Finally, The Rock has come back to Stamford. 

The People’s Champ is taking his new TKO Board Of Directors role quite seriously as he took to social media to share some photos of himself visiting the new WWE headquarters. The Rock then reflected on making the stop and had a lot to say about the ‘mana’ that the new building carries.

“I needed to make one more final and most important visit – I wanted to come to Stamford, Connecticut to see our INCREDIBLE WWE HQ TEAM in person.

“To express to everyone my deepest gratitude for their commitment and talents, as well as my boundless excitement to go shoulder to shoulder with everyone to continue to build our company. Face to face. Eyes to eyes. Handshakes and hugs. I was completely blown away. You can FEEL the mana, energy, love and momentum!

“It’s a very exciting time for our companies and I’m forever proud to have played and continue to play a very small role in the growth of WWE. I’m honored to now sit at the table that my grandfather and my father helped to build. On the shoulders of giants, we stand. In the spirit of unity we grow. ~ Rock.”

The Rock has been plenty active on social media since becoming part of the board and has been putting TKO over big time since the news broke last week. 

Not only does he have the new job title to be happy about, but Dwayne Johnson also has got to be electrified by finally owning “The Rock” trademark, something he also posted about on Instagram.

The 2024 Royal Rumble event brought fans to their feet in Tropicana Field, and it was an exciting night for those watching at home as well. The night, as expected, was full of shocking moments, but few could guess everything Triple H had in store. 

While some fans were expecting The Rock, that didn’t come to pass. That being said, a confrontation against Roman Reigns is still in the cards.

Roman’s reaction to Cody winning the Rumble.

Oh man ? pic.twitter.com/MOU4ht7NxL

— Roman Reigns SZN ? (@reigns_era) January 28, 2024

Roman Reigns vs The Rock

The American Nightmare secured his second consecutive Rumble match victory and immediately directed attention towards Roman Reigns, hinting at a strong possibility for the WrestleMania main event. Reigns raised his title high in response to Cody Rhodes, so it appears that the match is on for Mania.

According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, the anticipated showdown between The Rock and Roman Reigns is still in the works, but there is no precise confirmation regarding its timeline.

“The Roman and Dwayne match is still happening. I just don’t know where and Bryan you probably know where because you probably know discussions I may know too and I can’t talk about them but anyways the point is, it’s still happening.”

Roman Reigns is confirmed for WrestleMania, and the main event match has remained unchanged since the decision was made in early September. Notably, Roman Reigns’ WrestleMania 40 match was determined well before that, and The Rock was not involved in the creative discussions this time.

I can exclusively confirm that a triple threat match for Roman’s title at WrestleMania is not under consideration. The creative team received this information last week.

Following Cody Rhodes’ victory at the 2024 Royal Rumble, it appears WWE is moving forward with their original plans. The absence of The Rock at Tropicana Field for the Royal Rumble is noteworthy, as Cody vs Roman is the match now as we hit the road to WrestleMania.

What’s Next

Cody Rhodes will get a chance to finish his story at WrestleMania, but it’s anyone’s guess how the booking will turn out when everything is said and done. Cody has been the decided Royal Rumble winner for a while, and January 27th’s big event in Tropicana Field saw him take a big step in that direction.

As I previously noted here on SE Scoops, WWE has options when it comes to The Rock vs Roman Reigns. We will have constant updates as more information is made available. 

The Rock stirred the pot in a big way when he returned to the WWE fold during the Day 1 episode of RAW. Now, with WrestleMania on the horizon, there is some big talk of a dream match that may finally happen.

WWE’s Plan for The Rock

During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer had a lot to say about WrestleMania 40, and the card that is currently taking shape in front of our eyes.

Regarding the delay to WrestleMania next year, Dave Meltzer did not see it as wise to let Dwayne Johnson age further for this match. The Rock appeared to be interested in having the match this year, and now may be the time. Although nothing had been officially signed yet, more details are expected after the Royal Rumble and on WWE’s television product.

As for holding the match in Australia, Meltzer expressed skepticism, finding it unlikely that The Rock would want to have a match that will air at 4 am in North America. On that note, I have personally asked around about this, and was told that The Rock is not booked for Australia.

Considering Saudi Arabia as a location, it seemed to be a stronger possibility than Australia. The potential for higher financial offers from the Saudis and The Rock’s role on the Board of Directors might have encouraged negotiations. However, based on past discussions and interviews, The Rock had seemed insistent on having the match at WrestleMania.

Exclusive Note On The Rock vs Roman Reigns

As I already reported, Roman Reigns is set to participate in WrestleMania, and the main event match has remained unchanged since early September when the decision was made. Interestingly, Roman Reigns’ WrestleMania 40 match had been determined well before that, and The Rock was never part of the creative discussions this time.

The addition of house show dates to Roman Reigns’ schedule came as a surprise when announced. Many within the company initially believed he wouldn’t wrestle again in 2023 after his Undisputed Universal Title defense against LA Knight in Saudi Arabia at WWE Crown Jewel.

Despite WWE having Roman Reigns’ WrestleMania match planned, it doesn’t guarantee a lack of changes. CM Punk’s return to the company is expected to prompt a creative shift in at least one WrestleMania match. The Men’s Royal Rumble match winner, which I confirmed was determined in September, remained unchanged as I confirmed again in late December. It is very important to remember at times like these that nothing is definitively “locked in” at this point.

According to a trusted source within WWE, “Even Roman’s main event can change if circumstances dictate. Will they dictate? Most likely not. But until it’s locked in, it’s not locked in.”

I was able to exclusively report that a triple threat match at WrestleMania for Roman’s title is not in the cards. The creative team was informed of that last week.

After Cody Rhodes’ 2024 Royal Rumble win, it is apparent that WWE may be going through with their original plans. There was no sign of The Rock in Tropicana Field for the Royal Rumble, making a notable absence for the People’s Champion as they begin the road to WrestleMania. 

The Royal Rumble will likely see a huge development in this story. SE Scoops will have all the updates as we hit the road to WrestleMania 40.

WWE’s Royal Rumble event is going down this Saturday, and the pro wrestling world can’t wait to see who is pointing at the WrestleMania sign by the end of the night. WARNING: This article may contain spoilers, and a bit of disappointment for the Nightmare Family.

WWE’s Plan For Roman Reigns’ WrestleMania Main Event

Many fans were shocked when Cody Rhodes failed to topple Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39, but there’s always next year, or is there? It appears that WWE has shifted things a bit, and Cody will keep telling his story without finishing it.

After Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson returned during the Day 1 RAW episode on January 1st, the entire landscape for the grandest stage of them all changed. Where it was previously thought that Cody vs Roman is going to happen again, and the American Nightmare could finish his story, there has reportedly been a change of plans.

