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The Rock’s WWE Controversy: Why Fans Turned & What TKO Must Do

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Since WrestleMania last Sunday, The Rock has been a consistent topic on social media, but not for good reasons. Firstly, there was controversy over him failing to appear at WrestleMania, despite being part of the main event storyline beforehand. Then, he caused more stir by appearing on The Pat McAfee Show and justifying his absence, while also stating that he only became involved in the storyline due to poor ticket sales during Elimination Chamber. To add fuel to the fire, he left a comment on a wrestling journalist’s Instagram implying that fans should not get invested in wrestling because it’s not genuine, among other remarks.

Indeed, Dwayne Johnson had a challenging week that sparked debates among wrestling enthusiasts about his future role within WWE. However, the issue isn’t straightforward due to Johnson’s executive position on TKO’s board, the parent company of WWE. The situation is complex, and simple solutions are hard to come by. Let’s strive for a thoughtful, unbiased discussion instead.

Why The Rock Is So Valuable

By virtually any measure, The Rock is undeniably among the greatest and most influential superstars in the annals of professional wrestling. His fame transcends the realm of wrestling like no other, drawing widespread attention in a manner that surpasses even John Cena and others currently active in the business. He’s not just famous; he’s exceptionally famous, and his ability to captivate mainstream audiences is unparalleled. Furthermore, his skill in self-promotion sets him apart from his contemporaries.

If you’re not deeply into wrestling, becoming popular essentially involves engaging the audience so much that they respond strongly. This could be as a hero or a villain, but what truly matters is that the audience is invested in your presence. The most popular superstars are the ones who sell tickets and whose shows are centered around them. There’s no one on WWE’s roster, not even Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, or John Cena, who is as universally loved as The Rock. The crowd reacts uniquely when he enters through the curtain.

It’s clear why WWE and its parent company TKO would want him involved in their ongoing narratives. This is why they granted him ownership rights to his WWE-related trademarks, appointed him to the Board of Directors, and paid him generously to return after Vince McMahon sold the company. His influence extends beyond ticket sales and merchandise; he can drive general crossover interest in ways that no one else can.

Last year, prior to WrestleMania, The Rock’s influence, often referred to as “The Rock Effect,” was evident. In the period from the Royal Rumble to WrestleMania 40, The People’s Champion made numerous appearances to back his cousin Roman Reigns in his fight against Cody Rhodes. This frequent presence not only filled arenas with sold-out crowds but also boosted ratings significantly. Moreover, many consider it some of the best work he has ever done during his career.

The new character he portrayed, The Final Boss, was met with great enthusiasm, and it reached its peak at WrestleMania where he teamed up with Reigns in a tag team match against Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. Additionally, he made an appearance during the main event of Night 2 between Roman and Cody.

Indeed, it’s clear that TKO values having The Rock on board when he can, but regrettably, the past year hasn’t provided many opportunities, and these limited encounters have resulted in a substantial loss instead.

Why The Last Year Has Gone So Poorly

Initially, The Rock made an appearance on RAW following WrestleMania 40 to announce his return to Hollywood. This development was anticipated by wrestling enthusiasts. However, instead of a straightforward announcement, we were treated to a rather uncomfortable and prolonged segment involving WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, during which he brandished his title belt for some time, seemingly hinting at a future confrontation where he’d attempt to snatch it from him.

Initially, as wrestling enthusiasts, we eagerly anticipated the outcome of Rhodes’ post-WrestleMania conflicts, expecting that the long-awaited face-off between The Rock and Cody would be next. However, as months passed, it appeared Johnson might not return soon. Consequently, our focus shifted to other storylines. Then, unexpectedly in October, the anticipated main event for Bad Blood, McIntyre vs Punk, was switched to the beginning of the show, while Rhodes and Reigns vs Sikoa and Fatu were moved to the end. It turned out that Johnson made an unanticipated appearance after the match, standing off against Rhodes and Reigns, counting to three, and performing a throat-slashing gesture before the broadcast ended.

Fans of WWE had been wondering for months about potential developments. They eagerly anticipated The Rock’s return to clarify things, as well as any news regarding the highly anticipated Rock vs. Cody Rhodes match. However, it wasn’t until the premiere of Raw on Netflix in January that we received an answer. Regrettably, Johnson’s speech during the event only added to the confusion. In a peculiar, disjointed manner, he essentially boasted about their successful business partnership and thanked Rhodes for his outstanding contributions.

