seth Rollins wants to face Cody Rhodes, so a quick check: who does everyone think Roman wants to face? Pat says Roman should want The Rock so that we can all finally see who the TRUE Head of the Table is, because that is a story that’s been going on their entire lives. Big E agrees with that. The Rock is a global superstar, there’s the family connection, and as much as Big E wants Cody to #FinishTheStory, Roman surely wants The Rock. Punk understands box office, so Roman wants The Rock. But The Rock didn’t eliminate CM Punk from the Royal Rumble, Cody Rhodes did.

Punk feels this is really more who Roman doesn’t want, and he doesn’t want Cody. Cole says we all saw WrestleMania last year, and Cole says we’ll get more opinions later, but BREAKING NEWS! WWE Speed comes to Twitter/X! Matches with a five minute time limit, starting in Spring 2024! It’ll be a fast-paced new format featuring fresh match-ups, make sure to tune in!

Cole then welcomes the WWE Chief Content Officer, The Game, Triple H, Paul Levesque! The fans fire up as HHH walks out on stage, mic in hand. HHH says, “In 1985, in a sold-out Madison Square Garden, a tag team match took place between ‘Mr. Wonderful,’ Paul Orndoff and his partner, ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper. They would take on the team of Mr. T and ‘The Immortal’ Hulk Hogan. That night was so big, anybody that was anybody had to be there. It drew pop culture icons and celebrities from all over the globe. Muhammad Ali was a special guest referee. Cindy Lauper was there, Liberace was there, the Rockettes, everybody was there.

“And it was named… WrestleMania.” The fans cheer that! Now, WrestleMania would launch the WWE from a small regional promotion to a global juggernaut that you see today, selling out stadiums all over the globe. In those 40 years since then, a lot would change. WWE would see the cable TV boom, closed circuit TV, and pioneer the PPV industry as well as internet streaming and direct-to-consumer content with the WWE Network. And just recently, it would announce a deal with Netflix for over five BILLION dollars!

Along the way, it’d create global superstars, icons known the world over: Hulk Hogan; Randy Savage; Andre the Giant; Ric Flair; Bret Hart; Shawn Michaels; Stone Cold Steve Austin; The Rock; The Undertaker; Mick Foley; Batista; John Cena. The list goes on and on! Those people would catapult the WWE to where it is today. But on April 6th and 7th in Philadelphia, HHH vows the WWE will take it to a whole new level. It is a new era, and it is an all-new WWE! HHH promises us this: “You ain’t seen nothing yet.” Fans like the sound of that! “So Las Vegas…” The fans already know what’s coming!

“ARE… YOU… READY…?! You better be, because right now, we start the Road to WrestleMania 40!” The Game heads out and the fans fire up, and then Cole & Pat walk on stage. They have us take a special inside look at their first guest, The EST, Bianca Belair! After the video plays, Pat says a champion since birth, from college and into the WWE, she won and won and won, et cetera! An absolute beast! Bianca Belair makes her entrance and the fans cheer. Bianca has a mic of her own, and she says, “Las Vegas~!” The fans cheer for “E S T! E S T!” and she says, “How amazing is it that we are in Vegas the week of the Super Bowl to talk about OUR Super Bowl, WrestleMania?”

The fans cheer and Bianca says the Road to WrestleMania is one of the most exciting times of the year. It is why she and her hubby, Montez Ford, decided to share with the world how amazing WrestleMania is through their docuseries, Love & WWE: Bianca & Montez, now on Hulu. But they wanted to show the world the ups, the downs, the ins, the outs, the sacrifices and the triumphs. Because WrestleMania is a spectacle! The best entrances, the best gear, the best matches, and where history is made. It is where Bianca made history, which fans cheer.

There was WrestleMania 37 with Sasha Banks! The first two Black females to main event, and Bianca walked out as champion. Then there was WrestleMania 38, where she faced off against Becky Lynch, and again walked out as champion. And then WrestleMania 39 where Bianca beat Asuka to threepeat to leave as champion again! The fans cheer, and Bianca says she’s only been here a short amount of time but has had an amazing time. However, this year is different because she’s not walking in as champion. A young fan says, “That’s okay!” And Bianca says yes, it is okay. Because she’ll do whatever it takes to continue the Mania streak.