WWE’s WrestleMania Plan For Cody Rhodes

I exclusively reported here at SE Scoops that a triple threat match for Cody vs Roman vs Rock is not happening. The WWE creative team was informed that point-blank last week. A new report is now removing Rhodes from the picture completely, because there is a new story to start for him.

Sports Illustrated‘s Justin Barrasso reports that multiple sources have told him that Cody Rhodes will not finish his story at WrestleMania 40, and the main event match is not his. Instead, Rhodes will face CM Punk at Mania in a match that will also likely not give Punk what he wants, which is a legit WrestleMania main event.

Multiple sources close to WWE Head of Creative Paul “Triple H” Levesque have indicated that Rhodes will not headline this year’s event, nor will he “finish his story” at WrestleMania. But there is still a new chapter to write with a marquee matchup to be had… against CM Punk.

Seth Rollins’ WWE WrestleMania Status

Since CM Punk is reportedly slated to battle Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania, that opens up another question about Seth Rollins. It was previously reported that Punk vs Rollins was the company’s plan for Mania.

I exclusively reported here at SE Scoops that WWE was still planning a match for Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40 despite his MCL injury. I was also told that, as of last night, WWE is still hopeful that Rollins will compete at Mania. “Rollins is still on for Mania at this moment,” was the exact wording given to me.

Exclusive Insight On WWE’s Plans

I was told in September that the winner for the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match was in place, but nothing is set in stone with WWE until the final plans are made. Then, I asked again in December after CM Punk returned and declared his Rumble entry, and I was told once again that the plans for the winner have not changed. It was also confirmed to me that Roman Reigns’ WrestleMania match hadn’t changed either.

I asked again last week whether plans for the Royal Rumble match were changed, because a lot of things went down from December to late January, including The Rock’s return. This time, I received a different answer that to fulfill my query request would be to indicate a spoiler.

Triple H only gets one go at booking his first road to WrestleMania without Vince McMahon’s controlling input. By all appearances, it will be an epic trip to the showcase of the immortals this year. Stay tuned, because January 27th will likely be a very big day for the Royal Rumble in Tropicana Field. 

Will The Rock lace up his boots and compete against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 this April? There’s a chance… 

The Brahma Bull returned to WWE on the Day 1 episode of Raw and teased coming for Reigns’ spot as the Head of the Table. A match between the pair has been teased for years and was at one point locked in for WrestleMania 39. 

There’s A Chance

With The Rock’s tease on Raw, many are expecting the long-awaited showdown between himself and Reigns to take place at WrestleMania 40. During an appearance on Hot Take, The Rock, fresh off his appointment to TKO’s Board of Directors, was asked about the possibility of headlining WWE’s grandest stage against the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion. 

“I’m a long-gamer and I like to build.  Something like this, what this is [is potentially huge.] If… if myself and Roman Reigns were to main event WrestleMania, and I mean this very respectfully of all the WrestleManias prior, because I grew up in this business and I love it, we could possibly put on, with us as the main event and this incredible group of men and women who are these incredible performers,  we could possibly put on the greatest and the biggest WrestleMania of all time.”

When a host sought to confirm if The Rock was saying there was a chance he would wrestle, the Brahma Bull didn’t reject the notion. 

“There’s a chance… I love this business, I love pro wrestling, I love WWE. But I also have this deep passion to grow it and to build it. And if we’re going to do something like this, I want the world to watch.”

The Rock has his sights set on Roman Reigns, but the Head of the Table isn’t sweating his cousin…

For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops. 

Dwayne Johnson’s excitement over having full ownership of the name ‘The Rock’ goes far deeper than the potential business prospects that this agreement provides. 

Johnson was announced as the newest member of the TKO board of directors today, as part of a landmark agreement between the two sides. Johnson will serve on the board that will oversee decisions for TKO which consists of both WWE and UFC. TKO Group Holdings is owned by Endeavor. 

Dwayne Johnson on Owning The Rock

As part of his deal with TKO, Johnson now has full ownership of the name ‘The Rock’ which until now had been owned by WWE. During an appearance on CNBC, Johnson spoke about the deeper meaning to owning the name. 

“There’s the business side of that, as we know. There’s the economics and the Math side of that. But also, it goes much deeper than that. And this idea, the name of The Rock, for me, I owe that name everything. Without that name, there would be no wrestling career.

“There would be no Hollywood career. But also that name was a derivative of my dad Rocky Johnson who was one of the first Black tag-team champions in WWE. A trailblazer paved the way, a man of color. For a kid like me to be embraced in a bigger way when I came along [he was inspirational.]”

Johnson made sure to credit Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel, who was also on the show, for agreeing to give him the name and appointing him to the board. 

“I want to acknowledge Ari [Emanuel] and give him his flowers because at the end of the day, he had a million reasons to say no but he found the reason to say yes. And the reason why is because he understood, as he told me face to face ‘This is your name and it comes from your family and that’s important to me.’ So family is very important to us.

“The name ‘The Rock’, this is why it becomes invaluable. The street valuation of the name ‘The Rock’, it’s got some heft behind it. But more importantly than that, it’s something that I’ve earned, I built, and I owe so much to that wild lunatic called ‘The Rock’.

“And by the way, and I told him this last night. The greatest benefit of now completely owning the name ‘The Rock’ [with] no gimmicks, no BS, across the board, full ownership [is] the name ‘The Rock’ years ago, really allowed me to be me, and that’s very special. Thank you Ari.”

Dwayne Johnson on owning "The Rock" name. pic.twitter.com/gTyxy7dSxb

— Turnbuckle Times (@TimesTurnbuckle) January 23, 2024

The Rock has his sights set on Roman Reigns, but the Head of the Table isn’t sweating his cousin… 

For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops. 

Dwayne Johnson is a shoo-in WWE Hall of Famer as The Rock, but the world outside pro wrestling also knows his name well. Now, he is taking a seat on TKO Group Holdings’ Board of Directors.

TKO Makes Big Announcement About The Rock

In a press release that was sent out on the morning of January 23rd, it was announced that The Rock has been appointed to TKO Group Holdings’ board of directors.

Johnson is a highly accomplished WWE Superstar, and he had a huge hand in the company’s history already. Now, the globally renowned Hollywood megastar will bring that electricity to the Board.

Vince McMahon, Executive Chairman of the Board at TKO, stated, “Very few people on the planet understand the convergence of sports, entertainment, media, and business like Rock. We are proud to have him join the TKO board to help take our company to new heights.”

The Rock also spoke about this new role. He is very excited to get things going. Johnson was also very candid in saying that he never thought this day would come for him. Now, he is in a position where his decisions can directly change the face of the company that is responsible for making him a household name.

