Conflicted

Even though you're reading this post on Sunday February 4th 2024 - or later - I am actually writing it at 2:36PM GMT on February 3rd.

I feel conflicted.

I have just watched Friday's episode of WWE Smackdown. It closed with a VERY STRONG indication that Roman Reigns .vs. The Rock will be the main event of WrestleMania XL in April.

Let's be realistic - it's happening.

It's the match I have predicted since as far back as 2013 when it became somewhat clear that Dwayne Johnson's cousin - Roman Reigns - was being groomed to become World Wrestling Entertainment's top star.

In recent years, and I genuinely cannot remember when it started, I would go 'The Rock is winning this year's Royal Rumble to set up the Reigns match' and then, when he didn't, I'd reason 'it has to be next year.'

I did the very same thing leading into the 2024 WWE Royal Rumble. However, my take went like this: 'If it isn't Dwayne Johnson, it'll be Cody Rhodes'.

And then - a week ago - Cody Rhodes won the Rumble and booked his ticket for a match against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania. He even pointed to Reigns, who was sitting in the stands watching the match. 

That was the match.

I won a nice sum of money with the Rhodes win. I could have won £300 more had The Rock won. I was happy with the result, though. I came out of the Rumble betting period with a nice profit.

And Cody came out of the Rumble with his second consecutive Royal Rumble and the WrestleMani XL main event.

Rhodes has a perfect story. He is chasing the World Title his father - the legendary Dusty Rhodes - did not attain during his lifetime despite being booked to come close to doing so,

The entire return for Cody Rhodes has been to 'finish the story' his father - by way of the bookers - couldn't write.

It was such a perfect story and, after being somewhat disappointed in not getting The Rock as a Rumble winner to set up a Reigns/Rock tie for Mania, I was happy to see the storyline going in the direction of Cody Rhodes securing a dream.

But. 

Plans have evidently changed now.

Likely due to the fact that CM Punk - who was set to tangle with Seth Rollins for the other World Title - was injured during the Royal Rumble and will no longer be able to compete at Mania, it seems that Reigns .vs. Rhodes is off.

And in comes my dream match.

In the closing angle of Friday's Smackdown, Rhodes came out to announce whether he would challenge Reigns at Mania. Instead, he indicated that he was still after Reigns' strap, but he wasn't going for it at the April showcase. He then introduced Dwayne Johnson.

Yes, Roman Reigns .vs. The Rock.  It's finally happening.

I'm glad to finally have the opportunity to see a match I had been anticipating for ages, but I cannot help but feel bad for Cody Rhodes. 

He's likely going to be moved into a match with Rollins (the ball got rolling on that on Monday when it was clear Punk is out). 

I'm happy and gutted at the same time: I get the match I wanted, but I did so after once again resolving