Booker T Reflects on Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania 39 Defeat: “His Cinderella Story is Almost Complete”
Cody Rhodes emerged as a formidable contender after his electrifying performance in the 2024 Royal Rumble, positioning himself for a potential showdown with either Seth Rollins or Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. However, reflecting on Rhodes’ journey, WWE Hall of Famer Booker T shed light on the significance of his loss to Reigns at WrestleMania 39 and why it was a strategic move by WWE.
Despite Rhodes entering WrestleMania 39 to conclude a compelling narrative, his hopes were dashed when Reigns emerged victorious through controversial means, denying Rhodes his rightful victory.
The subsequent year saw Rhodes embroiled in gripping storylines, notably a riveting feud with Brock Lesnar that culminated in a moment of mutual respect at SummerSlam 2023.
Addressing the backlash over Rhodes’ defeat at WrestleMania 39, Booker T defended WWE’s decision, emphasizing that it was a calculated move to allow Rhodes the time and platform to solidify his status as a worthy contender for the company’s top spot.
“People ask me, last year, you know, was it the wrong call? I go, ‘No, man!’ I didn’t think it was the wrong call at all just because I felt like Cody wasn’t going anywhere. This year has done Cody a whole lot of good, I think. He has gotten a chance to really solidify himself throughout this whole year.
Talk about the matches with Brock Lesnar, you know, stuff like that. He would not have been able to do that stuff properly if he had won the title. No way. Those matches couldn’t have been the same. So, for me, I think his Cinderella story is almost complete.”