“My grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, and my dad, Rocky ‘Soulman’ Johnson, would’ve never thought this day would come. Which is why I’m very humbled to have a seat at the table that has decades of history and family legacy for me. A table that my family helped to build. Being on the TKO Board of Directors, and taking full ownership of my name, ‘The Rock’, is not only unprecedented, but incredibly inspiring as my crazy life is coming full circle.”

“At my core, I’m a builder who builds for and serves the people, and Ari is building something truly game changing. I’m very motivated to help continue to globally expand our TKO, WWE, and UFC businesses as the worldwide leaders in sports and entertainment — while proudly representing so many phenomenal athletes and performers who show up every day putting in the hard work with their own two hands to make their dreams come true and deliver for our audiences. I’ve been there, I’m still there and this is for them.”

The Rock’s Previous Business Experience

With a broad business portfolio including Seven Bucks Productions, Teremana Tequila, ZOA Energy, Project Rock, and the recently merged spring football league, the United Football League (UFL), Dwayne Johnson has established an expertise in identifying and fostering revenue-generating opportunities in media rights, live events, sponsorship, licensing, and social media. He is one of the most-followed men on the planet on social media as well.

Johnson’s appointment also illustrates TKO’s dedication to delivering long-term value and performance for shareholders through strategic growth initiatives across both UFC and WWE. His name on the board will definitely attract attention.

The Rock recently returned to WWE television during the Day 1 edition of RAW on January 1st. During that appearance, he dropped a blatant tease that he may want that match against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania this year. With this new appointment, Johnson is certainly in a position to make some big decisions.

TKO Adds Another Board Member

Brad Keywell was also announced as a new member of the TKO Group Holdings Board of Directors. The company sent out a separate press release to reveal this news.

Keywell, who earned his Juris Doctorate with Honors from the University of Michigan Law School, is a seasoned entrepreneur with extensive knowledge in technology and artificial intelligence. He will bring valuable experience in innovation and industry disruption to the Board.

He has played a key role in co-founding and leading various companies, including Groupon, Echo Global Logistics, MediaOcean, and Uptake Technologies, where he currently serves as Founder and Executive Chairman. Recognized as the 2019 EY World Entrepreneur of the Year, he is only the third US entrepreneur to receive this global honor. 

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson may be one of the biggest stars in the world, but he’ll always have time to meet the fine folks at Make-A-Wish. 

In the video, The Rock recalled meeting 21 children from the Make-A-Wish foundation, who were thrilled to hang out with the People’s Champion. In the video, The Rock reflected on how incredible the experience was for him. 

“I anticipated having a great day hey but today was something unlike I’ve ever experienced.”

The Brahma Bull also reflected on his family’s history with Make-A-Wish and was honored to be performing in the same role as his father Rocky Johnson. 

“We [myself and Make-A-Wish] go way way back. Make-A-Wish and my dad, granting the first wish in the state of New Jersey. I was 11 at that time the concept of that, I remember then being blown away. Like ‘wait this is this little kid’s wish?’

“I always say that, you know, really they’re the heroes and their families are the superstars. It’s unbelievable and what an honor and and a privilege that I get to meet these kids to surprise them and it just gets no better than this.”

As part of the day’s festivities, The Rock toured Universal Studios with the kids and their families, and answered questions about his role in the Fast and Furious franchise. 

Later in the day, The Rock hosted a special party for the kids and their families. The Hollywood A-Lister gifted Project Rock merch and a Rock-themed Xbox to each kid, courtesy of ‘Dwanta Claus.’ Johnson also made sure to speak to every kid in one-on-one conversations and gave them some words of wisdom. 

Did The Rock reveal a massive WWE future plan when meeting a kid from Make-A-Wish… 

Dwayne Johnson has added another accolade to his impressive resume by being inducted into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame. 

Years before he was wowing fans as The Rock, Johnson played for the Miami Hurricanes as a defensive tackle. This week, The former WWE Champion was inducted into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame, which recognizes athletes from Tonga, Samoa and surrounding islands. On Twitter, the Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment was honored to receive the induction. 

Thank you Fam.
Life’s road is long, wild and unpredictable.
Core values & relentless work ethic principles I learned at @CanesFootball. Honored and grateful to be inducted in the @PolynesianFBHOF 🙌🏾 https://t.co/nj57zxxnub

— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) January 20, 2024

Speaking about the Brahma Bull, former Miami head coach Dennis Erickson recalled Johnson’s time with the University of Miami via the College Football Hall of Fame:

“Back then, he was a broad-shouldered defensive lineman and his teammates called him ‘Dewey’. He was often spotted walking around campus in a lava-lava skirt singing country music.”

During Johnson’s time at Miami, he was responsible for 77 tackles and 4.25 sacks, according to Pro Football Network. 

Returning to the Ring? 

 It’s been decades since Johnson played football, but a return to the ring may be in the works.  On the Day 1 edition of WWE Raw, The Rock returned and teased coming for Roman Reigns’ spot as Head of the Table. Currently, WWE is trying to decide whether The Rock or Cody Rhodes will challenge Reigns at WrestleMania 40. Despite reports that a triple-threat match had been discussed, SE Scoops’ sources made clear that this is not the plan for the two-night April supershow. 

The Rock may wrestle at WrestleMania 40 against his cousin, but is this the right match for WWE… 

Thinking of the Rock/Cody Mania situation and am reminded of that Conan O'Brien joke when he lost the Tonight Show. "To the kids out there watching: You can do anything you want in life…unless Jay Leno wants to do it too."

— Trevor Dame (@TrevorDame) January 2, 2024

I was sitting at home, minding my own business, watching the University of Michigan continue to prove the universe does not arc toward justice, when a friend sent a text. 

I’ve known Shawn Stidham for 20 years. He’s the best radio host in the history of wrestling. Stidham and Rhode Island’s Rod Siciliano were kind enough to let a stuttering Midwest kid with a slow yarning draw on their radio shows during the Monday Night Wars. 

He’s covered local sports for years on the radio, acted on stage and in film and somehow managed one-on-one interviews with all of the 1996 Chicago Bulls prior to the beginning of their second three-peat. 

I’m not sure if he’s interviewed The Rock, but he’s interviewed nearly everyone else. His long-running show The Wrestling Guys was on a 50,000 watt radio station and was the first wrestling radio show to have a booth at a WrestleMania. Much of what you hear on podcasts – whether from the sites, wrestlers, Conrad, Chris Jericho or Steve Austin – that format and the way to do it were put in place by The Wrestling Guys years before. 

So I had great interest in what Stidham shared with me concerning the career woes and wrong turns by Dwayne Johnson the last few years in film.

Treating media studios like wrestling bookers and  campaigning for roles like you’re competing for a main event slot brought a crushing halt to his once sterling reputation and helped nail the door shut on a franchise.

