Did CM Punk just secretly confirm rumors of The Rock replacing Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania on Raw?

CM Punk and Cody Rhodes raised the stakes for the Men's Royal Rumble match on Raw.

Did CM Punk just secretly confirm rumors of The Rock replacing Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania on Raw?

CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, and The Rock (via WWE)

The heavily anticipated face-off between CM Punk and Cody Rhodes on Raw did not disappoint at all. In fact, it may have exceeded fans’ expectations as well. The top stars generated a lot of buzz on the Royal Rumble go-home show. As personal shots were fired at each other, the WWE Universe noticed a subtle reference by The Second City Saint, hinting at The Rock possibly replacing Cody.

After The American Nightmare claimed that he was more of CM Punk than the man himself, the controversial star fought back on the mic. The Straight Edge Superstar painted Cody Rhodes’ picture and his current scenario. He compared the 38-year-old’s situation with his own. As such, The Voice of the Voiceless took a memory down the lane from his Road to WrestleMania in 2013.

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Right when you're about to cross the finish line & finish your story. Oh wait, what's that in the distance? It's a much bigger Superstar that hasn't been around in a very long time.
CM Punk to Cody Rhodes (H/T: Sportskeeda)

The self-proclaimed Best in the World did, however, mention he was talking about himself. However, fans believe this might’ve hinted at The Rock instead. The same happened to CM Punk in 2013 when he was the hottest act in wrestling. As a result, he might’ve thrown shade at Cody Rhodes for history repeating itself with The American Nightmare.

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After The Brahma Bull called out Roman Reigns on Raw Day 1, the WWE Universe speculated that their bout would take place at Elimination Chamber. Later, reports refuted that both Superstars are currently advertised for the event. As such, the destination for the match is likely to be WrestleMania, and slowly, a few have come to the realization that it might not be Cody’s year.

How The Rock’s second WWE run indirectly led to CM Punk’s departure in 2014

The Rock has captured the attention of the wrestling community since his return on Day 1. Surprisingly, the reactions have been polarizing, as some are under the belief that this could jeopardize Cody Rhodes’ place at WrestleMania. However, this wouldn’t be the first time that The People’s Champion is considered ahead of a popular star. Notably, the same thing happened in 2013 to none other than CM Punk.

CM Punk and The Rock
CM Punk and The Rock (via WWE)

The Straight Edge Superstar has always dreamt of headlining WrestleMania. After holding the WWE Championship for more than a year, many agreed that he deserved a spot at the 29th edition. In fact, Punk himself would later reveal that he pitched the idea of a triple-threat match with John Cena and The Rock to accommodate himself in the main event. Despite his requests, Vince McMahon went ahead with the “Once in a Lifetime” rematch.

This would kick start the beginning of the end of CM Punk at that time. After an exhausting year filled with frustrations and injuries, he walked out after Royal Rumble 2014. Now, ten years later, The Best in the World has a shot at redemption and finally achieving his life-long dream of main eventing WrestleMania.

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