The Rock vs. Roman Reigns to headline WWE WrestleMania 40

Roman Reigns vs. The Rock will headline WWE WrestleMania 40. 

The Rock made a surprise appearance on Friday’s SmackDown episode in a segment where Cody Rhodes announced that he was coming for Reigns, but not at WrestleMania 40. 

Reigns & The Rock went face-to-face to close the show, with WWE.com running the headline: 

The Rock challenged Roman Reigns to a WrestleMania match as Cody Rhodes shunned The Tribal Chief!

WWE announced Friday that the 2024 Royal Rumble winner Rhodes would choose his WrestleMania opponent on SmackDown. Rhodes cut a promo questioning what “finishing his story” would look like, ultimately stating that finishing his story would entail taking everything from Reigns, not just the WWE Universal Championship. 

Rhodes said that he had consulted with friends, family, and legends in making his choice, and had in fact consulted with someone Reigns knows well. The Rock then entered and shook hands with Rhodes and had a short conversation with him before Rhodes left the ring to Reigns and The Rock. 

The Rock and Reigns facing off with Reigns holding the Universal title high closed SmackDown. 

WWE also announced a WrestleMania 40 kickoff press event in Las Vegas for Thursday, February 8 to stream live on Peacock at 7 p.m. Eastern time where Reigns vs. The Rock will likely be made official. 

Rhodes now looks to be in line to challenge Seth Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40, a match teased on this past Monday’s Raw. Rollins vs. CM Punk and Reigns vs. Rhodes had appeared to be the WrestleMania title programs, but Punk suffered a torn triceps at Royal Rumble, potentially leading to a pivot from WWE to Rock vs. Reigns and Rhodes vs. Rollins.