This is why Johnson needs World Wrestling Entertainment more than it needs him at the moment. It’s why he’s cashing in that card for the Head of the Table match, with Roman Reigns. (I can only imagine such a match with Jon Moxley and Atsushi Onita.)

Dwayne needs to get his groove back

Johnson bumped egos with Vin Diesel while working on the Fast and Furious franchise. According to an article in Fortune in March, Johnson’s demands of the DC Studios while playing Black Adam were major factor in the DCU films not panning out. 

Johnson, it seemed, didn’t want to match up with Shazam (played by Zachary Levi) but a  opponent – Superman, played by Henry Cavill, who appeared in a post-credit cameo in the Black Adam movie. 

“Johnson’s plan of becoming the apex of the DC universe backfired in a matter of months when both he and the past decade’s Superman, Henry Cavill, were unceremoniously sacked last December by DC Studios.”

From Fortune: “Dwayne tries to sell himself as bigger than the movie,” a Hollywood executive told TheWrap under anonymity. “Instead of making a movie, he wants to extend his brand make a brand centered on himself.” 

Johnson’s ex-wife, Dany Garcia, represented Cavill as well as her ex-husband. Cavill fired her earlier this year. DC fired Johnson and Cavill. 

Johnson’s flailing goodwill took another beating during his ill-advised social media campaign to garner donations for victims of the wildfires in Hawaii. Standing alongside Oprah in numerous ads and commercials, the two urged people to donate to help wildfire victims – which is a good thing. Except millionaires and billionaires asking people to donate money has a dynamic lack of self-awareness. 

So Johnson is back on WWE, after showing up in Colorado a few months ago for Smackdown and then the Colorado State at Colorado game so he could market the hell out of his Project Rock Under Armour gear. 

Johnson has 11 projects in various stages of production, according to the Internet Movie Database – most are sequels to previous Johnson flicks (one is a Santa Claus movie). He needs to rebuild his base, he needs people to buy tickets and that starts with WWE.

Johnson returned to Raw on Monday, taking out Jinder Mahal after Paul Levesque promised a former WWE champion to appear. Johnson then dropped a not-so-subtle hint that he wanted Roman Reigns, echoing thoughts he put together during his last WWE appearance. This is a booking Johnson has teased for 10 years, and now he’s cashing in. But it’s not in the best interest of the company. 

WWE’s current success was built on its current roster and new talent. Cody Rhodes is the anti-Rock if there was one. He left WWE on his own accord, not for Hollywood, but for the indies. He joined the Bullet Club. He wrestled in Pro Wrestling Guerrilla as the Grandson of a Plummer. He made the damn list. He became ROH champ, he got the Money Shakes, half a decade later he was Executive Vice President of a pro wrestling company broadcasting for the same company as his dad. 

When Rhodes lost in the WrestleMania main event last spring, fans nearly rioted online. Everyone wants the story to end, but the good ratings and gates WWE are currently enjoying are built around a Cody Rhodes WWE title reign that hasn’t happened yet. 

He’s the company’s first true babyface since at least John Cena, maybe Steve Austin, if you look further back. 

It took years for WWE to get over new babyfaces after having part-timers squash them repeatedly during one-off matches and feeding them to Reigns during the Reign of Error. It finally paid off with the Bloodline storyline, but it took years and it ran much of the top talent out of the company. 

Johnson’s marketing problems are his own and he’ll always think he’s bigger than WWE – and he probably is. Yeah, he’ll bring in gates and he’ll bring in sales. He’ll be a big boost for Mania – like it needs it. But there’s other problems ahead, and WWE should remember its own myth making.

Hulk Hogan, who had Hulkamania running wild in the American Wrestling Association in 1983, was poised as the next champion. He wrestled Nick Bockwinkel in a series of matches, usually having decisions reversed after fans thought he won the title. By the end of the year, Hogan (who had already won his first world title in New Japan) couldn’t get the title. 

The reasons – or perceived reasons –  Verne Gagne didn’t see Hogan as a viable champ because he was lacking as a wrestler. Bockwinkel and other traditional world champions had true wrestling kudos and ability and could protect the title. Hogan didn’t have any amateur background and he wasn’t known as a tough guy. Despite what the fans were saying with their money, the story goes, Gagne stayed old school and stayed with the old school wrestler while Hulkamania and Hollywood walked out the door. 

The truth is a little different than the myth, but not much. Gagne stayed in his lane and wasn’t thinking ahead. The WWF grabbed most of AWA’s top talent in one of the most predatory raids of any wrestling company. Hogan was among them, who let without notice and quickly went to work helping Vince McMahon Jr. start knocking AWA television off local stations in place of the WWF.

Johnson is not the future of the company and he isn’t the present. He’s going to bring ratings and gates, but how long that holds will remain a mystery. 

WWE is now at an interesting crossroads. Rhodes is the guy in the company. It’s not Reigns and it’s not CM Punk. But Hollywood is now the old and Rhodes represents the new. The heir apparent is the grandson of a plummer who plied his way to the top by going his own path. 

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has given fans their first glimpse at the teams that will make up the newly formed United Football League. 

Last week, the Brahma Bull announced that his XFL would be uniting with the USFL to form the UFL, which aspires to cement the future of spring football. It is hoped that the joining of the leagues will improve the quality of football and give a better product to fans and players. Johnson and business partner Dany Garcia  acquired the XFL in 2020 after Vince McMahon’s second attempt at the world of professional football was snuffed out by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The UFL Teams

This week, the UFL announced the eight teams that will compete in the first season of the new league. The roster will consist of four teams from the XFL and four teams from the USFL. They are as follows. 

USFL Conference

• Birmingham Stallions

• Houston Roughnecks

• Memphis Showboats

• Michigan Panthers

XFL Conference

• Arlington Renegades

• D.C. Defenders

• San Antonio Brahmas

• St. Louis Battlehawks

Houston was the one overlapping market for the XFL and USFL and was one of the strongest markets for both leagues. As a result, the USFL’s Houston Gamblers have been rebranded as the Houston Roughnecks.

Coaches

Here are the Head Coaches for the UFL teams, They include returning names from both the XFL and USFL. 

• Skip Holtz (Stallions)

• Curtis Johnson (Roughnecks)

• John DeFilippo (Showboats)

• Mike Nolan (Panthers)

• Bob Stoops (Renegades)

• Reggie Barlow (Defenders)

• Wade Phillips (Brahmas)

• Anthony Becht (Battlehawks)

Kicking Off

The UFL’s 10-game regular season will start on Saturday, March 30, 2024. The opening game will see USFL champions Birmingham Stallions take on XFL champions Arlington Renegades. Players will report to training camp on Saturday, February 24, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. Season tickets for all eight markets are available for purchase.