She might not know what her journey is, what lane she’ll be in, but she vows to be on the Road to WrestleMania, cuz you cannot spell it without E S T! The fans cheer, what championship story will Bianca write this year? Speaking of, she’s in a qualifier match for SmackDown to get into the Women’s Elimination Chamber, which will determine the #1 contender to the Women’s World Championship. Pat is sure Bianca will figure this one out, because did you hear the fans when she showed up? This crowd, you can feel their energy! Pat is excited, too! And speaking of Elimination Chamber and Australia, here comes The Eradicator!

Pat says “Mami” is running the WWE, and when she returns to Australia, Perth is gonna be throwing vegemite all over the place. Cole introduces the WWE Women’s World Champion, Rhea Ripley! The fans fire up as Rhea makes her entrance, a mic of her on in hand. “Las Vegas! Mami’s here!” Fans cheer and Rhea has them go on. She thanks them and says we are on the Road to WeestleMania. “The one event that people dream to be a part of! They scratch and they claw just to make it. But this isn’t any WrestleMania. This is WrestleMania 40! And y’know what makes it so special, guys? Because Mami is walking in and out as the most dominant woman to hold a championship within this company!”

Fans cheer and Rhea wants them to get louder! So they get louder! There it is. Rhea says it was no surprise to her as to why the Royal Rumble winner, Bayley, chose to turn on her friends and challenge Io Shirai instead of Rhea. Why waste your golden ticket when you know you’re gonna lose? Now for Rhea, she has a Mania before Mania. She has the Elimination Chamber in Perth, Australia, her home country. And once she’s done dealing with Nia Jax, which the fans boo, Rhea will be ready for whoever wins the Chamber. It really doesn’t matter to Rhea, and why? Because- BECKY LYNCH IS HERE!? Rhea is furious that The Man is interrupting but the fans fire up!

Becky has a mic and says, “You didn’t think that you could have a big time WrestleMania press conference without Big Time Becks, now did ya?” The fans cheer as Becky says The Man has come around to Las Vegas! “And as of Monday, The Man is officially in the Elimination Chamber for the first time ver. Which means that The Man will WIN the Elimination Chamber for the first time ever. Which means that in front of all your little friends and family in your home country, The Man will challenge you for your title at WrestleMania, where it will be Mami VS The Man for the first time ever!” Fans love that!

That is… if Rhea can get past Nia. But Rhea says it doesn’t matter who she faces? It doesn’t matter because Mami is always on top? Fans cheer that, but Becky says it does matter. Because Becky has made a legendary career out of knocking golden girls off their top spot. So Mami is gonna learn what it’s like to be a bottom! Because that’s what happens when The Man comes around! Fans fire up for the stare down, and Adam Pearce storms in to keep this from getting physical! But with Becky and Rhea all fired up, is this showdown all but inevitable?

Cole & Pat are back on stage.

After a short break, the press event continues and Pat says that the world has bestowed great things upon Las Vegas, this city is fantastic for hosting the Super Bowl, and then oh snap! The week got bigger because a massive decision is going to be made that will be talked about for generations to come. This is the perfect time for the perfect event in the perfect place. That said, our next guest is the self-proclaimed workhorse champion, the “real” champion, the WWE World Heavyweight Champion, and perhaps the name that’s gone forgotten in all of this… Seth FREAKIN’ Rollins!

The fans sing “OH~ OHH~ OHHH~!” as Rollins struts out in a velvet tuxedo that is a Philadelphia Eagles shade of green. “Laaaas~ Vegas! Oh~, it’s a party in here tonight!” The fans continue to sing so Rollins takes a moment to revel in it. Rollins says he loves Vegas. And yes, he is a Visionary, a Revolutionary, and your World Heavyweight Champion, Seth FREAKIN’ Rollins! Still a pretty big pop, right? Now, Vegas, we are on the Road to WrestleMania, WrestleMania 40, XL, Extra Large, the biggest Mania of ALL TIME! Now, what do you say they cut to the chase and get ourselves a main event?

