In 2024, when Wrestlemania XL was on the horizon, the WWE fans witnessed the return of The Rock. At the time, he hadn’t been involved in WWE canon for over a decade. Not to mention, this most recent return seemed to be derailing the collision course Cody Rhodes was having with Roman Reigns. A story almost two years in the making was now being compromised by The Rock seemingly seeking a main event with the “Tribal Chief.”
Finally, The Rock has come back
The Rock’s return was met initially with shock and glee. But once it was beginning to look like the fans weren’t getting Cody Rhodes in the main event, they began to vociferously oppose “The People’s Champ’s” involvement. So, in true sports entertainment fashion, the WWE pivoted. As fate would have it, they pivoted into one of the more compelling roads to Wrestlemania that there ever was. It was a road that stacked the deck up on Cody Rhodes, and saw The Rock team up with his “Bloodline” brethren, Reigns.
On that occasion, the WWE averted disaster. But for one reason or another, The Rock reappeared in WWE during the spring of 2024, seeking to once again become a foil to Rhodes. Employing the services of rapper Travis Scott, The Rock seemingly was looking to be involved in the road to Wrestlemania 41. However, once we got to Wrestlemania 41, we ended up with random involvement from Scott, but no appearance from “The Great One.” It led all fans to wonder, well, why the hell did he return in the first place? With no closure to the story arc, why even begin to take us on such a ride?
On the heels of a heel turn
For context, this last iteration of The Rock on WWE television was the impetus of the heel turn of John Cena. A person who hasn’t been an antagonist in WWE since around 2004 or 2005. It was a turn that was to rival the likes of Hulk Hogan’s back at Bash At The Beach in 1996. But with no payoff to The Rock’s involvement, this turn couldn’t be held in the same echelon.
What about the fans?
So, to the WWE Universe, it seems like when The Rock shows up these days, he destroys what current plans are to forge new paths that involve him. Think “Team America: World Police” where every country Team America would show up to in the movie, they’d make a total mess of before getting to their mission. In professional wrestling, it’s all but inevitable that The Rock will return. It’s a business you can’t really stay away from, especially when you’re still physically able. To me, it isn’t a matter of if he’ll return but a matter of when.
As for the fans, I have a hunch that they’re good on Rocky for now. There’s certainly potential that he can enhance programming. But fans aren’t currently encouraged to believe that when he shows up, he wouldn’t be making a mess of established happenings. In a matter of whether or not he should ever return, I believe he should with a clear plan in place. One that will guarantee that he’ll be able to see the full story through. If he does so correctly, he’ll be able to hopefully make that Wrestlemania 41 main event a distant memory.
