The Rock, a wrestling icon, seemingly made a shocking heel turn after 21 years during the WWE WrestleMania XL Kickoff media event. At the event, he slapped Cody Rhodes and aligned himself with Roman Reigns, the leader of The Bloodline. This unexpected twist generated significant buzz and speculation within the wrestling community.
Despite the apparent heel turn, a baseless accusation surfaced on social media, insinuating that The Rock faced booing from the crowd in Las Vegas due to unfulfilled promises related to financial assistance for victims of the Maui fires.
The eight-time WWE Champion swiftly responded, clarifying that the negative response was a result of his heel persona and had no connection to the Maui fire allegations.
The Rock emphasized that the Our People’s Fund of Maui had already delivered over $50 million to more than 8,000 survivors affected by the fires.
I typically refrain from responding to toxic, false clickbait garbage like this because I hate dignifying bullshit with a response, but when you use Hawaii’s tragic events to draw attention to yourself I won’t stay quiet.
This moment you’re referring to is from our @WWE press… https://t.co/z76m1Q7w1N
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) February 11, 2024
During this controversy, Cody Rhodes, initially slated to headline WrestleMania 40 against Roman Reigns, found himself entangled in a dramatic turn of events.
Rhodes gave up his spot to The Rock on a previous episode of SmackDown, only to reclaim it at a recent media event. This decision ignited tension between Rhodes and The People’s Champion, leading to The Rock slapping the former AEW EVP.
The Undertaker, offering insights on this unfolding storyline, expressed his thoughts on The Rock and Cody Rhodes vying for the headline spot at WrestleMania.
The Undertaker acknowledged the significant draw of The Rock, considering him the biggest star in the world. However, he also recognized the hard work and dedication of Cody Rhodes, highlighting the dynamic nature of the wrestling business.
As tensions escalate and rivalries intensify, Triple H, in a position of authority, asserted that the final decision rests with him. Cody Rhodes is set to face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania XL, setting the stage for a compelling showdown at The Showcase of Immortals.