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Following The Rock’s return to WWE during the New Year, he is already making headlines for his appearances and matches. It seems that despite quitting wrestling and venturing into Hollywood, Dwayne Johnson somehow remained relevant in the wrestling universe. And now, as he entered the T-Mobile Arena, for the WrestleMania 40 kickoff, Johnson set the stage on fire.
The Rock was seen slapping Cody Rhodes right in the face during the WrestleMania 40 kickoff press conference. Unfortunately, Rhodes didn’t give the reaction that Dwyane Johnson had anticipated. Meanwhile, CM Punk, who was present during the broadcast of the press conference, said Johnson needs to get slapped by Rhodes.
The Rock Slapped Cody Rhodes During WrestleMania 40 Kickoff
AsWWEjust began its WrestleMania 40 kickoff press conference, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Roman Reigns, and Cody Rhodes entered the T-Mobile Arena to set the stage on fire. Although previously, after The Rock’s return to WWE, the company had planned a match between him and Reigns, but now, with Rhodes in the mix, fans are left baffled.
Cody Rhodes Can Still Face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania- WWE Hints Change of Plans For Dwayne Johnson at RAW
Unfortunately, despitehis big comeback,The Rockdidn’t get the respect or reaction from fans that he anticipated. Therefore, he seemed quite flustered backstage. Fans began chanting “we want Cody”, which further infuriated Dwayne Johnson, and he began referring to Cody fans as the “Cody crybabies”. But as the chants increased, Johnson showed a picture of his family bloodline to the fans and asked them to “respect it”.
Even then, despite his million tries, The Rock couldn’t derive the respect and reaction from fans that he expected. Meanwhile, Cody Rhodes came ahead without any entrance music and teased that he had made up his mind on who would be his WrestleMania opponent. NamingRoman Reignsas his choice, Rhodes seemingly infuriated Dwayne Johnson.
Ultimately, failing to control himself, after disrespect on stage and Cody Rhodes choosing Roman Reigns over him, The Rock lost his control and slapped Rhodes. It is unknown if the slap was scripted, but Johnson seemed visibly upset at Cody’s decision.
The Rock Will be a Referee in Roman Reigns vs Cody Rhodes Match? Triple H Hints Massive WrestleMania 40 Plans
CM Punk Said He Would Punch The Rock if He Slapped Him
Following this sudden slap onCody Rhodes’ face, The Rock further threatened, “I’ll slap the p*ss out of you again”. But somehow, Rhodes didn’t seem to react to the incident. Meanwhile, CM Punk, who was present during the broadcast of the press conference, gave his brutal reaction to the slap. Although Punk’s tricep injury is holding him back from performing in this year’s WrestleMania, his tongue is free to comment.
Giving his thoughts on what happened on the stage, during the press conference, CM Punk seemed visibly agitated to attack The Rock. Expressing his desire, Punk added, “Iwant to see Cody punch Rock Right in the face”. Further referring to his AEW brawl, Punk noted that if he were on stage in Rhodes’ place, he would have undoubtedly put his hands on Dwayne Johnson.
“That was a real slap”: Dwayne Johnson’s Heated Moment With Cody Rhodes and Triple H Sends Shockwaves Through WWE Universe
The Rock in the background looking at CM Punk like “I know this mf ain’t talking about me” LMAOOOOO 😂😂pic.twitter.com/VRRYZW5MaE
— Public Enemies Podcast (@TheEnemiesPE3)August 05, 2025
Claiming that he wouldn’t have backed down after such disrespect onstage,CM Punknoted that even Cody Rhodes should put The Rock in his place. Sharing his reaction to the slap, Punk mentioned that he can punch Dwayne Johnson in the face if he slapped him. Punk’s response seemed to point to his lack of respect for Johnson’s new role in WWE after his comeback.
Krittika Mukherjee
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3218
Krittika Mukherjee is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on films, TV shows, and celebrity news with over 3,000 articles published. With an educational background in Journalism, and a keen interest in filmmaking, Krittika blends factual precision with creative flair, when crafting her editorials, or dissecting fan theories.Her coverage often includes news and analyses of critically acclaimed films, celebrity news, and franchises like the Wizarding World, LOTR, DC, and MCU—particularly Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts, Superheroes, and fan theories. As a Wizarding World aficionado, Krittika has spent countless hours exploring hidden backstories, unadapted book moments, spells, and trivias surrounding J.K. Rowling’s lore.An imaginative writer with a way with words, Krittika has worked as an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a web content writer for a year. She brought her experience and expertise to FandomWire to pursue her desire for sipping coffee while dissecting films and tracking celebrity drama.
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CM PunkCody RhodesRoman ReignsThe Rock
