Cody Rhodes returned to the WWE after spending years building up the rival promotion AEW. However, after a disagreement with AEW owner Tony Khan, he left the promotion and re-signed for the WWE. He had a grand welcome back to the promotion at WrestleMania 38 and went on to beat Seth Rollins. However, just one year later, things are completely different at WrestleMania 39.
The whole motivation behind his re-joining the company was to fulfill his father’s dream of becoming the WWE champion. He had that opportunity on April 2, 2023, as Cody took on Roman Reigns on night 2’s main event of WrestleMania 39. The American Nightmare made a great account of himself and gave Roman a run for his money. Despite an even back-and-forth match, Roman retained the title.
Cody’s dejected and disheartened look, after the match, accurately described the mood inside the SoFi Stadium in California. WWE’s Chief Content Officer Triple H faced the journalists after the event. While he did not respond to the reports of WWE being sold to Endeavor, Triple H did reveal his thought process behind the decision to keep the undisputed WWE Universal title on Roman Reigns.
He added, “In the WWE, the story never changes. Tomorrow night on Raw at the sold out Crypto Arena the story continues, the story takes another chapter. We just got to the end of the chapter. But the story continues and that is where the story gets interesting to me.” (h/t via Wrestling Observer)
Fans blame Triple H for Cody Rhodes’ loss at WrestleMania 39
Paul “Triple H” Levesque offered his explanation and revealed that there would be more chapters to this story. However, the WWE universe is not convinced by the answers. There is a theory that Cody lost to Roman because of Triple H. After the event, reports added that it was indeed Triple H who booked the finish and not Vince McMahon. So what are fans saying exactly?
Here are some reactions on the matter
Cody Rhodes: I hope there’s no hard feelings about the whole me smashing your throne thing in AEW.
— Public Enemies Podcast (@TheEnemiesPE3) April 3, 2023
Triple H booking the #WrestleMania main event: pic.twitter.com/SjQbekhxTP
Lol at WWE building Cody Rhodes up to beat Roman just to have him lose. What’s the point at having belts anymore if Roman doesn’t lose ever? Triple H got his revenge for the AEW throne thing.
— Jbrewer9976 (@Jbrewer9976) April 3, 2023
“So remember kids if your gonna take a real personal shot at ur current boss and break his throne, just know what goes around comes around”#allin #CodyRhodes #WrestleMania39 #aew #wwe #karma #thronebreaker
— Darryl Williams (@LegenDarrylW) April 3, 2023
Dear H,
— The Captain (@TNC_Captain) April 3, 2023
I wrote you, but you still don’t remember.
I’m sorry I I broke your throne in September.
You said if I came back, I would win both belts and be a savior
But you booked me to lose to Roman at Wrestlemaina.
Hit me back, don’t be cold.
This is Cody Rhodes#WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/Hr3EpAV3LR
I think Triple H was still mad about the throne. 😬😅#CodyRhodes #RomanReigns #WrestleMania #WWE
— xXAngryDragoniteXx (@MyLostPast_TTGL) April 3, 2023
If Cody Rhodes didn’t smash the throne with a sledgehammer he would be champion tonight at Wrestlemania. Had he placed the sledgehammer on the throne and gave it a blowjob instead, he would have beat Roman Reigns tonight at Wrestlemania. Just call it RomanMania from now on. #WWE
— Enki Lewie (@LewieEnki) April 3, 2023
After Triple H took charge of the creative process, there was a feel-good vibe amongst the talent and the fanbase. However, WrestleMania 39 seems to be the first time when the fans are not on board with one of Triple H’s decisions. But there is some valid reason behind it. It all connects back to 2016 when he finally left the WWE after years of being disgruntled.
It indirectly led to the formation of All Elite Wrestling after 2018’s All In, which had 11,263 fans in attendance. The event was later dubbed “The Biggest Independent Wrestling Show Ever.” It made Tony Khan realize that there was a market for a rival promotion to WWE and formed AEW. At the 2019 edition of AEW’s “Double or Nothing” PPV, Cody smashed a throne with a sledgehammer.
Fans who have followed Triple H’s career over the years, know that one of his nicknames was the “King of Kings.” The throne Cody destroyed, looked similar to one that Triple H used. Not to mention the sledgehammer, which was Triple H’s weapon of choice. Hence, some theorize that making Cody do the job to Roman, was Triple H’s way of getting his revenge.
Since the incident, Cody seemed apologetic and expressed his admiration for Triple H. So, in all likely hood, the decision was just a creative choice that Triple H intends to pay off later. However, one can not stop the fans from coming up with their own conspiracy theories and it will be interesting to see if WWE proves them wrong by putting the belt on Cody in the future or not.