The Rock is coming to Elimination Chamber: Toronto, and the Final Boss is ready to disrupt the status quo. On X, fka Twitter, The Rock promised “disruptive moves” coming soon.

Rock’s bold comment comes after he appeared on the February 21, edition of WWE SmackDown, where he confronted Cody Rhodes. Rather than come to blows with his nemesis, The Rock expressed his desire for Cody to be his champion. The Final Boss wants Cody’s ‘soul’ and is awaiting the Undisputed WWE Champion’s answer at Elimination Chamber: Toronto.

The return of the Brahma Bull in the midst of WrestleMania season has led to speculation of what role The Rock will play this April in Las Vegas. While Cody’s WrestleMania 41 challenger should be determined in the Men’s Elimination Chamber match, fans can’t count out The Rock disrupting plans to fuel his own agenda. Whatever’s coming, The Rock is ready to make some serious waveson March 1, in Toronto.

The Rock returned to WWE last week to cut an awkward promo on Cody Rhodes and help kick the SmackDown ratings into the WrestleMania gear.

The months after Royal Rumble is usually the period that sees an increased interest in WWE programming as the company builds storylines for the Show of Shows. This hadn’t been the case for SmackDown whose ratings had more or less been steady in the past few weeks but it changed with the February 21 show.

Despite The Rock’s WWE return coming together very quickly, the Great One’s comeback generated enough buzz for The Blue Branded show to garner 1,736,000 viewers overnight per Programming Insider.

• The Rock Reveals Wrestling Moment That Broke His Spirits

This is a huge increase for the show from last week’s 1,384,000 overnight viewers, which featured multiple qualifying matches for the Elimination Chamber and an appearance from Cody Rhodes.

The show also saw an increase in the key 18-49 demo which rose up to 0.51. This is a significant increase from last week’s 0.42 rating.

The Rock is not advertised for this week’s episode of SmackDown but the company will continue to unravel the meaning of his promo on the show.

The People’s Champion will return to WWE programming the night after. The Hollywood star has been announced for the Elimination Chamber PPV on March 1, where he will expect an answer from The American Nightmare on his proposal.

• Sami Zayn Reveals How He Felt Taking The Package Piledriver After So Long

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s production company, Seven Bucks Productions, has signed a first-look television deal with 20th Television, a division of Disney TV Studios. The agreement, as first reported by Deadline, will allow Seven Bucks to develop and executive produce comedy, drama, adult animation, limited series, and unscripted content for both streaming platforms and traditional networks.

The deal further strengthens Seven Bucks’ relationship with Disney, following a first-look agreement signed in June 2024 for film development across theatrical and streaming releases.

In a joint statement, Johnson and Seven Bucks co-founder Dany Garcia expressed their excitement about expanding their collaboration with Disney:

“Disney has been our trusted partner in storytelling and entertainment for years now, and we’re ecstatic to expand our partnership with them beyond film as we set out to work hard and achieve the same success in the television space.”

They also praised 20th Television’s leadership, calling the deal an “unlimited opportunity for creative storytelling.”

Busy Week for The Rock

This announcement adds to an eventful week for Johnson. He was recently confirmed to star alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Emily Blunt in an upcoming crime drama directed by Martin Scorsese. Additionally, he made his highly anticipated return to WWE on SmackDown (Feb. 21), where he confronted Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes in a heated segment.

While his long-term WWE plans remain unclear, The Rock is set to appear at Elimination Chamber in Toronto on March 1, where he expects Rhodes’ response to his challenge.

The Rock has revealed the wrestling moment that almost made him quit the business.

The Great One’s misadventures as Rocky Maivia is a well-known chapter of wrestling history. Despite being pushed as a babyface in his early days, the fans did not connect with The Hollywood star’s first wrestling persona at all. WWE put the IC title on him only a few months after his debut in February 1997, but the fans kept booing him out of the building everywhere he went.

The People’s Champion remembered this time when asked about a moment that broke his spirits during the post-SmackDown press conference. He specifically remembered getting booed out of the building during his WrestleMania 13 match with Rikishi:

“I go into WrestleMania in Chicago at the Horizon at that time. It was sold out and I was the Intercontinental champion. And that entire arena booed me and they were chanting Rocky sucks. And it was very hard. I was just a kid, but also, I was what’s called a babyface, in wrestling binocular you’re a good guy. You’re not supposed to get booed.

