In a surprising turn of events, Cody Rhodes' quest to "finish the story" started by his legendary father, Dusty Rhodes, has taken an unexpected and controversial twist. The WWE Universe has been left reeling after The Rock's involvement in a recent segment on SmackDown, resulting in a whirlwind of backlash and discontent among fans.

Since his return to WWE in 2022, Cody Rhodes has been determined to fulfill his father's legacy by capturing the WWE Championship, a feat Dusty Rhodes was never able to accomplish during his illustrious career. Many expected Rhodes to overcome Roman Reigns at last year's WrestleMania, only to be shocked when Reigns emerged victorious.

Despite this setback, WWE continued to build Rhodes' story, deliberately keeping him away from Seth Rollins' newly created WWE World Heavyweight Championship. To further fuel the narrative, Rhodes went on to win the highly coveted Royal Rumble in 2024, immediately setting his sights on Reigns and jawing at him in a defiant gesture.

The significance of Rhodes' journey was further underscored when he graced the cover of WWE 2K24, with the advertisement campaign heavily featuring his quest to "finish the story." It appeared that the stage was set for a monumental showdown between Rhodes and Reigns.

However, everything took an unexpected turn when The Rock made a sudden appearance, completely altering the course of events. The past 48 hours have witnessed a whirlwind of backlash, with the hashtag #WeWantCody trending on X (formerly known as Twitter), fans booing mentions of The Rock at live shows, and even some contracted talent expressing their discontent.

Reports suggest that The Rock lobbied for the match behind the scenes and had the support of TKO management. His global fame and undeniable presence in the ring made it difficult for WWE to say no or delay his return. The company had been eager to bring The Rock back for over a decade, leaving little room for negotiations.

However, this unexpected development has left many questioning WWE's decision-making. Rhodes' decision to hand over his father's dream to The Rock has elicited disappointment, portraying him as weak in the eyes of fans. Simultaneously, The Rock has been criticized for strong-arming Rhodes and tarnishing the legacy of a beloved wrestling family. Seth Rollins' championship now appears to be a consolation prize, while Reigns' somewhat lackluster title reign is expected to continue with a victory over The Rock.

Many wrestling enthusiasts argue that WWE missed an opportunity to have Rhodes defeat Reigns at the Royal Rumble or Elimination Chamber, setting the stage for a monumental "Head of the Table" feud between Reigns and The Rock. While this would have deprived Rhodes of his coveted "WrestleMania moment," the outcome seems to have been inadvertently achieved anyway.

As the fallout from this shocking segment continues, the WWE Universe remains divided, dissecting every angle and speculating on the future implications for Cody Rhodes, The Rock, Roman Reigns, and the overall landscape of WrestleMania. Only time will tell how this controversial twist will further unfold.

Note: The information provided is limited, and this article is a fictional representation based on the given context.