Wrestlemania 40 takes shape with Rock-Roman Reigns as main event. Fans should be happy.

Last night, WWE set the stage for the biggest match it could possibly have.

And wrestling fans were none too happy.

After Cody Rhodes came out on Smackdown and announced that he wouldn’t be challenging Roman Reigns for his championship this year at Wrestlemania in Philadelphia and instead, he’ll step aside and let Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson have his spot, fans took to social media to trash the idea.

Wrestling websites were furious Rhodes wouldn’t “finish his story” at the two-day event in April, and they were annoyed “The Rock,” who is far more an actor than wrestler these days, is coming in to take the spotlight match.

Another theory was this match will drive "real" fans away, and the Philly fans could turn on both the Rock and the event.

Well good news, WWE. I was born and raised in Philly. I’m a wrestling fan, so I’m your target audience. And I think this is a great idea.

It’s by far the biggest match they could possibly do.

Rhodes, and Seth Rollins, the champion Cody is now set to wrestle at Wrestlemania 40, are two of the main guys on a very short list that has lifted the WWE to popularity that hasn’t been seen in many years.

But they’re not the Rock.

It’s not their fault. They are among the best in the world at what they do. But the Rock is arguably the most famous wrestler ever.

Wrestling fans are going to watch no matter what. We watched Sid-Undertaker for crying out loud!

But a lot more people will tune it to see Rock-Reigns than Cody-Reigns. And even better, more fans will now see Rhodes-Rollins because they’ll watch the events on Peacock to see the Rock.

This was a fine idea. The challenge will be making it work going forward while keeping everyone strong.

I’ve never done fantasy booking, but I’ve been thinking about this since Smackdown went off the air last night, and in 15 hours, I found a way to make it work.

Here’s how I would go from Wrestlemania, night one to Summerslam.

Wrestlemania 40

Here's how that weekend would go.

Night 1 main event: Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins

This is a match everyone is going to love.

It’ll be the fourth time they’re wrestling on a premium live event since Rhodes returned at Wrestlemania two years ago, and all three matches were incredible.

This one should be no different. But there are challenges.

First, Rollins shouldn’t lose clean. He’s been so consistent since he won the championship, you can’t punk him out. He deserves better than to be the guy who Rhodes beats because the Rock came back.

Rhodes shouldn’t lose either. He’s being built to be the next top guy. Losing in front of the largest audience of the year isn’t the way to get him there. Also, take away the fact that Rollins shouldn’t lose, Rhodes shouldn’t win because this isn’t the championship he wants, and if he wins this, he’ll have to lose it before next year anyway, so keep it off him.

Enter Damien Priest. He can cash in his Money in the Bank prize after the two guys have battled it out for 30 minutes, pin Rollins after some shenanigans, and you accomplished three things: Rhodes doesn’t lose, Rollins gets hosed and Priest, a bad guy, beats two top guys to ruin their night.

Night 2 main event, Rock vs. Roman Reigns

This one is easy. Roman smashes Rock.

It should be a great match, but why would the Rock need to win? He has everything in the world and if he gets pinned, nobody is going to lose faith in him. He’s the Rock.

And for everyone who is sick of Roman, there are more people who love to hate him. He's so good at being a jerk, I'm not ready for that to stop, and beating the Rock gives him more people to talk about when he runs down his accomplishments.

The only possible downside is you have bad guys winning both nights, but something tells me Reigns is going to be cheered by the Philly fans and Rock will get the boos, so that won’t matter.

After Wrestlemania

One complaint will be after the big night, Rock and Reigns will go away for a while, but no matter what the card was, that was going to happen. They’re busy dudes.

While they’re away, you have Rollins and Rhodes feud with Priest and his Judgement Day faction to get you to Money in the Bank. That gives great wrestlers a chance to beat each other up. Nobody should hate that idea.

Money in the Bank

Here’s where the Road to Wrestlemania begins. You can’t have Rhodes win three straight Royal Rumbles, it would be terrible and you’d have the fans hating it by then.

So have him win Money in the Bank. Load this match up with the best guys available, and have “The American Nightmare” leave with the briefcase.

The next show, Rhodes comes out and announces that last year, he let his respect for the Rock cloud his judgment and while watching Reigns beat him he made a huge mistake. The mistake was believing the Rock could end the “Reigns of terror” and now he knows he has to do it, so he’s announcing now he’s cashing in at Wrestlemania 41 to finish his story.

The next week, Rock comes out and says Rhodes didn’t give him the match. It went that way because as great as Rhodes is, he isn’t the “Great One.” The two bicker for a while, talk about their family history, setting up a Summer Slam main event.

While this is going on, there are plenty of guys Reigns can wrestle. Perhaps if he's healthy in time, this is where you do Roman Reigns-CM Punk. Or Reigns-Rollins. Or Reigns-Pat McAfee. There's so much depth now, you'll have no problem keeping Reigns busy, including at Summer Slam.

Summerslam

Rhodes cleanly beats “The Rock.”

He hits him with his finisher three times, pins him and proves that he is every bit as good as the Rock. Summerslam ends with Rock endorsing Rhodes.

Conclusion

OK, so where does this leave everyone?

You had one of the biggest stars in the world come in and help elevate his cousin Reigns, who is arguably the most entertaining wrestler since the Rock. He did the same with Rhodes.

You made a bigger star out of Damien Priest, who is so good.

You set up Wrestlemania 41.

I know this was the year for Cody-Roman II, and wrestling fans are upset, but I’m not sure how any real wrestling fan can be mad that we’re getting Rhodes-Rollins, which will probably end up being the best match of the weekend, and you get the Rock.

There are reasons to be upset in life. This isn’t one of them.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: WWE Wrestlemaina to feature Rock and Roman Reigns as main event?