The Rock gifts Cody Rhodes a truck and expresses his love on WWE SmackDown
On the February 21st episode of WWE SmackDown, The Rock made a bold statement to Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. The Rock expressed his desire for Rhodes to be his champion and indicated that he wanted Rhodes’s soul, setting the stage for the following week’s events.
When Rhodes entered the ring on the February 28th episode, Michael Cole announced that The Rock had gifted him a custom truck adorned with his “American Nightmare” logo. Via video screen, The Rock conveyed a powerful message to Rhodes, prompting him to make a life-altering decision at WWE Elimination Chamber. The Rock emphasized their ongoing discussions throughout the week and instilled confidence that Rhodes would make the right choice.
Symbolism played a significant role in The Rock’s persuasive techniques as he showcased the custom truck as a promise to fulfill all of Rhodes’ dreams, extending the gesture to include Rhodes’ family. The Rock spoke of Rhodes giving him his soul, unveiling a custom weight belt inscribed with “Cody’s soul” and the date of Dusty Rhodes’s passing as a poignant reminder of their connection. Expressing admiration for Dusty as a personal hero, The Rock urged Rhodes not to break his heart again, indicating that at WWE Elimination Chamber, he would declare Rhodes as his champion and concluded by expressing his affection for him.
The buildup to WWE Elimination Chamber was intense as The Rock’s sentiments and gestures aimed to sway Rhodes towards making a monumental decision that would potentially shape their future interactions in the wrestling arena. The emotional weight attached to Dusty Rhodes’s memory served as a poignant reminder of the ties that bind wrestlers in the WWE community, emphasizing the personal and professional stakes at play leading up to the pivotal event.
The anticipation surrounding Rhodes’s decision on whether to align himself with The Rock as his champion or follow a different path set the stage for a gripping showdown at WWE Elimination Chamber. The narrative arc between The Rock and Rhodes highlighted the intricate dynamics of power, loyalty, and familial legacy in the world of wrestling, adding layers of complexity to their evolving relationship and the potential outcomes that awaited them on the horizon.