That place, they [booed the shit out of me] that night. So much so I remember being on the mat and the guy I was wrestling was called the Sultan. He’s actually a family member of mine. He’s my cousin Rikishi. I remember him holding me in this wrestling move and he goes, ‘Don’t worry about it. Don’t listen to them, it’s okay.’ Meanwhile, there’s 15,000 people chanting ‘Rocky sucks.’ It’s like, man.”

• The Rock Wants To Own ‘The Soul’ Of Cody Rhodes, Confirms Next WWE Appearance

That Was My WrestleMania Moment: The Rock

The Rock revealed he was making $150,000 per year at the time and didn’t have a lot of money left over after paying his taxes and various bills. When Vince McMahon decided to take the title off him after his WrestleMania match, he seriously considered switching careers to MMA:

“So then that was a big turning point for me. That was in March of 1997. And you think a year earlier I was, I just got cut from the CFL, the Canadian Football League. I had no money; I had seven bucks. Now I’m champion and everything is supposed to be amazing and I was getting booed out of the building.

Then that was at WrestleMania. That was my WrestleMania moment. After that night, I had a meeting with Vince. He said ‘Things aren’t working out. I’m going to take the title off you.’ A week later I got hurt. I tore a ligament in my knee. He said you got to go home. I went home for the rest of the summer and I didn’t know what I was going to do.

In that summer, I thought ‘Man I’ve got really no money. I’m getting booed out of the building. I went to WrestleMania. I don’t know what to do.’ At that time I thought maybe I should consider a career in MMA. At that time there was a company called; it was called Pride in Japan. They were making a lot of money and I thought maybe I should do that.”

Thankfully, The Rock did not pull the trigger on this career change. When McMahon decided to bring him back as a heel, the former world champion asked to be given 5 minutes of promo time. Vince only agreed to give him 2 minutes and that became the turning point of his career.

• Xavier Woods Slams Cody Rhodes’ Horrible Personality

On the February 21, edition of WWE SmackDown, The Rock shared that WrestleMania 42 will take place in April 2026 from New Orleans, Louisiana. On the post-SmackDown press conference, The Rock shared that this announcement was supposed to come earlier this year.

“We were going to be part of the Super Bowl and make the announcement at the Super Bowl. We had a couple of hiccups that we couldn’t make that happen.”

The Rock didn’t share what “hiccups” came in WWE’s way, but the Super Bowl did feature plenty of wrestling involvement. Vince McMahon made a rare public outing to attend the game and was joined by The Undertaker and his son Shane McMahon. WWE Hall of Famers The Bella Twins were spotted with Britt Baker, leading fans to speculate as to Baker’s future, months after her most recent appearance for Tony Khan’s promotion.

Khan himself was at the big game and arrived on Kismet, his father’s super yacht. TBS Champion Mercedes Mone also attended the Super Bowl, where she was spotted with Swerve Strickland.

Plans remain scarce for WrestleMania 42 but The Rock’s involvement on this week’s SmackDown has led many to speculate that he will have a role with WrestleMania 41 this April in Las Vegas. With an appearance at Elimination Chamber confirmed, fans can expect to see much more of the Final Boss very soon.

The Rock’s beef with Cody Rhodes may not culminate with a match between the two, according to the Final Boss. Speaking after his appearance on WWE SmackDown, The Rock shared his mentality when it comes to going one-on-one with the American Nightmare.

“The Final Boss and Cody Rhodes, it’s not about the WWE title, it isn’t about a match, it isn’t about bleeding or anything like that that’s part of our world. It never has to culminate into a match.“

The Rock shared that the fact that his feud with Rhodes is so ‘personal’ that it may not end with a match is a “very special place” from a creative standpoint. The Brahma Bull is ready to have “fun” with Rhodes, even if a match isn’t in the works, and The Rock also highlighted that this angle gives the chance to develop “creatively, character-wise.”

The Rock’s comments about a match, or lack thereof, contrast greatly with early plans for WrestleMania 41. While for a time, a match between the two seemed a guarantee, it now appears that the pair’s WrestleMania 40 tag match will be the only time the two lock horns in a match.

On SmackDown, The Rock said he wants Cody’s soul, and in essence, intends for the American Nightmare to work under him and do his bidding. The Rock has given Rhodes until Elimination Chamber to give an answer, an event that The Rock will be in attendance for.