Johnson and Garcia also discussed the launch of the UFL on ESPN. You can check out their comments in the video below. 

WWE fans expected the return of a former WWE Champion during the Day 1 episode of RAW. To their surprise, Jinder Mahal made a comeback with a new anti-American gimmick. Then he was suddenly interrupted.

IF YA SMELL…..@TheRock has come back to #WWERaw! pic.twitter.com/GVwlc7jpm1

— WWE (@WWE) January 2, 2024

The Rock Returns during Day 1 WWE RAW

The Rock then entered the scene, generating a massive reaction from the crowd. While there had been speculation about his appearance at the show, it wasn’t definitively confirmed before the broadcast.

The Rock was spotted with WWE CEO Nick Khan previously in the day. Dwayne Johnson was in Pasadena for College Gameday. That is just a couple of hours from WWE RAW’s location of San Diego this week. It was reported by Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select that “when we brought that up to a WWE higher up, they said we made a compelling argument, but wouldn’t confirm or deny.”

During that surprise appearance, The Rock addressed Jinder Mahal, contrasting him with the Iron Sheik and even humorously impersonating the legendary WWE Hall of Famer that we lost last year.

.@TheRock pays tribute to former WWE Champion The Iron Sheik!#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/9lga5ZwlmB

— WWE (@WWE) January 2, 2024

In response, Jinder Mahal attempted to talk smack about Americans. The Rock proudly declared himself the People’s Champion and an American, which makes us think about all those rumors about The Rock running for US President down the line.

After The Rock continued to insult Jinder Mahal, and his own Baywatch film as collateral damage, The Great One then said that Jinder Mahal is no longer the Modern Day Mahajara, instead, he is now the “day one douchebag.” Yes, fans chanted “day one douchebag” in loud fashion as The Rock directed them to do so.

In an attempt to ambush The Rock, Jinder Mahal started with an attack. However, Dwayne Johnson swiftly retaliated, responding with a series of punches, his spinebuster, and ultimately delivering his iconic People’s Elbow.

The Rock wasn’t finished there, as he picked up the microphone and asked the San Diego crowd if he should sit at the “head of the table” when he goes out to dinner after the show.

??????@TheRock dropped an absolute bombshell on #WWERaw! pic.twitter.com/Dmqc66tl2G

— WWE (@WWE) January 2, 2024

The dig at Roman Reigns was obvious, and now we have to wonder if The Rock vs Reigns is actually going to happen in 2024.

The Rock vs Roman Reigns at WrestleMania was Cancelled Before

WWE had plans for The Rock vs Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39, and it was going to happen, but then things changed for that match. It was never in the cards for WrestleMania 40, but there is always the possibility of a great creative shift if the situation calls for it. The Rock deciding that he can make the time for a return match is definitely a situation that would call for plans changing.

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson hopes to usher in a new era of football following the merger of the XFL and the USFL. 

Johnson acquired the XFL in 2020 after Vince McMahon’s second attempt at the world of professional football was snuffed out by the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest season kicked off in February of this year. 

The United Football League

It was recently reported that Dwayne Johnson had a huge announcement about the XFL and the Brahma Bull has delivered. Johnson, alongside business partner Dany Garcia, appeared on FOX’s NFL pre-game show. The former WWE Champion acknowledged Jimmy Johnson to kick things off, as he was inducted into the Dallas Cowboys Ring Of Honor last night this week. 

Johnson and Garcia then announced the merger of the XFL and the USFL to form the UFL. Johnson spoke about joining the leagues together to improve football and give a better product for both the fans and players. Johnson hopes that by combining leagues they can cement the future of spring football after it stopped and started over the previous decades. Johnson added that he always wanted to play in the NFL but said he’d be the 54th man when the rosters are cut at 53. 

The UFL will air on FOX and ESPN. The first game will take place on March 30, and see the champions of the XFL and USFL face each other in the opener. The merger and launch of the UFL shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise for fans. In September, it was announced that the XFL and USFL were looking to merge. 

Today marks the official announcement regarding the launch of the United Football League (the “UFL”), the premier spring football league that will result from the merger of the XFL and USFL.

Read more: https://t.co/PuA21cLW6L pic.twitter.com/JFHiQKmmCd

— UFL Communications Department (@UFL_PR) December 31, 2023

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has been celebrating this festive season by delivering a throwback to his iconic fanny-pack look from the 90s. 

The image of a young Johnson, wearing the fanny pack, turtle neck, and gold chain, has been a meme for some time now, with fans loving how quintessentially 90s the ensemble is. 

This week, Johnson recreated his 90s look to celebrate Christmas. In a video shared to Instagram, the Brahma Bull shared his rendition of ‘Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire.’ Johnson’s version refers to his 90s look and encourages fans to “take a look at my amazing clothes.” Johnson ends his performance with a pat of his fanny pack. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C1TT5lSLvkv

Reactions to The Rock’s Video

The Rock’s Instagram video scored close to 2 million likes in the first four hours after it was published. In the comments, WWE Superstar and fellow third-generation Superstar Natalya described the video as “Epic!” Kevin Hart, who Johnson often collaborates with, shared a wall of crying with laughter emojis. 

Is a Return in the Works? 

Following The Rock’s surprise return in September, rumors once again circulated that a return to the ring could be happening. During a recent appearance for Make-A-Wish, the Brahma Bull told a young fan “a little secret that may or may not involve some dude returning to WWE.” It was reported recently that WWE is eager to get The Rock to appear at WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth. The promotion’s first event in Australia since 2018 will take place in February of next year and will be WWE’s final main roster PLE before WrestleMania 40 in April. 

The Rock recently met a Make-A-Wish kid named Jayden. The 15-year-old is a huge pro wrestling fan, so meeting The Rock was a very special deal for him. He also may have been given a pretty huge spoiler about The Rock’s WWE plans.

In the middle of his Instagram caption, Dwayne Johnson said that he “told him a little secret that may or may not involve some dude returning to WWE to lay the SmackDown on all their candy asses.” That piqued our interest in a big way, making us all wonder what The Great One told Jayden.

”Droppin that old school Rock theme music for my boy Jayden Harden from @makeawishamerica!

Jayden is 15 and he’s awesome!! Jayden’s wish was to meet, “the people’s champ”.He is HUUUUUGE ROCK & pro wrestling fan and we had a BLAST chopping up his favorite wrestlers and matches!!I LOVE pro wrestling so my time with Jayden was super dope!

I told him a little secret that may or may not involve some dude returning to WWE to lay the SmackDown on all their candy asses

There’s a lot of negative and toxic noise out there in the world – but there’s a lot of positive, good things too, and Jayden is one of them.

