Cody Rhodes has been white-hot since making his return to WWE during WrestleMania 38, but a comeback by The Rock for WrestleMania 39 could derail his dream match against Roman Reigns. Reigns is in the midst of a 600-plus day Universal Championship run, and he'll likely hold that belt all the way through to next April when WrestleMania 39 is scheduled. Since coming back, Rhodes has been feuding with Seth Rollins, but that will likely be over following their main event match at Hell In A Cell.
Reigns vs. Roads, as Paul Heyman said recently, is a story that writes itself. He left WWE, created something out of nothing with AEW, and then returned feeling like a legitimately big deal because of the things he's done outside the squared circle. That kind of momentum matters in professional wrestling, and it's what helps keep performers like Brock Lesnar, John Cena, and even The Rock relevant when they're not working in WWE - they become part of a larger pop culture conversation.
What Rhodes did in AEW isn't akin to putting on some gloves and fighting a few UFC bouts, but it's why he's so prevalent in wrestling circles at this moment in time. This is a business that moves quickly, however, and just a few lackluster booking decisions can nuke any positive force that a talent has built up - just ask former WWE stars like Bray Wyatt or Rusev. That could be the case for Rhodes, who may run out of steam before ever actually being able to step foot in the ring with Reigns.
There's no denying that a match between The Rock and Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39 would be massive. Arguably the biggest main event Reigns has ever been a part of, and the involvement of The Rock would give the event the crossover appeal Vince McMahon loves so much. Yet that would mean punting Reigns vs. Rhodes deep into 2023, and that's an eternity in professional wrestling. Who knows what kind of booking The American Nightmare will endure between now and then.
It must be said that WWE could get creative at Money In The Bank and figure out a way to get the WWE Championship off of Reigns. And at that point, Rhodes could even win it and achieve the dream of his father, Dusty. Yet that'd feel like a real missed opportunity, and they'd be leaving a lot of money on the table by having Rhodes win some ladder match in July instead of at the top of the card with Reigns at the Showcase of Immortals. Rhodes accomplishing what he went back to WWE to do should be a WrestleMania moment - but if The Rock does actually return, that might not be a reasonable possibility.