Spectators, myself included, found ourselves thoroughly bewildered since the events unfolded in a manner that didn’t make any logical sense. For almost a year prior, we had witnessed the ongoing feud between The Rock and Rhodes, with The Rock referring to himself as ‘The Final Boss’. It seemed evident that this moniker suggested The Rock would be the ultimate challenge for Rhodes. However, instead of a confrontation, we received compliments, which appeared to originate from Johnson in his role as TKO Board Member rather than The Rock, his on-screen character. This ambiguity was never clarified during the broadcast.

In February, Johnson reappeared, appearing to have heeded everyone’s feedback. He praised Rhodes again, but this time, his praise was motivated by a desire to help Rhodes advance further. To achieve this, however, he insisted that Cody surrender his spirit or soul. The dialogue was straightforward yet repetitive and disjointed, but it did offer fans a clear narrative to follow, explaining why The Rock had been more amiable towards Cody lately. Essentially, The Rock wanted Cody to carry out tasks for him in WWE while he was away in Hollywood. Being The Rock’s champion and sacrificing his soul would enable this arrangement.

Approximately a week past, The Rock appeared at Elimination Chamber accompanied by chart-topping rapper Travis Scott, again requesting Cody’s spirit. As anticipated, Cody replied with colorful refusals, but what followed was unexpected: The Rock made a gesture towards John Cena, and without delay, Cena betrayed Rhodes, suggesting he had sold his soul to The Rock. This instantaneous event quickly became WWE’s most talked-about moment in months. Cena’s villainous transformation garnered widespread media attention, and many fans agreed it was the biggest turn since Hulk Hogan infamously joined the nWo in 1996.

Subsequent events were filled with much debate regarding the collaboration between The Rock and John Cena, as well as their potential future endeavors. Regrettably, The Rock failed to reappear after that initial event. He was absent from both Raw and SmackDown. What added to the mystery was the fact that he was seldom referenced by those directly involved. John Cena never clarified why he allegedly sold his soul to The Rock. Instead, he chose to discuss his betrayal of the fans and Rhodes, implying that it was due to his frustration with the mixed reception he’d received throughout his career. Similarly, Rhodes refrained from discussing The Rock. His focus primarily remained on Cena’s betrayal, and he largely ignored the soul matter as if it never occurred.

This situation leads us to WrestleMania. Some spectators believed that The Rock’s narrative had been abandoned altogether since there was no reference to him. However, others held faith that he would make an appearance and bring the storyline to a close. Regrettably, we received a disappointing blend of both scenarios. The Rock failed to appear, but his associate Travis Scott emerged instead. His music disrupted the climactic fight between Cena and Rhodes, and he intervened to help Cena secure the victory. In essence, it seemed as though WWE attempted to wrap up the story that The Rock began, but without involving The Rock himself.

As a devoted wrestling enthusiast, I must admit that the main event left me, and seemingly countless others, utterly bewildered and disappointed. The unexpected appearance of Travis Scott without Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was met with confusion, as fans were puzzled about his role given Johnson’s absence from WrestleMania altogether. This unexpected turn of events only added to the dismay among spectators, who took to social media to voice their outrage.

However, it wasn’t long before Johnson was announced for an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show the following day, which I believe was intended to address the confusion and mend fences. Regrettably, this attempt at damage control seemed to backfire, leaving fans even more perplexed than before.

The Rock mentioned that his recent appearances, such as the one where he requested Cody’s soul and the one at Elimination Chamber, were due to low ticket sales and a request from TKO for assistance. He later chose to step back because the storyline no longer required him, and he didn’t want to overshadow John Cena’s moment. However, wrestling fans found his remarks off-putting as they implied he only participated for financial gain, which is ironic considering TKO has significantly increased ticket prices in recent years. Additionally, the comments seemed illogical given that Travis Scott interrupted the main event and essentially overshadowed Cena’s moment.

The comments sparked an even greater uproar, with angry social media posts and wrestling podcast rants about The Rock becoming ubiquitous. In an attempt to quell the situation, The Rock addressed one of the rants, stating that everyone should relax because wrestling is “scripted.” Essentially, this means it’s not real. He further extended an invitation to Dave LaGreca, a popular podcaster, to participate in creative discussions with Cody, John Cena, and his personal writer Brian Gewirtz, as well as other WWE personnel. This way, he hoped Dave could gain a better understanding of the decision-making process behind the scenes.

As a devoted cinephile expressing my dismay, let me say this: I found myself once more at odds with the creative direction of the wrestling universe. Firstly, I was taken aback by his dismissal of our passion for wrestling as mere unimportance because it’s scripted. This statement, in the realm of WWE and TKO, where our fervor fuels their profits, is nothing short of audacious.