Elimination Chamber will also see Rhodes learn who he’ll face at WrestleMania 41, but with The Rock’s involvement, fans can’t count out meddling from The Final Boss. No matter what’s to come, WWE Elimination Chamber will prove to be a pivotal point on Rhodes’ road to WrestleMania.

The Rock has made a tall demand from Cody Rhodes.

The Final Boss made his WWE return at tonight’s SmackDown from Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. As expected, he first announced WrestleMania 42 returning to New Orleans in 2026.

The Great One then called out the Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes. When the champ came out, Rock first discussed how the two have become friends after their WrestleMania encounter last year and shared a drink at Raw’s Netflix premiere.

• Xavier Woods Slams Cody Rhodes’ Horrible Personality

The Rock Wants Cody Rhodes’ Soul?

Things took an interesting turn after this, however, as The Hollywood star reminded Cody that he was a TKO board member and owned everything. He then presented an offer to the American Nightmare.

The Rock declared that he wanted Rhodes to be ‘his champion,’ claiming that it would help the former AEW star become an even bigger superstar than the Great One himself. The megastar gave Cody some time to think about his offer, declaring that he’ll return at Elimination Chamber for his answer.

The segment ended with the 52-year-old pointing at Cody saying that he wanted to own ‘it.’ When Rhodes mistook it for his championship belt, Rock clarified that he wanted to own Cody’s ‘soul.’

What being The Rock’s champion would mean for Cody Rhodes is unclear. We’ll have to tune in to Elimination Chamber from Toronto on March 1 to find some answers.

• The ‘Real’ Reason Shane McMahon’s AEW Appearance Never Happened

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.

The Rock has declared that he is coming to SmackDown from New Orleans tonight to ‘fuck up a certain someone’s life’ with his gospel.

WWE announced the return of the Hollywood star in a press release earlier on Thursday, claiming that ‘everything could change in an instant’ when The Final Boss shows up on TV this time of the year.

The Fast & Furious star himself provided an update on his mission on Instagram early on Friday morning, claiming that he is coming to handle business:

“The Final Boss is coming to handle business, deliver a big beautiful gift to the city of New Orleans and fuck up a certain someone’s life with the Final Boss gospel. ? #smackdown”

• Logan Paul Banned By Egyptian Government: ‘You Can’t Come’

The city of New Orleans is believed to be the host city for WrestleMania 42. This new remark from The Rock only seems to confirm the rumors that the announcement will be made by the People’s Champion on the Blue Branded Show tonight.

The other part of his message however is still open to interpretation with multiple potential top stars who could be the one that the Great One is coming to confront.

Roman Reigns would be the most obvious guess but The Rock still has unfinished business with Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes. Even someone like John Cena who is on his retirement tour could be on his radar, so fans will have to tune in tonight to see who he is talking about.

• Former AEW Star Reveals Nerve Damage After Recent Match

The Rock announced late Thursday night on his social media accounts that he will appear on this week’s episode of WWE SmackDown at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. However, it remains unclear what his role will be on the show.

He captioned his post:

“Bold and disruptive. Unpredictable and dangerous. The Final Boss returns, LIVE on #SmackDown tomorrow at 8ET/7CT on @USANetwork.”

WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque added in a statement:

“Strap in. When The Final Boss shows up at this time of year, the audience knows absolutely anything is possible. Everything could change in an instant.”

The Rock was last seen on the January 6 Raw premiere episode on Netflix. On Raw, Roman Reigns defeated Solo Sikoa in a Tribal Combat match. Afterward, The Rock placed the Ula Fala around Reigns’ neck and embraced him. This moment followed a babyface promo from The Rock, where he seemingly dropped his “Final Boss” persona. He followed it up with making an appearance on NXT the next night.

While WWE was planning to do Rock vs. Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41, it has been reported that Rock isn’t currently planned to wrestle at the show. However, he decides whether he wants to do something, and should he feel he is in ring shape, then its always a possibility he wrestles at the show.

A major pitch is in development for an untitled drama directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Dwayne Johnson, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Emily Blunt.

According to Deadline, the film is inspired by a real-life Hawaiian crime boss, described as a ruthless figure who fought off encroaching rivals to control organized crime in Hawaii. The character is likened to Robert De Niro’s Jimmy the Gent from Goodfellas. 

