Tonight’s SmackDown delivered a long-awaited moment as The Rock returned to WWE screens, embracing his villainous side for the first time since 2003. The atmosphere was charged with electricity, with The Great One fully immersing himself in his newfound role as a heel.
In a classic display of his mic skills, the Hollywood megastar unleashed a scathing promo aimed at the fans in Salt Lake City, cementing his allegiance to The Bloodline.
As the show concluded, the WWE legend momentarily stepped out of character, engaging with fans at ringside while his Bloodline cohorts headed backstage.
During one particularly memorable moment captured from ringside, The Rock playfully teased a fan, simulating a fight before breaking into a smile and retracting his hand.
The interaction left fans buzzing with speculation about the duration of The Rock’s heel persona. Despite dropping hints of a potential face turn down the line, particularly with implications of a betrayal against Roman Reigns, the timeline of such a development remains uncertain, possibly unfolding at or after WrestleMania 40.
Rock was ready to fight a fan 😂 pic.twitter.com/bgou9TRtlY
— BDE (@itsbrandonde) February 17, 2024
While The Rock’s involvement in the WrestleMania main event against Reigns has shifted, he remains a pivotal figure in the upcoming extravaganza.
Recent hints suggest a potential tag team showdown involving The Tribal Chief, Cody Rhodes, and Seth Rollins, a concept The Rock himself reportedly pitched for Night One of WrestleMania.
According to wrestling insider Dave Meltzer, if this match materializes, it would entail a double-duty performance for Reigns, Rhodes, and Rollins over the weekend.
However, the specifics of Rollins’ World Heavyweight Championship challenger at WrestleMania 40 are yet to be determined, with six contenders vying for the coveted spot in an Elimination Chamber Match.
As anticipation mounts, Drew McIntyre emerges as a frontrunner, poised to potentially square off against Rollins on the grandest stage of them all, while Rhodes and Reigns continue their streak of headlining WrestleMania events.