Now, Rollins isn’t the man to make that decision, he is just the prize at the end of the road. So let’s get the man who can make that decision out here. The TWO-TIME Royal Rumble winner, the American Nightmare himself, Cody Rhodes! Wait, that’s Roman Reigns’ music! Rollins is upset that the Head of the Table, the Tribal Chief, the WWE Universal Champion walks out here instead, accompanied by his Wise Man. Rollins and Roman are face to face again after roughly two years, their Universal Championship match at Royal Rumble 2022. Rollins yawns at how long the entrance is taking.

The fans are torn as Heyman hands Roman a mic. Roman tells “Las Vegas…! ACKNOWLEDG ME.” The fans are still torn but Rollins says, “Hey, guys, he showed up for work for once. I love to see it! Good to see ya, big brother.” Roman says, “And he showed up to work in his wife’s shoes.” Rollins says don’t be mad that he can still run circles around Roman. Roman says let’s talk about someone who matters right now. The fans chant “Cody! Cody!” and “Rocky! Rocky!” Roman says yeah, let’s talk about Cody Rhodes! “The man who can’t make his own choice, huh? Mr. Hesitation. Here’s a life lesson, kids. If you hesitate, your moment’s gonna move on.

“And that’s what’s happened to Cody Rhodes. It’s no longer his decision. It’s now Your Tribal Chief’s decision.” Rollins asks if that’s really how it is, and Roman says yes, that IS how it is. So tonight, Roman chooses who faces him in the main event of WrestleMania! So get this bum outta here already, huh? Roman chooses… Fans chant and duel, “Cody!” “Rocky!” “Cody!” “Rocky!” Roman is amused as he says HE chooses The Rock! Rollins says that’s not how this works! But here comes The Rock! Fans fire up as Dwayne Johnson walks out on stage and raises the iconic eyebrow, and then raises the fist.

Fans boo, Rollins smirks, but The Rock smirks back. The Rock says, “Finally…! The Rock has come back to Las Vegas…! Now let The Rock ask you a question. Do you think that Roman Reigns is gonna beat The Rock at WrestleMania?” Fans sound torn and Roman grins. The Rock then says, “Or… do you think that The Rock is gonna beat The Tribal Chief at WrestleMania?” The fans are again torn and Roman shakes his head. The fans are all over the place, but “We Want Cody!” “No We Don’t!” shows up again. The Rock says, “Or… do you think that The Rock and Roman Reigns will be the biggest main event in the history of the WWE?”

Fans are really torn here. Roman is annoyed, but The Rock loves the passion from the fans. So then, to members of the press, welcome, glad you’re here. To the WWE Universe… The fans continue to duel! Rollins is amused, at least. The Rock continues to welcome the fans. To everyone watching around the world, welcome. And certainly to the millions, “AND MILLIONS!” of The Rock’s fans, welcome. World watching, The Rock introduces you to “The Cody Crybabies.” Fans are torn again but Roman and Heyman find that one funny. The Rock wants to show us all something that is very important, very cool, and he’s sure we’ll like it a lot.

But whether you like it or you don’t, love it or hate it, one thing for damn sure, you are gonna respect it. Take a look. Rock cues up the true Bloodline family tree. Rollins sighs but The Rock and Roman take a moment to show respect to the tree. When you look at this incredible family tree, and really take a look at the top of it. There’s The Rock’s grandfather, and Roman’s grandfather. They made a blood oath said “family forever.” If you can’t see the fact that this is proof there is only one dominant and powerful royal family in pro-wrestling, and if you think that The Rock VS Roman Reigns isn’t the biggest main event in WrestleMania history, then in simple terms: It doesn’t matter what you think!

Fans boo but The Rock and Roman nod to each other. The Rock says WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia, The Rock VS Roman Reigns, People’s Champion VS Universal Champion, whether you like it or not, THE People’s Champion in the biggest main event in the history of pro-wrestling, bound by blood, is happening. Roman and Rock shake hands, and fans boo what is really a conspiracy. Wait, someone says to hold on? It’s CODY RHODES! Rollins and the fans fire up as Cody says this is BULL SH*T!! The fans cheer that!