Nick Bilton is set to write the screenplay, with Scorsese, Johnson, Blunt, DiCaprio, Bilton, Dany Garcia, Lisa Frechette, and Rick Yorn attached as producers. The project is particularly meaningful to Johnson, who has deep ties to Hawaii and has long aspired to make a film set there.

Synopsis: The article notes the film is about, “a turbulent time on the island paradise when an aspiring mob boss battled rival crime factions to wrest control of the underworld of the Hawaiian islands. It was a bloody battle, the kind of terrain Scorsese covered in both Goodfellas and The Departed. In 1960s and 70s Hawaii, this formidable and charismatic mob boss rises to build the islands’ most powerful criminal empire, waging a brutal war against mainland corporations and rival syndicates while fighting to preserve his ancestral land. It’s based on the untold true story of a man who fought to preserve his homeland through a ruthless quest for absolute power — igniting the last great American mob saga, where the war for cultural survival takes place in the unlikeliest of places: paradise.”

This marks another collaboration between DiCaprio and Scorsese, following their recent work on the Best Picture-nominated Killers of the Flower Moon. Their past films together include The Aviator, The Departed, Gangs of New York, and The Wolf of Wall Street. Meanwhile, Johnson and Blunt, who previously co-starred in Disney’s Jungle Cruise, are also set to reunite in A24’s Smashing Machine, directed by Benny Safdie and slated for release later this year.

Johnson and Blunt initially brought the idea to Scorsese and DiCaprio, who quickly joined the project. With Bilton now onboard to write, the film is moving toward development.

The wrestling world is no stranger to comparing rising stars to legendary figures, and LA Knight is one of the most prominent names to draw such parallels. During an appearance on Casual Conversations with The Classic, Knight addressed the frequent comparisons to WWE icons like Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock, but he made it clear that his aspirations go far beyond emulating them.

“Was I influenced by those guys? Of course,” Knight admitted. “But I don’t want to be them—I want to be better than them.”

While he respects their impact on the industry, Knight made it clear that his goal is to go beyond imitation, focusing on creating something fresh and unique. He recognizes that comparisons are inevitable in wrestling.

“Everybody has to make comparisons; it makes people feel more comfortable. But for me, I’m focused on being at a whole other level,” Knight explained.

His confidence and authenticity have made him one of the most talked-about names in 2023, with fans rallying behind his meteoric rise in WWE.

Knight’s success is a testament to his ability to connect with audiences by staying true to himself. His approach resonates with fans looking for personalities that stand out in a crowded industry. As he continues to rise, many believe Knight has the potential to cement his place among wrestling’s greats—not by mirroring legends, but by blazing his own trail.

Rhea Ripley received a major endorsement from none other than The Rock just before her big match at the WWE Raw Netflix premiere on January 6.

WWE’s YouTube channel released a video that gives fans a backstage look at the monumental event, featuring iconic personalities such as The Rock, Logan Paul, CM Punk, Paul Heyman, Triple H, and Stephanie McMahon.

A standout moment captured in the video showcases The Rock approaching Ripley as she prepared for her title match against Liv Morgan. After offering a warm hug, he told her,

“Sorry, I don’t want to bother you. I just want to say good luck, do your thing.

Thank you for everything you do. Thank you for carrying the company.”

The Rock to Rhea Ripley (Backstage at WWE Raw Netflix Debut – 1/6/25)

The heartfelt compliment left Ripley visibly moved. As a legendary performer and executive of WWE’s parent company, TKO Group Holdings, The Rock’s endorsement carries a lot weight. After the encounter, Ripley went to the ring and delivered a stellar performance, reclaiming her WWE Women’s Championship from Liv Morgan.

The moment underscored the respect she commands from both WWE’s past and present, further cementing her status as one of the company’s premier talents. For fans, this behind-the-scenes footage provides a rare glimpse into the camaraderie and respect shared by WWE’s stars, both in and out of the ring.

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WWE Shares Behind-the-Scenes Footage from Netflix Premiere, Logan Paul Talks John Cena and The Rock

In a new video released on WWE’s YouTube channel, behind-the-scenes moments from the Netflix premiere of WWE RAW were showcased, featuring appearances by top stars. One highlight came when Logan Paul shared his admiration for John Cena and made bold comments about potential future matches.

Speaking about Cena’s presence at the event, Paul praised the 16-time world champion.

“Bro, John Cena is the best guy in the world, actually. He’s a guy who everyone meets and says, ‘That guy is the best guy in the world.’

