With thousands in attendance and the millions watching at home the 14/02/2011 (14th February 2011) edition of RAW was something special for fans of the ‘Attitude Era’, for Dwayne Johnson movie fans, and for die hard wrestling fans worldwide. Just as the expectation was dying down, the infamous words of “CAN YOU SMELL.. WHAT THE ROCK IS COOKING” blasted out in Anaheim, California, and out came the most electrifying man in sports entertainment. After seven long years away from the WWE, “The Great One”, “The People’s Champion”, The Rock returned to Monday Night RAW. It was a moment which got wrestling fans talking once more, because possibly the biggest name in sports entertainment history graced the squared circle once more. The Rock came out to a thunderous ovation and cut a lengthy ‘old school promo’ which the crowd ate up. During his promo The Rock said he was “back home” and “never going away”, and of course it was announced that he would be the first ever host of Wrestlemania at this year’s grand event.
The Rock gained his popularity in the WWE/F and is known for being one of the best, if not the most charismatic wrestler of all time. Rock is a nine-time World Heavyweight Champion, a seven time WWE/F Champion, a two time WCW World Champion, five time WWF Tag Team Champion, a two time WWF Intercontinental Champion, and was victorious in the 2000 Royal Rumble. The Rock’s last match was at Wrestlemania XX (2004) when he reunited with Mick Foley as the Rock N’ Sock Connection. Foley and Rock however lost to Evolution (Randy Orton, Batista, and Triple H). Since then The Rock has only made occasional appearances in the wrestling world, and his last previous appearance was a pre-recorded promo for the 10th anniversary of SmackDown, 2nd October 2009.
Outside of wrestling, The Rock likes to refer to his real name ‘Dwayne Johnson’, primarily to distance himself with the wrestling audience and to advance his acting career, which despite not being bad is nothing compared to his time in the WWE. Johnson has stared in big hits including “The Scorpion King”, “Tooth Fairy”, “The Other Guys” and recently released film “Faster”. In addition, Johnson has a lead role in the new, upcoming fast and furious film “Fast Five”, where he plays good guy agent ‘Luke Hobbs’ on a mission to stop Vin Diesel and his cast of car tinkering adrenaline junkies. It’s a stark contrast to Steve Austin’s acting career to say the least, with Johnson teaming up with Disney for ‘Tooth Fairy’ and other PG related films, whilst Austin is thriving in the world of Action movies, playing to his pro’s, and not his cons.
But has The Rock bettered himself for leaving the WWE seven years ago and becoming an actor? Wrestling fans will say no, but others will say The Rock had nothing left to achieve in wrestling. If Johnson was still in WWE today would we still care about him as much? Maybe not. Would WWE have ever become PG? Of course. The bottom line is the desire to see The Rock now, especially by more mature fans is huge, and the cry to see something more ‘Attitude Era’ is evident. This was made more evident by the ‘Old School’ Monday Night RAW, which was a hit with the older demographic of WWE fans.
What puzzles some wrestling fans is the manner that The Rock left WWE which questions whether he is truly committed to wrestling anymore. The WWE made The Rock into the biggest sensation since Hulk Hogan and ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin. But after he left the WWE, was he ever credible about the WWE? Some may question. To fans it appears The Rock lost sight of what made him famous and the millions of people worldwide who followed his career in the WWE, and he turned his back on it all once it was getting good, all in order to make a few dud children’s films. It just doesn’t justify hardcore Rock fans about why he left, in their eyes The Rock was best left at home, doing what he does best, which is cutting the best promo’s and performing the most over-rated finisher in wrestling history (The People’s elbow for those that didn’t already know).
Furthermore, unlike Austin or Hogan, The Rock has never had a final hurrah in wrestling (I don’t think Hogan ever will now). Austin had his against The Rock at Wrestlemania, but it has planted a seed in the head of wrestling fans that The Rock isn’t quite finished with wrestling. It’s like the final chapter in his book hasn’t quite been written. Just looking at the physique of The Rock it isn’t hard to work out: He’s still got it. He could still perform to a level that an Austin or Hogan could not. Not only is he capable in the ring, but he’s still got it on the microphone. Laying the SmackDown to Cole, ridiculing John Cena and belittling The Miz, it’s all clear; The Rock has a place in the WWE, he always has, and he’s still as good as ever.
The Rock’s return is just what WWE and wrestling as a whole needs. The Rock is a figure to get the attention wrestling needs again to propel it into a new era, but whether Dwayne Johnson the person sticks around is another matter. In the wrestling world where charisma falls short and the younger stars only have a few mentors to turn to, maybe The Rock is about to set the bar higher than before, and ready to break the ceiling of potential for wrestling stars once again. Younger stars might stand up and pay attention to the might and grace which is in the ring and learn a thing or to. For The Rock, let’s hope that he is truly ‘back home’, and is ‘never going away’.
Robert Austin
“In Ring Issues”
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