Secondly, it appeared he disregarded Triple H, the true architect of WWE creative, and seemed to suggest that The Rock, not him, is steering the major storylines. This implication, if accurate, is deeply concerning as it undermines the authority of the man at the helm.

What TKO Should Do Moving Forward

Some wrestling enthusiasts advocate for TKO to completely part ways with The Rock, but I strongly believe that’s not an advisable course of action. Airing public disagreements with influential figures from past eras can create a negative image, and it overlooks the fact that The Rock, when placed in the right narrative, can still deliver exceptional performances. Instead of delivering a lackluster nostalgic act before WrestleMania 40, he presented a fresh storyline as The Final Boss, which was one of WWE’s finest narratives in the last two decades.

There’s still a strong desire among fans to witness him perform. Even though some die-hard fans might be upset with him at this moment, casual fans may not be aware of the situation. Regardless, there’s always a buzz when he makes an appearance. He’s a major draw and someone who could contribute significantly to WWE’s future success. Abandoning him now seems like an excessive response and not a wise choice, in my view.

It’s not ideal to have Dwayne Johnson appear whenever he chooses and only partially engage with storylines. Currently, it seems like Johnson determines when he wants to be present, then collaborates with the writers on what would be the most exciting thing for that specific episode. However, these exciting moments, even when skillfully executed, may not always contribute positively to the overall longevity of the business if they don’t lead to long-term success.

Speaking metaphorically, I’d like to discuss this using cinema references. Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is undeniably one of the most influential actors globally. Placing him in any film production might seem appealing, but it wouldn’t be easy to refuse his offer. However, casually incorporating The Rock into a movie without a thoughtful strategy isn’t guaranteed to improve the quality of the film. If he’s merely making a brief, entertaining appearance, that’s acceptable, but if he’s part of the main storyline, there needs to be a clear and cohesive plan about his role and whether he can accommodate the necessary scenes for seamless integration.

It appears to me that TKO focuses heavily on generating viral content, incorporating celebrities, and broadening WWE’s appeal to more casual viewers. This strategy makes logical sense for business growth, but it could be financially detrimental in the long run if it compromises the quality of the product. The dedicated fans who consistently support WWE financially are the ones who should be prioritized. They’re the ones purchasing action figures, attending multiple events, and spending substantial amounts on WrestleMania tickets. They’re the loyal viewers tuning in every week, and they deserve a coherent narrative. As someone who has followed WWE main roster programming for years, I too crave a storyline that makes sense, but it’s challenging to achieve this when The Rock pops up at random times or when ticket sales aren’t meeting expectations.

Whenever Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson wishes to join the action, let him do so. However, these appearances should be peripheral and not interfere with the main storylines. It’s okay if he occasionally squares off against The Miz or Austin Theory, but it shouldn’t disrupt the central characters in the roster. If he prefers a more irregular schedule for his appearances, that’s fine too—just make sure these guest spots don’t impact the main story arcs.

If The Rock intends to weave a narrative with WWE’s top talents, it’s crucial for him to collaborate with Triple H early on to establish the story’s scope and the specific dates he’ll appear. He shouldn’t be added at the last minute. Instead, there should be a well-thought-out plan about the message they aim to convey and the direction of the story. This way, everyone involved can deliver the story in a manner that doesn’t seem like an afterthought to fans or give the impression that The Rock considers himself more important than WWE’s key storylines.

Triple H is excelling at managing the creative aspect of WWE, even though I don’t always concur with his specific decisions, overall he’s providing top-notch storylines and an entertaining product that fans haven’t seen in years. Disregard The Rock, improved production quality, TKO, or the Netflix agreement. Ignore individual superstars as well. The main reason for WWE’s growth is that fans are satisfied with the creative direction and captivated by the tales being presented.

If there seem to be hidden problems, it might be best for The Rock to take a step aside and let things run their course. Most times when the creative hasn’t made sense lately, it’s been either due to The Rock’s involvement or that of Vince McMahon. If there’s a power struggle happening behind closed doors, Triple H should emerge victorious. Full stop. That’s all there is to it.

As a movie enthusiast, I’m not yearning for another power tussle on the silver screen. Instead, what the fans crave is Triple H being given the creative liberty to weave the tales he envisions. Ideally, in an ideal world, The Rock would be eager to contribute to some of those narratives whenever his schedule permits it. Here’s hoping TKO can devise a plan to make this dream a reality.

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2025-04-25 19:12

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