If I go to heaven, God willing, I’m pretty sure John Cena will be there like, ‘Come on, buddy! Welcome to the club.’”

Logan Paul envisions John Cena welcoming him into the gates of heaven

Logan Paul vs. John Cena

When asked about the possibility of facing Cena in the ring, Paul expressed his respect but suggested he wanted a greater challenge.

“I think I’d hurt John, to be honest with you,” Paul said. “If I get in the ring with him, it’d be an honor. But I’m tired of beating up these legends, to be honest with you. I beat up on Roman.

I beat up on Cody. If I gotta beat up on John, I’ll do it, but I’d prefer a challenge, bro.”

The social media star-turned-WWE competitor also took a jab at Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, calling him the ultimate opponent. “Talk about Dwayne Johnson here, Final Boss? I’m the new boss. There’s a new man in town, bro, and his name’s Logan Paul.”

Paul’s comments, mixing confidence and reverence, continue to stir speculation about potential blockbuster matches, including showdowns with WWE legends like Cena or even The Rock.

The Rock and Cody Rhodes’ on-screen beef is seemingly finished, resulting in footage filmed with the two potentially never seeing the light of day. On the historic WWE Raw debut on Netflix, The Rock praised Cody and the pair shared a hug inside Los Angeles’ Intuit Dome.

Rhodes and The Rock filmed a segment at the Moana 2 premiere that now may never be aired. According to Fightful, segment would’ve seen the two squash the beef between them, but that the segment on Raw covered the same topics as the Moana 2 segment. Sean Ross Sapp added that given what transpired on Raw, the segment filmed at the film premiere didn’t need to see the light of day.

WWE Stars Attend Moana 2 Premiere in Hawaii

While Raw marked the end of the Rock-Rhodes angle to many, the Final Boss’ appearance on WWE NXT teased that their feud may not be over just yet. Seemingly addressing the backlash to his year-long feud with Rhodes being abruptly ended, Rock teased that he was 20 steps ahead of everyone else, and encouraged fans to stay tuned.

With his issues with The Rock in the rear-view mirror (at least for the time being,) Rhodes attention turns to the Royal Rumble, where he’ll face Kevin Owens in a Ladder match. Stay tuned for the latest on both Cody Rhodes and The Rock, and whether the pair ever do battle in a WWE ring.

Former NXT Champion Ethan Page recently shared his thoughts on The Rock following their brief interaction at last night’s NXT New Year’s Evil.

In a backstage segment, The Rock came across Ethan Page, who was speaking with NXT General Manager Ava. The Rock interrupted Page, who was complaining and talked to him about breaking Je’Von Evans’ jaw. ‘The Final Boss’ also warned Page that “payback’s gonna be a b***h.”

The Rock further made it clear that Ava is the real boss in NXT and said if Page wants to stay on The Great One’s good books, he needs to respect Ava. He then said that he hoped he’d see him on the main roster and then smacked Page’s backside, telling him to get his “sweet ass on out of here.”

Ethan Page took to social media and responded to The Rock’s comments. In a video clip, he said:

“You know, Shawn Michaels? Not a fan. Triple H, not a fan. Nick Khan, I’m assuming [he’s] not a fan. The Final Boss seems to get what I got going on. Hell, he even said I had a sweet ass. I guess we could say that The Final Boss smells what Ethan Page is cooking.”

Later, The Rock came out to the ring to deliver a promo and even mentioned the Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, referencing his recent gesture toward him during WWE Raw’s debut on Netflix.

The Rock made his first-ever appearance in WWE NXT this week, where he shared his love for WWE and teased that his issues with Cody Rhodes aren’t over yet. The Final Boss is hardly the first surprising name to have shown up in WWE’s developmental brand:

CM Punk

CM Punk has been keeping a close eye on NXT since his return but competed for the brand in a dark match in 2012. In a meeting of the internet ‘darlings’, Punk teamed with Seth Rollins to defeat Kassius Ohno and Antonio Cesaro.

Chris Jericho

Appearing on the May 1, 2013, episode, Chris Jericho bested Bray Wyatt in the main event of WWE NXT. Wyatt would arrive on the main roster later that year and the pair would feud in 2014.

Sheamus

Already a former World Champion, Sheamus defeated Luke Harper in July 2013 during the Celtic Warrior’s first-ever match in NXT. Nine months later, Sheamus returned to the brand to defeat Aiden English.

