On the February 21, 2025, episode of “WWE SmackDown,” Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, known as “The People’s Champ,” attempted to claim the soul of then Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, who firmly refused. Revisiting that moment on his “What Do You Wanna Talk About” podcast, Rhodes — joined by The Rock’s daughter and former WWE talent Ava (Simone Johnson) — shared his idea that the storyline might have been more compelling if he had given his soul to Ava, who was serving as the WWE NXT general manager at the time, instead of her father.
Rhodes explained, “When the ‘Final Boss’ asked me for my soul, I thought it would’ve been funny to give it up — but not to him. That was back when you were running ‘NXT’… I thought that had real potential. People often say, ‘You don’t want to be a bad guy,’ but I’m open to whatever’s best. That could’ve been a great twist.” Johnson, intrigued by Rhodes’ suggestion, didn’t dismiss the idea and teased the possibility, saying, “I would’ve loved to do that. Who knows? Maybe it’s still possible. Never say never.”
Simone Johnson, the first fourth-generation wrestler to join WWE, signed with the company in February 2020. Starting as a performer, she moved into an authoritative on-screen role as the voice and decision-maker for “NXT” and WWE EVOLVE. In January, she announced she would not renew her WWE contract, ending her six-year tenure with the company.
Meanwhile, Rhodes, whose soul remains his own, is refocusing as he continues his intensely personal rivalry with Randy Orton. After securing a victory over Orton at WrestleMania 42, Rhodes was recently defeated by “The Viper” on Sunday Night’s Main Event, evening their feud at one win apiece.
If you use any quotes from this article, please credit “What Do You Wanna Talk About? with Cody Rhodes” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
Fan Take: This glimpse behind the scenes highlights WWE’s creative depth and how even rejected storyline ideas can spark fan interest and future possibilities. For fight fans, it shows that wrestling continually evolves with fresh narratives and multi-generational talent shaping the future of the sport.
Source: www.wrestlinginc.com
