4 hours ago
2 ARTICLE AD
WWE’s road to WrestleMania 41 has taken a dramatic turn with The Rock inserting himself into Cody Rhodes’ championship story, but not everyone is buying into the angle.
According to Vince Russo and Jonathan Coachman on the latest Coach & Bro Show, WWE is blatantly attempting to recreate the legendary Steve Austin vs. Vince McMahon feud—but with The Rock and Cody Rhodes in the roles.
The Rock made a shocking return to SmackDown and delivered a cryptic promo, offering Cody Rhodes the chance to become his corporate champion. The wrestling world is still trying to make sense of the angle, and with Elimination Chamber set to clarify things, speculation is at an all-time high.
For Coachman, who has worked closely with The Rock in the past, the storyline just isn’t clicking the way WWE likely intended. He pointed out the similarities to the Austin-McMahon saga but admitted that something about The Rock’s portrayal as a corporate figure feels off.
“They are now resorting to trying to duplicate one of the biggest times in the business and that was when Vince and Stone Cold Steve Austin had their thing. But it has to feel right, and we’re both agreeing that what Rock did Friday—and I’m his biggest fan—that felt weird to me. It didn’t feel like a corporate guy and a worker in Cody. Did it feel weird to you?”
The Austin vs. McMahon feud defined an era, and WWE’s attempt to recreate that magic could either elevate Cody Rhodes or leave fans frustrated if it doesn’t hit the same emotional beats. With The Rock scheduled for another showdown with The American Nightmare at Elimination Chamber, the next chapter in this controversial storyline is about to unfold.
What do you think—does this storyline have the potential to reach Attitude Era levels of success, or is WWE forcing nostalgia instead of creating something fresh? Drop your thoughts below!
February 28, 2025 11:43 am
Felix Upton is a seasoned writer with over 30 years of experience. He began his career writing advertisements for local newspapers in New York before transitioning to publishing news for Ringside News. His expertise includes writing, editing, research, photo editing, and video editing. In his free time, he enjoys bungee jumping and learning extinct languages.