John Cena

Cena made an appearance for NXT in 2023, but also appeared for the gold brand back years earlier. A segment with Enzo Amore and Big Cass ended with Cena delivering an AA to Damian Sandow, but as this was a dark segment, fans at home couldn’t see John.

Team Hell No

After appearing on the game-show edition of NXT in 2010, Daniel Bryan returned to the gold brand alongside Kane on the November 28, 2012, episode. Team Hell No retained their tag titles on the night against Johnny Curtis and Michael McGillicutty.

Christian

Years before he was waging war on deceased fathers, Christian hosted a post-show edition of the peep-show after an October 2013 WWE NXT. This unlikely segment saw the unlikely guest of World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio and ended with Rusev standing tall over Del Rio.

Too Cool

The first-ever NXT TakeOver event saw Scotty 2 Hotty and Grandmaster Sexay surprise fans in tag-team competition. The pair challenged then-champions The Ascension but failed to capture the gold.

Batista

Batista’s 2014 run didn’t go as WWE planned as the fans rejected the Animal in favor of Daniel Bryan, ultimately turning Batista heel. That same year though, Batista won fans back after an NXT taping. After Bo Dallas suggested the pair team up as ‘Bo-tista’ the Animal rejected the idea with a Batista Bomb to the delight of the crowd.

The Rock was part of this week’s WWE NXT, during which he teased that his issues with Cody Rhodes are far from over.

The Final Boss appeared during a segment with Ethan Page, who was seen confronting Ava. The Rock interrupted Page’s complaints and addressed him directly about breaking Je’Von Evans’ jaw. In classic Rock fashion, he warned Page that “payback’s gonna be a b***h.”

The Rock made it clear that Ava is the real boss in NXT, adding that if Page wants to stay on The Rock’s good side, he needs to respect Ava. Later, Ava and The Rock shared a heartfelt on-screen moment with Ava saying it was special to have her father around.

Later in the night, The Rock cut a promo and mentioned Cody Rhodes, referencing his recent supportive gesture toward the American Nightmare during the RAW Netflix debut. Addressing skeptics, he assured fans that he was thinking several steps ahead and urged them to trust the journey he’s taking them on.

Despite the show’s time constraints, The Rock joked that they could “go all night.” He dropped an unscripted f-bomb but quickly apologized for it before ending the night by thanking the fans for their passion and emphasized their importance to NXT.

The Rock’s comments about Cody Rhodes come as a relief to fans of his popular heel run of 2024, many of whom took issue with Rock and Rhodes being fine with each other on Raw. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on The Rock, as despite what was said during the red brand’s debut on Netflix, the Brahma Bull may not be finished with the American Nightmare after all.

WrestleMania 41 Plans Take Shape for John Cena, Cody Rhodes, and The Rock

Roman Reigns is not saying no to a Rock match.

The Netflix premiere episode of WWE Raw saw The Tribal Chief finally reclaiming the Ula Fala after defeating Solo Sikoa. The Great One even showed up after the bout to acknowledge his cousin and the two shared a hug at the show.

Despite all the pleasantries, the question of a potential match was asked to Roman in the post-Raw press conference. Reigns was asked if he would like to tease the bout and The Head of The Table said that he would just let people speculate about it:

“I don’t have to tease anything, you guys do it for us. We’re just going to let the Internet do its thing. [Saying yes or no], that would defeat the whole purpose of this. The Internet won’t do its thing if I said yes or no. So, we’ll see.”

• Roman Reigns Set For Jan. 27 Raw, WWE 2K25 News Teased

Apart from this, Roman Reigns was also asked about John Cena calling him the greatest of all time. The former WWE Champion claimed that he’s too busy to be thinking about such things. Reigns noted how the whole thing is really subjective but also discussed how John Cena is a very smart man and reminded everyone that his metrics prove Roman to be the goat.

The future of Solo Sikoa is another big question coming out of the show. After the New Bloodline leader failed to prove his dominance over the Original Tribal Chief, it’d be interesting to see how his faction members react to his loss.

After his appearance on the WWE Raw Netflix premiere, The Rock is set to make his next stop at WWE NXT New Year’s Evil. The former WWE Champion made the announcement during an Instagram Live session following his appearance on Raw.

