The Miz insists Cody Rhodes has to win it all at WrestleMania XL this weekend, or risks losing his loyal WWE fan base.

Rhodes challenges Roman Reigns for the Undisputed Universal WWE title at Mania on Sunday night, the second year in succession he’s stepped up to the Tribal Chief.

WWE veteran The Miz feels after last year’s WrestleMania defeat, Cody Rhodes has to make amends against Roman Reigns this weekend.Credit: WWE

Twelve months ago, the former AEW star he vowed to ‘finish his story’ and capture WWE’s top prize for himself and his family, only to come up short.

The call by WWE to have Reigns retain at Rhodes’ expense back then raised a few eyebrows, and there are many who are even more certain the challenger has to prevail this time around.

Among them is Miz, a WrestleMania headliner in his own right, who feels Cody has to get the nod on Sunday night to avoid fans losing interest.

Speaking to talkSPORT at a media event ahead of ‘Mania,’ the Most Must See Superstar in WWE explained: “I just think that Cody has to finish his story.

If he doesn’t finish his story he’s going to lose his fan base.

“How many years do we have to wait? You can only hear ‘I’m gonna finish the story. I’m gonna finish the story’ so much before you stop believing.

“The first time, last year at WrestleMania, you thought you were going to get it and you didn’t.

“Then he set himself up, he worked very hard, probably harder than anybody in WWE to get where he is now.

The Miz and Cody Rhodes have been rivals inside the ring in WWE since Rhodes made his comeback after leaving AEW.Credit: WWE

In the main event of WrestleMania in 2011, The Miz defeated John Cena to retain the WWE title, and The Rock had a helping hand.Credit: WWE

“Not only that, it was the fans that called for it.

“WWE was giving The Rock, the biggest star in the world [the title match against Reigns], and the fans were like ‘no, we want Cody! Remember, the guy who was gonna finish the story? We want him!’

“The fans are what brought it back, so if he can’t finish the story now, I don’t know when he can.

“So, I think the crybabies are going to get their way!”

Miz is uniquely placed to talk about the pressures of being at the top of WWE, having himself retained the company’s top male title at WrestleMania – albeit with an assist from The Rock in 2011.

Rock will team with Reigns on the first night of WrestleMania XL on Saturday to take on Rhodes and Seth Rollins in a match that will determine the stipulation for the following night’s title bout.

Having the Hollywood megastar back in the WWE fold has been great fun for Miz, who says The Great One has been in exceptional form.

Asked whether wrestling stars are pleased to have Rock around, he added: “Absolutely, are you kidding me? And this is the best Rock I’ve ever seen.

The Rock has fully immersed himself in his most recent run inside the wrestling ring with WWE, and The Miz is loving it.Credit: WWE

“I don’t know about anybody else, but The Rock is the reason I wanted to be a WWE Superstar, and I was his first match back when he came back the first time.

“Now he’s back again, more confident, and ready than I’ve ever seen him.

“I think this WrestleMania is going to be one to be remembered.”

Kevin Owens was speaking to talkSPORT with WWE 2k24, which is out now.