Cody Rhodes Asks Stephen A. Smith to Be His Manager at WrestleMania 41

Cody Rhodes is putting the Undisputed WWE Championship on the line this Sunday at WrestleMania 41—but he’s already thinking outside the ring when it comes to backup.

During an appearance on ESPN’s First Take, the champ surprised Stephen A. Smith with an open invitation to manage him at WrestleMania. “Stephen A, I feel like I’ve heard you mention multiple times that you want to get into the management side of things or at least touch it one time… Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan, Mr. [Paul] Heyman, these legends. This is easy. Come and do it,” Rhodes said. “I’m putting myself out there, you could manage me and it’s an easy night at the office.”

Stephen A. didn’t bite—at least not yet. “I got other duties, that’s the problem,” he replied, brushing off the offer.

But Rhodes wasn’t done pitching. “The offer will exist. It’s out there in perpetuity. Take it whenever. It’s an easy night for you,” he added, keeping the door wide open. Smith’s final response? A jab aimed straight at The Final Boss: “I’ll go against Rock for that.”

That comment hits different considering WrestleVotes recently reported there’s “growing speculation” within WWE about a possible WrestleMania appearance by The Rock—likely in John Cena’s corner given their shared attack on Rhodes at Elimination Chamber.

With Rhodes vs. Cena already set as one of the most personal main events in recent memory, this playful on-air pitch added a little more fuel to the fire. And with The Rock possibly circling the event, anything can happen in Vegas.