The event, scheduled to take place at the Shrine Expo Hall in Los Angeles, California, will feature The Rock alongside his daughter, Ava, who currently serves as NXT General Manager. Ava recently accompanied The Rock at the Golden Globes, adding further intrigue to their on-screen dynamic.

Updated Card for NXT New Year’s Evil:

• Special Appearance: The Rock
• NXT Championship Match: Trick Williams (c) vs. Oba Femi vs. Eddy Thorpe
• NXT Women’s Championship Match: Roxanne Perez (c) vs. Giulia
• NXT Women’s North American Championship Number One Contenders Match:
  Cora Jade vs. Stephanie Vaquer vs. Lola Vice vs. Kelani Jordan
• NXT Heritage Cup Sudden Death Match: Lexis King (c) vs. Charlie Dempsey
• Six-Woman Tag Team Match: Fatal Influence (Fallon Henley, Jazmyn Nyx, & Jacy Jayne) vs. Shotzi, Tatum Paxley, & Gigi Dolin

The Rock made a special appearance during the premiere episode of Raw on Netflix in Los Angeles, opening the show with a memorable segment.

The Rock entered the ring and congratulated the audience for attending the highest-grossing arena show in WWE history. He hyped the event’s debut on Netflix and praised Cody Rhodes for “carrying WWE on his back for the last year.” In a lighthearted moment, he told Rhodes to pass along his regards to Mama Rhodes.

Turning his attention to Roman Reigns, The Rock referred to him as the “Original Tribal Chief” and hyped the upcoming Tribal Chief Combat match. Before leaving, he delivered his signature catchphrase, much to the crowd’s delight.

After the segment, The Rock embraced Rhodes at ringside. Many fans believed this appearance could kick off the build for a WrestleMania 41 match, as WWE executives reportedly expect The Rock to wrestle at the event. However, no official plans have been confirmed.

Last year, The Rock and Rhodes teased a singles match after teaming up during the WrestleMania XL Night 1 tag team main event. Despite the speculation, WWE is reportedly leaning toward booking John Cena vs. Cody Rhodes for WrestleMania 41 instead of Rock vs. Rhodes.

WWE Raw’s debut on Netflix has gotten even bigger as The Rock has confirmed that he’ll be coming ‘home’ for the much-anticipated show. On Instagram, WWE’s Final Boss reflected on his life, family, and heritage before turning his attention to WWE’s debut on the streaming juggernaut.

“I’ll come back home to @wwe tomorrow night as we make history on @netflix and begin a new and exciting era.

“Tomorrow night is dedicated to my grandfather, the High Chief Peter Maivia, my grandmother, Lia Maivia and my dad, Rocky “Soulman” Johnson and my ancestors who have ALL paved the way.”

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The Rock gave no clue as to what he’ll do during the upcoming Raw, but his announcement has sparked excitement among fans. The upcoming Raw will see Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa face off in Tribal Combat to determine the one true Tribal Chief, a match that the Brahma Bull will be keeping a close eye on.

What Does WWE Have Planned For The Rock At WrestleMania 41?

WWE Raw On Netflix

News of The Rock’s involvement is just the latest major announcement for the January 6, 2025, edition of WWE Monday Night Raw. The show will also feature:

CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins: A highly anticipated bout between two bitter rivals that has been brewing since before Punk’s return to WWE in 2023.

Roman Reigns vs. Solo Sikoa (Tribal Combat Match): The two Tribal Chiefs of WWE will hold nothing back on Raw, but will The Rock be the difference-maker?

Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley (Women’s World Championship Match): Rhea Ripley seeks to regain the title she was never beaten for, and get revenge on Liv Morgan.

John Cena’s Farewell Tour: The legendary wrestler will begin his farewell tour on Raw, marking the start of his retirement from professional wrestling.

Drew McIntyre Vs. Jey Uso: ‘Main Event’ Jey has been the victim of beatdowns from McIntyre, but will the YEET army get payback in Los Angeles?

Travis Scott Live: The multi-time award-winning artist will provide the theme song for Raw on Netflix and will perform live on the show.

Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest from WWE Raw on Netflix, as The Rock is ready to electrify this Monday on what will be a historic night.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson closed out 2024 on a high note, as a new SEC filing released Friday night revealed he was awarded 96,557 Class A shares of TKO stock on December 31. The award stems from an arrangement made upon his return to WWE in late January 2024, when he joined the TKO Board of Directors.

