The Great One has come back. It doesn’t matter how many times you read about it or hear it, but if you’re a true fan of the squared circle, The Rock’s return is always a cause for celebration, much more so following the recent merger.
With Triple H and the new ownership group looking to make an impression, it brought in one of the most electrifying stars in sports entertainment, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, on the first day of WWE RAW this 2024. But, what really has fans excited isn’t just The Rock’s return – it’s high highly anticipated matchup against the reigning WWE Universal Champion, Roman Reigns.
The Rock’s return to the ring, marked by a confrontation with Jinder Mahal, followed by his signature People’s Elbow, left the audience roaring with approval. This wasn’t his first surprise appearance, as he had previously made a return in mid-September on SmackDown. These appearances have reignited the spark among wrestling enthusiasts, as The Rock continues to be a beloved figure in the industry. However, what makes his latest return different is the speculations surrounding his first actual match in years.
On his Instagram, The Rock shared a behind-the-scenes video from his recent WWE appearance. His caption reflected the special connection and energy he feels with the audience, emphasizing the unforgettable nature of these nights. He hinted at making history and doing things that have never been done before in WWE, suggesting that his involvement will bring about significant developments in the wrestling world.
The most notable aspect of The Rock’s recent appearances is the potential setup for a match with Roman Reigns. The Rock’s statement about going to a restaurant and sitting at the head of the table is seen as a direct reference to Reigns, who has been portraying the persona of the Tribal Chief and the head of the massive Anoa’i family table. The prospect of a match between The Rock and Roman Reigns has been a dream for fans for over a decade, given their real-life familial connection and the narrative potential it holds.
Roman Reigns’ journey as the Tribal Chief has seen him assert his dominance over family members, including cousin Jey Uso, and making others, like Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa, acknowledge his leadership. The Rock, with his achievements both in and out of the ring, is often regarded as the ultimate challenge for Roman’s claim as the family leader. This potential matchup is currently rumored to be the headline event for WWE Elimination Chamber in February.
As the only event planned for the Asia-Pacific region this 2024 and the first in Australia since October 2018, this once-in-a-lifetime kind of matchup would make history, but some believe that WWE might throw a curveball and schedule the feud to go even further until WrestleMania 40 in April.
While this would mean effectively throwing two years worth of build-up with Cody Rhodes’ storyline, the WWE might not let this chance pass them by.
Nevertheless, The Rock’s return to WWE, regardless of implications, has generated plenty of engagement across social media. His Day 1 return set a new record for social media engagement, surpassing his older record set in October 2023. This level of excitement underscores the enduring appeal of The Rock in the wrestling world and the eagerness of fans to see him square off against one of today’s top wrestlers.
Whether or not we’ll see all this teasing come to fruition remains to be seen, but it does make every episode of RAW and SmackDown going forward all that much more exciting to watch.
