The Rock shocks wrestling fans into standing WITH Roman Reigns and SLAPS Cody Rhodes for insulting his family… as American Nightmare confirms he’ll face the Chieftain at WrestleMania

The Rock has shocked wrestling fans to stand with Roman Reigns before beating Cody Rhodes during a kick-off event for WrestleMania 40, where the American Nightmare will face the Tribal Chief.

The WWE world was shocked this week when it was revealed that The Rock would be taking Rhodes’ place to challenge Reigns at the event, leaving fans furious.

But during a kick-off event in Las Vegas on Thursday, Rhodes confirmed that he would not be taking on the eight-time WWE champion in April.

Rhodes told the crowd: ‘At WrestleMania XL in the main event, I choose you, Roman Reigns!’

It allows Rhodes to finish his story – but also created excitement for 51-year-old The Rock, who beat him on stage after verbally insulting the families of both the eight-time champion and Reigns.

Rhodes confirmed that he would take on Roman Reigns instead of the eight-time WWE Champion

Reigns is the biggest draw in wrestling right now and fans were eager to see a rematch

Reigns and The Rock are cousins ​​in real life, but it was still a surprise to wrestling fans when Dwayne Johnson stood with him during the press conference.

Earlier in the launch, Reigns had said he would prefer to meet The Rock in the main event, but instead he will face Rhodes at WrestleMania for the second year in a row.

Fans were also eager to see a rematch this time around, with the Bloodline storyline between Reigns and Rhodes being the biggest draw in wrestling right now – and one that many were hoping to see on one of WWE’s biggest nights.

Last week, the wrestling icon turned Hollywood superstar made a stunning return to SmackDown.

WWE fans were seething after plans to have The Rock challenge Reigns for the Universal Championship at WrestleMania surfaced, booing any mention of him during live shows including Monday Night Raw.

Cody Rhodes previously told MailOnline that legendary figure The Rock does not need to return to WrestleMania, thanks to WWE’s top storylines.

He revealed: ‘With all the respect in the world to one of the GODS, The Rock, it seems like the opportunities we have here on the roster are even better because of the stories that are happening.’

The American Nightmare wants to win the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship since his father, Dusty Rhodes, could not win the famous title.

Rhodes had been the first man in 25 years to match the Royal Rumbles against each other, and made it clear that he wants Reigns’ belt.

Rhodes added: ‘I’m looking for a championship belt, the most important in our world, the biggest in everything – not just in the WWE bubble, but in all the bubbles – and be the first to say I did it as Rhodes. . And it wasn’t Dusty Rhodes, and it wasn’t Dustin Rhodes – it was Cody Rhodes.’

Seth Rollins previously insisted WWE doesn’t need The Rock after the wrestling icon took Cody Rhodes’ place at WrestleMania 40.

Rollins told NFL Network’s Good Morning Football: ‘If The Rock wants to jump on the bandwagon, take my coattails into Wrestlemania, that’s fine with me,’ he said.

‘Look, I get it. WWE is as hot as it’s ever been. We sell out arenas, stadiums. Every place we go right now is huge.’

The American Nightmare wants to win the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship

The Rock appeared to challenge Reigns at WrestleMania, to the dismay of many WWE fans

Seth Rollins joined Rhodes to insist that the WWE world doesn’t need The Rock back

Rollins added: ‘He can take his little piece and then he can go back to Hollywood and do this thing because we have this thing. We don’t need you. We love having you, but we don’t need you, big guy.’

WWE’s long-term plan may be to set up a triple threat match between The Rock, Rhodes and Reigns, which would give 38-year-old Rhodes a boost similar to the one that elevated ALL Elite Wrestling star Bryan Danielson (fka Daniel Bryan) to become a of the biggest stars in the industry.

Rhodes has also received public support from WWE United States Champion Logan Paul and fellow superstar Ricochet, both of whom participated in the ‘WeWantCody’ hashtag that spent days trending on X.

The video of The Rock going head-to-head with Reigns became the most disliked video WWE has ever posted on YouTube.