As part of his January return, Johnson also gained full intellectual property (IP) ownership of “The Rock” name and other character-related trademarks. The December stock allotment holds a present-day value of $13,749,716.80. This represents half of a total grant of 193,115 restricted stock units he was awarded on January 23, 2024. The remaining shares will be distributed in monthly installments throughout 2025.

According to the filing, Johnson currently owns 289,673 TKO shares, valued at over $41 million. Nearly 97,000 of those shares were earned following his appearance on the first night of WrestleMania 40 earlier in 2024.

While The Rock has not appeared on WWE programming since October’s WWE Bad Blood, speculation is rife that he may feature in the debut episode of Raw on Netflix next week. However, this has yet to be confirmed.

As WrestleMania 41 draws closer, WWE is laying out plans for marquee matchups featuring some of its biggest names—John Cena, Cody Rhodes, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Here’s what fans can expect in Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium this April.

John Cena Vs. Cody Rhodes

WrestleMania 41 will be John Cena’s last chance to compete at WWE’s biggest annual event, and Cena could be going out with a bang against Cody Rhodes. Both PW Insider and the Wrestling Observer Newsletter have reported that Cena Vs. Rhodes is the plan for April.

This match will give Cena a chance to become a 17-time WWE World Champion, breaking the record of 16 he shares with Ric Flair. Rhodes has held onto the Undisputed WWE Championship since WrestleMania 40, where he ended the 1,316-day reign of Roman Reigns.

The Rock’s Possible Appearance

Though a role is yet to be publicly confirmed, The Rock is expected to participate in WrestleMania 41 in some capacity. Original plans calling for The Rock Vs. Cody Rhodes appears to have been scrapped given that the American Nightmare will be tied up with John Cena.

With Rhodes off the table, Rock’s WrestleMania 41 journey could finally see him collide with Roman Reigns. The long-awaited match was at one time a ‘lock’ for WrestleMania 39 before WWE decided to go in a different direction. The Rock appeared at WWE Bad Blood 2024 after the show’s main event, teasing that his issues with Reigns and Rhodes are far from over.

While WWE’s plans are always subject to change, fan excitement and speculation continue to grow for WrestleMania 41, which will take place on April 19, and April 20. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on WrestleMania 40

On the latest episode of AEW Dynamite, Adam Copeland returned to action, but is now going by the name ‘Cope.’ The WWE Hall of Famer is just the latest wrestling star to have his name shortened, but he isn’t the only one.

Here are some times wrestlers had their names cut short, for better or worse.

The Undertaker

One of wrestling’s most iconic names, The Undertaker originally debuted as “Kane The Undertaker” during a 1990 WWF Superstars taping. By the time of his official TV debut, the “Kane” portion was dropped but would resurface seven years later for Glenn Jacobs.

GUNTHER

Before reigning as WWE’s World Heavyweight Champion, GUNTHER was known as WALTER. In early 2022, WWE rebranded him as Gunther Stark, but quickly shortened the name to avoid controversy, as “Gunther Stark” was also the name of a Nazi naval officer.

Cody

When Cody Rhodes left WWE in 2016, he competed simply as “Cody” due to WWE’s trademark on the Rhodes surname. In November 2020, “The American Nightmare” successfully reclaimed the Rhodes name, which he now proudly carries as the reigning Undisputed WWE Champion.

Sheamus

The Celtic Warrior debuted in WWE’s developmental system as Sheamus O’Shaunessy. By the time of his main roster debut on WWE ECW in 2009, the name was shortened to Sheamus. The streamlined moniker didn’t hinder his success, as he ended the year as WWE Champion after defeating John Cena.

Riddle

Originally known as Matt Riddle, WWE shortened the Original Bro’s name in 2020. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the change was influenced by Riddle’s MMA background and his association with marijuana.

Carlito

The Judgment Day star has been wrestling as Carlito, fans may have forgotten that he debuted in 2004 as Carlito Caribbean Cool. It wasn’t long before WWE ditched two-thirds of the former U.S. Champion’s name, and Carlito has gone by one moniker ever since.

The Rock

Perhaps the most successful example of a name change, “The Rock” was born from the transition of Dwayne Johnson’s initial persona, “Rocky Maivia.” The shift not only marked a turning point in his career but also cemented his legacy. To this day, even non-wrestling fans recognize “The Rock” as a cultural icon.