The Rock’s return on tonight’s WWE SmackDown will be exciting for fans, but will come at the expense of many on the roster. WrestleVotes reports that WWE has adjusted the line-up to the February 21, SmackDown following the announcement of the Final Boss. There have been “rumblings” that a six-man tag-team match, pitting Cody Rhodes, Damian Priest & Braun Strowman vs. Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu & Tama Tonga has been cut.
A match pitting Liv Morgan against Naomi has also reportedly been cut, angering many fans of both women. On X, several fans shared their issue with the two women losing their time to a part-time performer in an already male-dominated program.
This backlash comes amid a wider conversation about the treatment of women in WWE. Several women in WWE are said to be frustrated with their current positions in the promotion. Some have also pointed out that the introduction of mid-card championships for the women have done little to help. The hashtag #WWEWomenDeserveBetter trended on X, as fans shared their agreement with those in the company who are feeling frustrated.
The Rock is one of the biggest stars in entertainment, and having him on SmackDown during WrestleMania season has left many excited. With that said, there are plenty of fans who are far from happy with the Final Boss taking the spotlight from full-time talent.