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C1NirpQPyOV

Now, Jayden holds information that many pro wrestling fans would love to know. The Rock’s WWE return, if only for one segment on SmackDown, is a massive deal. So, any information that Jayden may have about Dwayne Johnson’s WWE return could be vital.

Insight On The Rock’s WWE Return

I was told on many occasions that The Rock is not in any WrestleMania 40 plan. After asking several times, as recently as last month, I have been told that The Rock is not in any active creative discussions.

The Rock was penciled in for a match against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39, but that didn’t happen. In fact, I was told that The Rock was a “virtual lock” for WrestleMania 39 before things fell through. The Rock claimed while speaking with Pat McAfee in Boulder, Colorado, that they tabled the idea until they could come up with a moment that justifies the match.

“We shook hands and we hugged right there, all three of us at the table, and said, ‘Let’s do this.’ So then we had a year to really think about this. So the north star thought was, ‘Okay, let’s not do something good. Let’s not do something great. Let’s do something unprecedented.’ It was in, what can we create for the fans that has never been done before. A match, great. Roman, incredible athlete. He’s gonna be on Mount Rushmore. Super handsome, good dude, my cousin, family. Amazing. We can have the match, but the bigger thought was, what can do for the fans and the business that love, where WrestleMania isn’t the end of something, it’s actually the beginning of something bigger.”

The Rock can always return to WWE whenever he wants to. All it would take is a phone call to Nick Khan or Triple H and WWE would shift gears to make it happen. That being said, Dwayne Johnson has a demanding Hollywood schedule that is keeping him from the squared circle, and it will likely continue to do so.

Dwayne Johnson’s mother is fortunate to be alive after being involved in a serious vehicular accident.

On Instagram, the Hollywood A-Lister shared a photo of his mother’s wrecked Cadillac Escalade that suffered heavy damage to the front passenger side.

“Angels of mercy watched over my mom as she was in a car crash late last night.”

The Rock.

In his post, Johnson said his mom is doing okay, and spoke about his mother’s tenacity, as she has survived lung cancer, a tough marriage, and an attempt to take her own life.

The Brahma Bull also encouraged fans to hug their parents hard “cos you never know when you’ll get that 3am call we never want to get.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dwayne Johnson (@therock)

Ata Johnson is Dwayne’s remaining parent, after the death of his father ‘Soulman’ Rocky Johnson in January 2020.

Ata Johnson

The daughter of the ‘High Chief’ Peter Maivia, Ata is part of the famed Anoa’I wrestling family, and married her husband Rocky Johnson in 1978, though the couple divorced in 2003.

While not a wrestler like so many members of her family, Ata Johnson has appeared for WWE in the past, including at WrestleMania 38 last April.

More recently, Ata was in the crowd for WWE Royal Rumble 2023, though her son did not appear at the event as many had hoped.

Ata’s granddaughter Simone performs today in WWE NXT under the name Ava Raine.

“Young Rock” star, Uli Latukefu, was shown ringside during RAW. He even did the famous eyebrow raise and smelled what someone was cooking.

Young Rock was recently renewed for a third season back in May. The show is being moved from Tuesday nights to Friday nights and will go one-on-one with SmackDown. The show follows Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s life from childhood, his teenage years, going to the University of Miami, and becoming a wrestler.

• The Rock Officially Acknowledges Roman Reigns As The Tribal Chief

Johnson is currently promoting his film, BLACK ADAM. The film will be released on October 21. He has long been rumored to be Roman Reigns’s opponent at WrestleMania 39 at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium. It’s all dependent on Johnson’s busy schedule.

Season three of Young Rock will premiere on Friday, November 4 at 8:30 PM ET on NBC.

Dark Side of the Ring captivated viewers with true stories that showed the grimy underbelly of the wrestling business. Creators Evan Husney and Jason Eisener are back with a new show, Tales From the Territories. Their new venture is partnered with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s Seven Bucks Productions.

Husney and Eisener are featured on the latest episode of The Sessions with Renee Paquette. Husney recalled during season one of DSOTR that The Rock tweeted him about the show. From there, they had meetings with Seven Bucks Productions to discuss projects and future ideas.

How Tales From the Territories Came About

“The roots of the show actually go back to right after season one in 2019 with Territories and we were batting around ideas. The short version of the story is that Brian Gewirtz who works with The Rock at Seven Bucks. We hit it off with him and had this mutual interest in wanting to do something about territory wrestling. That’s a huge, major fixation of Jason and I. We love that era. We’re huge World Class fans, Jim Crockett Promotions, all that stuff.”

When working on the Chris Benoit episode of DSOTR, they were working with Chavo Guerrero, Jr., who also wanted to do a documentary in “the territory realm.” “It was almost this perfect storm of all of us coming together and saying ‘let’s just do something together.’ And that was sort of developed and pitched as Tales From the Territories.” VICE wanted to do it and they went into production immediately following season three of DSOTR.

“Working with someone like The Rock and what that brings to the production is obviously a huge stamp of authenticity. One of the hardest parts on DSOTR sometimes is calling up wrestlers and getting them on the show. I think for great reason and a little suspect of guys like us that want to make docs about their lives or the darkest periods of their lives and stuff like that. Working with Dwayne has been awesome because obviously, he has all the relationships in the world in this business. And it’s given us the opportunity to work with a lot of different wrestlers that we didn’t have the chance to work with on Dark Side like Jerry Lawler and Michael Hayes.”

They also worked with Ted DiBiase and Kevin Sullivan for the first time. With the new show, they were able to bring back people like Bret Hart.

What to expect from the show

Each episode of Territories is in the roundtable format. Eisener explains that “the show is about one topic or one event.” “But, we wanted to try to recreate that feeling of being around a table with wrestlers when they’re telling stories and kind of bouncing back and forth, like off each other. We bring them all to a table and they sit down and we try to create a good environment for them to have fun telling their stories. And then we do the re-enactments, kind of similar to like we do with DSOTR. Each episode is like, five to six different stories within the territory.”

Husney interjects, “we say it’s almost like Tales from the Crypt format, you know where it’s kind of anthology of stories. It’s not a total history of the territory. It’s literally, you’re a fly on the wall for these four or five wrestlers coming together for the first time. Some that haven’t been in the same room in 35 years when they were working together in the 80s. It’s a cool vibe.”

“I remember several years ago, I think it was maybe STARRCAST, walking into a bar and it was Road Warrior Animal, Scott Norton, Eric Bischoff, and Sonny Oono and a bunch of these guys around a table, a few beers in, and they’re just telling these stories that were just jaw-dropping. Every one. One guy told a story and then the next guy told a story, and they just kind of went down the line. One story turned into 20 stories. I remember even Eric Bischoff at the time leaned over and was like, ‘this could be recreated for television’ and it was like, ‘I know. I’ve been thinking the same thing.’ That’s what the challenge of this was. Can we recreate this naturalistic, old time wrestlers hanging out and telling their best stories?”

