🔥 SHOCKING BACKSTAGE REVEAL: Roman Reigns HIMSELF Stopped Cody Rhodes From Finishing the Story at WrestleMania 39! 🔥
The ending of WrestleMania 39 still sparks debate among WWE fans—and now we finally know who was really behind the decision to keep Cody Rhodes from winning the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.
According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, the idea to delay Cody’s big moment didn’t come from the writers or Triple H. Instead, it was Roman Reigns, backed by Paul Heyman, who personally pitched the plan to Vince McMahon.
The logic? Simple—but bold.
Roman believed that if Cody lost in 2023, his eventual victory would feel even bigger, more emotional, and more historic. Reigns and Heyman reportedly sat down with Vince and made the case that a delayed payoff would elevate Cody’s story to another level.
And while Triple H was running creative at the time, Meltzer emphasized that Vince McMahon still had the final word—and he approved Roman’s vision.
“It was Roman Reigns’ call… Vince had to approve it,” Meltzer explained, noting how persuasive Reigns and Heyman were during the pitch.
Looking back now, it’s hard to argue with the results.
Meltzer admitted that WrestleMania 40 proved the decision was right, as Cody’s eventual triumph became far bigger than it likely would’ve been a year earlier.
“With the benefit of hindsight, they were right. The second year was much bigger than the first year,” Meltzer said.
The report also sheds light on WWE’s power structure at the time. Even though Triple H handled day-to-day creative, Vince retained final authority until Ari Emanuel later removed him from having creative control—a move that happened before the Janel Grant lawsuit became public.
Since then, McMahon has been completely absent from WWE, skipping even major events—including John Cena’s farewell show.
In the end, what once felt like a heartbreaking decision for Cody fans may go down as one of WWE’s smartest long-term calls—and it all started with Roman Reigns betting on patience over instant gratification.
🔥 Sometimes, the biggest stories are worth waiting for.
