Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for WWE Raw (Jul 29, 2025)
Cody Rhodes appeared on this week’s edition ofWWE Rawin Cincinnati, getting the chance to finally addressThe Rock’s offer from last week’sWWE SmackDown. For those who missed it, “The Final Boss” said he wanted Rhodes to become “his” champion, but thatRhodes would need to give up his “soul"to do it. Days later, Rhodes appeared conflicted by the offer, telling theWWEfans in attendance that the decision doesn’t just affect him, but his family, his students at The Nightmare Factory, and the memory of his late father, “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes.
Rhodes admittedhe doesn’t want to go down the same path as his father, who was still wrestling into his 60s to pay the bills. The Undisputed WWE Champion pointed out how everything he has been willing to claw, scratch, and fight for would become his, only now without having to make all the sacrifices. Before Rhodes could elaborate further, he was interrupted by Seth Rollins. “The Visionary” grabbed a microphone and pointed out how this was the first time he and Rhodes had shared a ring sinceWrestleMania XLnearly a full year ago. He asked Rhodes why he would even consider The Rock’s offer, given everything “The Final Boss” and The Bloodline put him through before he finally won the Undisputed WWE Championship from Roman Reigns. Rollins urged Rhodesto not make him regret everything he sacrificedto ensure “The American Nightmare” would finally dethrone Reigns.
Rhodes pushed back, pointing out all of Rollins' transgressions from over the years. Rollins admitted he still regretted those decisions and that he wants to protect Rhodes from making the same mistakes.
Seth Rollins Has Been In Cody Rhodes' Position Before
“The Visionary” Knows All Too Well What It Means To Sell Out
In 2014, Rollins made a pivotal career decision. He willingly broke up The Shield by betraying Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose, choosing to align himself with Triple H and The Authority faction. The choice paid off in the short term - the group helped him win the Money in the Bank contract, which he used to become WWE World Heavyweight Champion atWrestleMania 31in 2015. But the betrayal led to years of Rollins enduring brutal matches against both Ambrose and Reigns. And, as several wrestlers have pointed out over the years, Rollins' betrayal set a sequence of events in motionthat led to Reigns' tyrannical rule as “The Tribal Chief.”
“A Little Bit of Jealousy”: Seth Rollins Reveals His Mixed Feelings About Cody’s Victory at WrestleMania, and It Makes Perfect Sense
Seth Rollins once went under the nickname The Man in his first reign as WWE Champion, but he doesn’t think he really was “the man” for WWE.
Rollins seemed to finally redeem himself atWrestleMania XL,appearing in his old Shield gear and distracting Reigns just long enough for Rhodes to capitalize and defeat “The Head of The Table” in the Night Two main event. But while most of the original Bloodline members have since turned over a new leaf - including Reigns - The Rock now appears to be just as dangerous as ever.
Could Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins Happen At WrestleMania 41?
Rollins Will Need To Win Saturday’s Elimination Chamber Match To Clinch His Spot
Rollins concluded Monday’s promo by stating he’ll win the Men’s Elimination Chamber match on Saturday in Toronto, but added he doesn’t want to face a “souless” Rhodes at WrestleMania. Instead, he wants to clash with the same Rhodes who managed to beat him with a torn pectoral inside Hell in a Cell, the same Rhodes who “finished his story” by becoming world champion. He left Rhodes alone in the ring, unable to respond and clearly still conflicted.
How WrestleMania 41 Can Make WWE’s “Triple H Era” Bigger Than The Attitude Era
WWE’s new era can surpass the Attitude Era in a major way at WrestleMania 41 in April. Here’s how.
While Rhodes vs. Rollins isn’t the obvious route forWrestleMania 41, it’s certainly a viable option. There are still far too many questions surrounding The Rock’s creative direction to say what role he’ll play in the show, but Rollins and Rhodes just demonstrated they have years of history to work off of. And who’s to say Rollins doesn’t swoop in and take up “The Final Boss” on his offer?
Rhodes will have to give his answer to The Rock on Saturday atElimination Chamber.Meanwhile, Rollins will face John Cena, CM Punk, Logan Paul, Drew McIntyre and Damian Priest inside the titular steel structure.