Challenges that come with shooting a new series

Husney shared that there was a bit of a concern shooting in a studio, away from the comfort of the wrestler’s home. He also shared that there was a little bit of one-upsmanship with stories and they would maybe “embellish or over-exagerate”. Fans will see “this is the lore. These are the legends, like legendary stories of the road you know have taken on a new life as each decade rolls by. That’s the fun of show. It’s not trying to be journalistically accurate in a lot of ways. There’s no way that these stories could be, but that’s what’s great about them.”

There is a team of researchers to find the best stories and to help book the wrestlers to talk about them. Husney confirmed that the legendary story involving Ken Patera, Mr. Saito, and a McDonald’s is told on Territories.

The biggest challenge of doing a show like this is that many of the people involved have passed away. Bobby Heenan and Roddy Piper are two names Husney wished they could’ve talked too. Another issue is whether certain wrestlers would get along or have chemistry.

• WWE Hires Former Marvel & Disney Writer

Three episodes have been filmed so far, with seven more scheduled. They’ll be delivering the episodes as they air. Husney does say there are talks for season four of DSOTR. Since Territories was on the way, they were focusing on that. “We’re definitely getting back to Dark Side.”

Short stories from Territories has provided story ideas for DSOTR. “In the Mid-South episode, there’s a lot of talk about Junkyard Dog and talking about some of the angles he was involved with,” Husney shared.

Tales From the Territories airs Tuesdays at 10 PM ET on VICE.

If you use any quotes from the article, please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription.

WWE legend Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will go one on one with Monday Night Raw this week.

Johnson has been announced for the ESPN2 “ManningCast” broadcast of Monday night’s Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Rams NFC Wild Card playoff game. Raw will be live that night from Tulsa, Oklahoma. The NFL game will air on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN 2.

The ManningCast has been a popular broadcast this year as part of ESPN’s Monday Night Football. Airing on ESPN2 as an alternate broadcast to the main feed on ESPN, it features Peyton Manning and Eli Manning in a more relaxed atmosphere calling the game. Johnson will be a special guest this week.

Johnson tweeted out a promotional video Saturday night promoting the appearance.

• Dwayne Johnson Honors Bret Hart for Canada’s Walk of Fame

Johnson Continues to Remember His Wrestling Roots

Johnson recently honored his old WWE comrade, Bret Hart, during Canada’s Walk of Fame induction ceremony.

“Bret Hart was a mentor to me when he didn’t have to be and in our wild and intense world of pro wrestling, there weren’t many ‘mentorship programs’ back then. He gave me guidance and I’ll always be grateful. Congrats my friend on your incredible accomplishment,” Johnson said of the Hitman.

Johnson has always went out of his way to mention the respect he has for Hart. When the Hollywood icon joined WWE as Rocky Maivia in late 1996, Hart was reportedly one of the nicest veterans to the young star. Johnson has shared memories before about how Hart would go out of his way to sit by him on bus trips overseas.

“I’m always happy to shine light on those who impacted my life early in my pro wrestling career. Bret Hart treated me so good, took me under his wing and gave me great advice. Respect the business, save your money and never let those assholes bring you down. The rest is history,” Johnson wrote on Twitter earlier this year.

Check out the Top Rope Nation wrestling podcast for your weekly dose of pro wrestling talk featuring interviews, analysis and exclusive news: Apple – Spotify – YouTube.

Bret Hart was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame on Friday evening, and the ceremony featured a specially recorded video from an old friend of Hart’s — Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

The Rock wasn’t the only name from the wrestling world making an appearance for Hart’s big night. Chris Jericho delivered the induction speech for the Hitman. And while Johnson’s video is not yet available online, we do have a screencap.

“Thank you to @therock for making a special appearance to honour @BretHart during our Celebrating Greatness: @CWOFame 2021 broadcast special featuring all of our 2021 Inductees & Honourees!” wrote Canada’s Walk of Fame on Twitter.

The Rock replied with a heartfelt message about Bret Hart’s impact on his career.

“My pleasure,” he wrote. “Bret Hart was a mentor to me when he didn’t have to be and in our wild and intense world of pro wrestling, there weren’t many “mentorship programs” back then. He gave me guidance and I’ll always be grateful. Congrats my friend on your incredible accomplishment.”

Bret Hart closed his speech by saying, “Most of all, thank you to all my fans around the world and across the country. I’m a proud Canadian and thank you for letting me be your hero.”

Bret Hart posted this photo and heartfelt message on Instagram about his induction and the people who paved the way for him:

The Rock & Bret Hart’s 25-Year Friendship

Johnson has always went out of his way to mention the respect he has for Hart. When the Hollywood icon joined WWE as Rocky Maivia in late 1996, Hart was reportedly one of the nicest veterans to the young star. Johnson has shared memories before about how Hart would go out of his way to sit by him on bus trips overseas.

“I’m always happy to shine light on those who impacted my life early in my pro wrestling career. Bret Hart treated me so good, took me under his wing and gave me great advice. Respect the business, save your money and never let those assholes bring you down. The rest is history,” Johnson wrote on Twitter earlier this year.

One famous story was when Hart and Johnson wrestled on Monday Night Raw (March 31, 1997), and Hart refused to beat the rising star even though that was what was originally booked. Both Triple H and Shawn Michaels were reportedly very upset that Hart had the finish changed.

It’s always good to see one of the biggest movie stars in the world remember his roots in professional wrestling and the people who helped him long before he became an icon.

• Dwayne Johnson Shares Who Is On His ‘Wrestling Mount Rushmore’

Check out the Top Rope Nation wrestling podcast for your weekly dose of pro wrestling talk featuring interviews, analysis and exclusive news: Apple – Spotify – YouTube.

The Rock is now officially the “People’s Champion” after having been given the very specific award at the People’s Choice awards. He was presented the award on Tuesday night but he would not hold onto it for long.

“His achievements are legend. His work ethic is unparalleled. He transcends all demographics. He is impossible not to like and he can sure put down a lot of pancakes,” Amazon’s Jeff Bezos said while introducing the Rock. “But even with all that, the thing that really stands out the most? He’s kind. … You see, kindness is a choice. And what I admire most in Dwayne is his choice to show unwavering kindness to everyone around him.”

After being given the award, Rock then gave it to a teen girl from the Make-A-Wish program.

“I met her earlier. I told her how inspired I was by her story. She is a survivor, she has fought literally for her life,” Rock said. “She has inspired her family, her friends, now you guys here, now the world that is watching.”