Cody says Roman is out here, calling the shots, dictating WrestleMania. And as Tribal Chief, Universal Champion, he has a lot of stroke. But it is not his right to determine the main event, it is CODY’S, as winner of the Rumble! The fans cheer that, too! Cody then tells The Rock that while they had a great conversation, Cody had many great conversations, and he has finally made his decision! Cody looks to Rollins, then to the fans. “At WrestleMania 40, in the main event… I choose YOU, Roman Reigns!” The fans fire up and Rollins is disappointed, but Roman is shocked most of all! Cody must be crazy! Or stupid, or something!

This was a done deal! Cody’s old news, he should go over to join Number Two at the loser table! Fans boo but Roman says Cody should leave with the dummy in green. Last year was Cody’s moment, he was but a chapter in Roman’s book. No one cares about Cody’s story or if he finishes it. H e is embarrassing his entire family now. Cody is irrelevant, just like his DAD! Cody is fuming from that one. HHH, Adam Pearce & Nick Aldis have appeared on stage now as this gets heated. Cody says Roman talks about his family, isn’t that what The Bloodline is? Cuz Cody has a question: How’s Jey? Roman drops his mic, he’s that mad now.

Cody continues to say that’s not a family! Roman doesn’t care about them, they’re just lackeys, yes men and goons to Roman! And what is this match all about? Who sits at the Head of the Table? What does it matter when neither Roman or Rock has done any of the cooking the last two years?! Heyman tries to keep Roman calm but Cody says they had that family tree. And they’ve used Cody’s father against him before, so he’ll do the same. If Roman’s grandfather was here… If the HIGH CHIEF, The Rock’s grandfather, was here… They’d both be ashamed! GASP! The mics drop on all sides, and even The Rock steps up now.

Cody stares Roman and Rock down, and The Rock tells Cody, “Lemme make something perfectly clear to you. When you talk about his family, you’re talking about my family. When you’re talking about his ancestors, you’re talking about MY ancestors. And when you’re talking about his blood, you’re talking about my blood. So now, we have a problem.” The Rock SLAPS Cody! Rollins steps up, HHH and the GMs step in, and the fans are going nuts! Rock & Roman want them to let the others bring the fight, but HHH talks Rollins down and Pearce gets Cody off stage. Rollins says these two can’t just do whatever they want!

Roman dares Rollins to do something and Rollins says bet, he’s beat Roman every single time and he’ll do it again! Fans boo as Rock and Roman seethe. HHH reprimands Heyman but Heyman says he doesn’t represent Rock!

We return to the panel.

Cole recaps what we just saw, and asks Punk. What does the master of the pipebomb think about that? Punk says this is like Valentine’s Day, “I choose you, I want you.” Cody is way too diplomatic. You get slapped in the mouth, you bust them right back, that’s what Punk would’ve done. Cody should’ve punched The Rock out. Do the fans want to see that? The fans cheer! Punk says it should happen. But Rock didn’t throw Punk out of the Rumble, Cody did, so it is Cody’s shot to call. Big E’s thoughts: This was explosive! He doesn’t know where we’re going. A tag match on the horizon, maybe? But he loves it, with just two months until Mania.

Cole says this also leaves the World Heavyweight Championship match in question. Pat says The Rock just went to bat for his family, got offended, and smacked Cody in the mouth. Rollins almost defended Cody, and on the way out, The Rock said they could do whatever they wanted. Seems like a power flex to Pat. Rock is of course Wrestling Mount Rushmore, Roman’s earned his own mountain to himself really, they were just reminding everyone about that. Cole says #WeWantCody has been trending, and Pat points out it is clearly popular in here. Cole says Cody did earn the right to pick his opponent.

So Cody went with Roman, does he #FinishTheStory? Punk says he can, but he’ll have to hit back. Can’t let someone slap you like that. Punk would be gouging eyes and punching people, even with one arm. Big E says yeah, talk about the odds stacked against you. The Rock is one of the biggest stars in the world, and is now a member of the board! He’s basically Cody’s boss. The Rock has his ties with Nick Khan, too, so Cody’s got a lot up against him. Pat says that is valid, and The Rock pointed out his ties to The Bloodline. When you talk about one, you talk about the other. What’re those two plotting for the WWE now?

