The Rock’s journey in WWE began in 1996 as Rocky Maivia, a character marked by constant smiles and positivity. However, this persona didn’t resonate well with the evolving audience, amidst the rise of anti-authority figures like Stone Cold Steve Austin.
Reflecting on this phase during a 2023 interview on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, The Rock acknowledged the disconnect:
“You have this thing happening over here, the rise of the Attitude Era and then you have this kid who’s just smiling away, everything is good even when he loses. It would never feel right to me and then fans started to turn, booing every night.” [04:33 – 04:51]
Despite Vince McMahon’s direction for him to maintain the smiling persona, the continuous boos signaled a need for change.
The turning point came at WrestleMania 13, where chants of ‘Rocky sucks’ echoed throughout the arena, prompting McMahon to reassess.
“Vince looks at me and Pat, and just says ‘I don’t know what we did wrong but we have to make a change.’ I know what that means. Two days later, I drop the belt to somebody else.” [06:09 – 06:45]
Upon his return, McMahon offered The Rock a chance to reinvent himself as a heel, leading to his iconic role in The Nation of Domination.
Embracing this new persona, The Rock engaged with the audience in a more authentic manner, quickly becoming one of WWE’s hottest heels.
Fast forward to 2024, The Rock’s return to WWE reignited anticipation for a showdown with Roman Reigns.
However, a twist at WrestleMania 40’s Kickoff press event saw him embrace his heel character, cementing his alignment with The Bloodline faction and engaging in a heated rivalry with Cody Rhodes.
As The Rock continues to embody his heel persona, his evolution from a smiling babyface to a dominant antagonist serves as a testament to his adaptability and enduring impact in WWE.