Rock told the girl, “you represent everything that it means to be a people’s champion” and presented her with the award.

Footage of the Rock giving away his People’s Champion award can be viewed in the player below:

Rumors abound that WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns will be clashing with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson at next year’s WrestleMania 37. However, this matchup may only take place if The Rock’s hectic Hollywood schedule allows for it. WWE is already planning for a WrestleMania main event that does not involve The Rock.

Daniel Bryan, Goldberg and Big E have been discussed as a potential opponent for Reigns, as first reported by WrestleTalk. For fans hoping that Goldberg is a long-shot possibility, think again.

Roman Reigns: You’re Next!

The 53-year-old legend appeared on WWE’s digital show The Bump on Wednesday. He called out the Universal Champion and declared, “So Roman, it’s coming, and I’m coming for you … Roman Reigns: You’re next!”

Goldberg’s WWE contract runs through 2022 and calls for two matches per year. Reigns and Goldberg were set to clash at WrestleMania this past April, but Reigns pulled out at the last minute due to Covid-19 concerns.

The Rock’s Schedule

The Rock’s busy movie schedule is the primary factor standing in the way of a showdown with Roman Reigns at WrestleMania. Additionally, insurance issues amidst the coronavirus pandemic further complicate the chances of having The Rock return to wrestling on the “Grandest Stage of them All.”

A match between Reigns and The Rock would likely be predicated on Reigns’ current ‘Head of the Table’ storyline. Reigns has assumed the role of “Tribal Chief.” It’s a position The Rock may take issue with if a match takes place.

Roman Reigns faced off against Drew McIntyre in a Champion vs. Champion match up at Survivor Series. Reigns would win the bout via technical submission after interference from Jey Uso. This contentious victory leaves a thread that WWE could revisit if plans to feature The Rock fall through.

WWE Hall of Famer Booker T has looked back on his feud with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson during an episode of his podcast, The Hall of Fame.

Booker T confessed when he first arrived in WWE and eventually feuded with The Rock, he “didn’t let loose.” He acknowledged how he didn’t “work the way I normally worked” in WCW.

“I felt a little soft with The Rock even though we had some great stuff. But I still felt like I held back a little bit too much as far as when I was out there working with The Rock,” Booker T said. “Now saying that, I must say, The Rock worked a whole lot different than every other guy that I ever worked with in the business. The Rock was so meticulous about every detail being right. That’s why he is so great as far as the promos go.”

Booker T believes this same meticulous nature is why The Rock has also been so successful in Hollywood. He shared how working with The Rock was like being on a movie set. He explained this is because “everything had to be right with this guy.”

“I appreciate him for saying that I was one of the most athletic guys he ever worked with and one of the most entertaining guys he ever worked with,” Booker T said. “But, I was thinking way too much when I worked with Rock. In hindsight, looking back on it, I felt like I could have done so much more working with him.”

Booker T faced off against The Rock in a WCW Championship match at SummerSlam 2001. You can watch their match below:

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has reflected on the start of his career, revealing which moment gave him the biggest rush during an interview with One Glass with Glazer.

Whilst talking with the show’s host, Jay Glazer, Johnson discussed his start in then-WWF. He shared how it’s hard to pick just one moment as he’s been blessed with so many memorable career highlights. When pressed to pick one, however, Johnson pointed to the moment he was “[…] able to speak my mind and be authentic in the WWE.”

He recalled how he was a babyface when he first debuted for the promotion. Johnson then shared the advice he was given by WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon: smile.

“I was told by Vince McMahon, who was a very close friend of mine still today, is a mentor in the world of business, he would tell me, ‘You gotta go out there, you gotta smile, you just gotta… you just gotta smile!'”

Johnson continued, “This was my rookie year, so you can imagine. Smile! So, I said OK, and again, you’re pissing vinegar… you’re ready to get out there and bang, man. And he said, ‘I want you to be… you’re grateful that you’re here, so you gotta smile.’ And then I would go out and I would hear these fans, they just knew that I wasn’t being authentic. You know, and they would be like… ‘You f–king suck!’ And I would smile, ‘Hey, thank you, man! I know I do, right?’ I gotta smile.”

Dwayne Johnson On Becoming The Rock

Vince McMahon eventually had Johnson turn heel, turning him into The Rock. At that point, Johnson knew it was time to ask for some promo time. He approached Vince and asked for two minutes on a microphone during a live Raw so he could speak his mind.

“Vince McMahon said, ‘OK, you got two minutes.’ I said, ‘Alright.’ I grabbed the microphone on live TV, which that’s a lot, man, because at that time there was just two hours of RAW live, that’s it. Pass me the ball, that was it. Just give me one shot.”

Dwayne Johnson promised Vince that if his promo bombed, he would never have to give him mic time again. He shared how he made the most of the opportunity afforded him by being as real and genuine as possible whilst also embracing who The Rock was.

“[…] I said, ‘I may be a lot of things, but sucks isn’t one of them.’ And I said, ‘Me joining The Nation is not a black thing, it’s not a white thing, it’s a respect thing, and I’m gonna earn it every night by kicking that ass.’ You know, and I start talking a little s–t, but it was in that moment, that you could feel the crowd of 15,000 or 20,000 people go, ‘That’s real. What he just said, he just spoke from the heart.'”

According to Johnson, that promo and opportunity helped lead to the birth of The Rock and all that the character would become.

The Undertaker has shared his initial impressions on Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson during a recent interview with 5-time New York Times Best Selling Author, Gary Vaynerchuck. When asked by Vaynerchuck which wrestler surprised him the most in terms of growth and development throughout his storied career, ‘Taker revealed it was none other than “The Great One,” The Rock.

The Undertaker shared how it was an easy question to answer before naming Johnson, labeling him “the biggest star in the world.” ‘Taker recalled how Johnson debuted at Madison Square Garden as Rocky Maivia, sharing how it was “awful.” According to him, they “handcuffed him right out of the get-go.”

He reflected on how fans in Madison Square Garden will always be honest with you, whether they like you or not. ‘Taker noted how they were “merciless” with Johnson that night and that they “lit him up.”

The Undertaker’s Opinion On Rocky Maivia

Judging Johnson solely by his debut, The Undertaker confessed he had no clue how charismatic he was capable of being. Instead, he chalked Johnson’s debut up as “a shame” and figured that he wouldn’t be in WWE for long.

Things changed, however, after Johnson aligned himself—and then broke away from—the Nation of Domination. “It didn’t take long for him, once he got to the Nation of Domination, it flipped,” The Undertaker explained. “By the time he was at the end of his run with them I knew he wasn’t going to be with them for long. You could just tell he was destined for success.”

The first four episodes of Undertaker: The Last Ride are available to stream now on WWE Network.