Cole steers it back to Rollins. He’s being left out of this talk, despite being World Heavyweight Champion. He’s being called B Team, secondary title, all that. Punk says he’s the wrong guy for this one. Rollins said he hates Punk’s guts, so no love lost. But Rollins does need to stop with the stylist, get his balls out of Becky’s purse and hit someone back, period. Cole goes back to how they talked before, Big E’s own climb to the top. Cody has to finish the story, this is massive pressure. There won’t be a third chance, right? No, not at all. Big E got chills hearing Cody talk.

Big E thought back to where Cody was before he left, “languishing in the midcard,” and then left to come back with the fans behind him, to have this much support, this much live, and that fire in his belly. His time is now. Not next year, not even SummerSlam, he has to get it done now. Pat says yeah, that’s what we learned: Cody VS Roman at WrestleMania. Rollins is in the air, but where does The Rock stand? Roman VS Rock was big, but what happens with that? Punk isn’t sure what is official anymore. Is it JUST Roman VS Cody now or what? Pat wants Cole to tell us. Cole says Cody had his chance to choose, and he said Roman.

Punk points out Pat has a good point: Rock is on the board. Boss man put hands on his employee. Punk would be throwing hands back. Big E says there are two nights, though. What if we get both? Cole says that’s a good point, and this is all so up in the air. Pat says just look around. There’s a lot going on in Vegas, but a few THOUSAND people came in here to show how much then want to see Cody #FinishTheStory. This was the perfect presser! But he still can’t figure it out what happened! Cole says Pat better figure it out, they gotta talk about this in a couple nights on Monday Night Raw. Pat’s summary: Rock smacked Cody in the mouth, then chewed out Rollins.

Backstage interview with HHH.

Jackie is with The Game, can we get a comment on what is going on here? HHH says in moments like this, everyone goes into business for themselves. Hard to say what that was, but there’s a lot of tension, a lot of ego, and… The Bloodline passes by, glaring at HHH. Rock tells HHH to fix it. Cody can’t talk crap on the family like that. HHH says what The Rock did was out of line. That was not out of line, what Cody did was out of line. Either HHH fixes it or they will. The Rock says HHH is lucky HHH can’t wrestle anymore, then leads Roman & Heyman away. HHH says The Rock is the one who’s lucky.

Back to the panel!

Cole says how can HHH fix it when Cody made his choice? There’s no fixing! Punk says here it is: personal issues can be solved when men fight! Let ’em fight! If Rock’s mad about what Cody said, then he can punch Cody in the teeth! If Cody’s mad about what The Rock did to him, Cody can punch Rock in the teeth! That’s how you solve things in pro-wrestling! Big E seconds that! He wants to see the violence! Punk says since coming back, there are a lot of manbuns in the WWE and he doesn’t see any men attached to ’em! Punch people in the teeth! Cole says that’s fine, those guys can fight while he and Pat talk about it! Pat agrees there!

By the way, Pat hasn’t seen The Rock like that before! Is this where the new WWE is going? Cuz he loves it! Cole thanks us all for being here and tuning in, and we’re just 58 days away from WrestleMania! What will the fallout of this press event be on both Friday Night SmackDown and Monday Night Raw?

My Thoughts:

WOW! Who knew a kayfabe press conference/press event could be this good? And y’know what? The Rock and Cody were putting on social media stuff about how we gotta trust them on where this is is going, and this proved we should have faith in them. Just as it seemed like they weren’t going to give us Cody VS Roman, they do this and scramble things up. Now, great stuff for Bianca, Rhea and Becky tonight to really heat up the Women’s World Championship scene, and while I do feel Bianca gets into the Chamber match, it’s clear Becky is gonna win. Bianca isn’t leaving SmackDown until Montez Ford is leaving SmackDown, that’s how couples in WWE work.

But man, the top title story was so good here. Rollins was hoping Cody would still choose him, but then they gave us this great new twist on why they were even teasing Roman VS Rock. I love that they were making this about family, but not even about which branch is superior, but that the entire family tree is going to run WWE one way or another. Maybe The Rock is the new Heel Authority Figure in HHH’s new WWE kayfabe, and that sounds like a lot of fun. And a tag team match was mentioned at the end, and HHH even mentioned a historic tag match at the original Mania. That could be night one before we get whatever match we get on night two, but who knows, and that’s the fun of it all, isn’t it?