Posts Tagged ‘The Rock’

What WWE Was Censoring From Live Crowd During SmackDown This Week

The Rock and Roman Reigns tore up the first forty minutes of SmackDown this week. The crowd in Alabama were also on fire, and their chants were a bit too hot for television.

It seems that they are censoring a lot more than just the F-Bomb. The classic “Die Rocky, Die” sign was blacked out this week on the show.

Bleeping Revealed

According to a report from PW Insider, FOX bleeped out “Die Rocky, Die” from the live fans. A lot of fans were really curious to know what was so bad that FOX kept hitting the censor key. Now, we know that it was a wish of death.

The Rock is a great heel, and he riled up the “Meth Head Marys” and “Crack Head Karens” in Alabama. They ate it up, and it seems that their response, although it was exactly what The Rock was looking for, FOX didn’t like to hear such a morbid chant from the fans at home.

For those of you wondering about why there have been random blackouts on tonight’s Smackdown broadcast on FOX, we are told that a fan has a “DIE ROCKY DIE” sign that the network is censoring.

What’s Next For This

Some may say that they are getting a bit touchy with this decision to edit out, “Die Rocky, Die,” and we have to wonder what they will censor next. In the meantime, it seems that fans have plenty to get riled up about on the road to WrestleMania.

WWE SmackDown is in Dallas next week, where Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins will answer The Rock’s challenge for a tag team match at WrestleMania 40. Only time will tell what those fans will say to get FOX to hit the bleep button, but everything is bigger in Texas. 

SEScoops will have more on this story, and many more, from the pro wrestling world. Keep checking back for more updates. 

Posted March 1st, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , , .

WWE SmackDown Switch-Up: The Rock & Roman Reigns’ Segment Saw Backstage Change

The Rock and Roman Reigns opened up SmackDown this week, and they took up over 40 minutes of the program. This was quite a long segment, but odds are the ratings will prove that The Rock means viewership. Now we have a few new details about how things went down.

Sean Ross Sapp reported a few notes about SmackDown’s opening segment this week on Fightful Select. It seems that they didn’t have the usual producer at the helm.

WWE Made Change to the Usual Situation

Michael Hayes typically oversees the production of Roman Reigns segments, Bloodline-connected segments, and even those involving individuals set to feud with Bloodline. However, it is reported that his name was notably absent from Friday’s run sheet. Instead, lead producer Jason Jordan was credited as the producer for both segments.

Predictably, The Rock’s segment ran significantly over time, prompting immediate adjustments to be made. This may be worth it in the end, because a ton of eyes were on that segment.

Michael Hayes typically produces all of Roman Reigns segments and matches. It will be interesting to see if he starts sharing that big responsibility. If anything, Jason Jordan certainly seemed to do a great job stepping into that slot.

What’s Next For The Rock

The Rock and Roman Reigns will be on SmackDown next week as they roll into Dallas. They will accept Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes’ decision after The Great One laid down a challenge for WrestleMania this week.

SEScoops will have more coverage of this story, and many more, in the pro wrestling world as new information is known. 

Posted March 1st, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , , .

Cody Rhodes Claps Back To The Rock’s Relentless Promo With A Meme

The Rock has a new favorite enemy in Cody Crybabies, and he let loose in a 21-minute video today. A ton of people sat down and watched the whole thing, but Cody Rhodes couldn’t be bothered.

Although he was a direct target of this new video drop from The Rock, the American Nightmare had to comment that he didn’t have time to watch the whole thing. He was able to let everyone know what he was thinking with the help of a meme.

Cody Rhodes responded to The Rock’s long video without directly referencing it. This as the kind of post where if you knew what Cody was talking about, then there was no doubt.

The meme that Cody Rhodes dropped simply said that he couldn’t have the time to watch the whole video. That being said, he feels for whatever the subject of the video might be.

A ton of fans caught this passive-aggressive post, and they commented in a big way. It is now making the rounds, and it doesn’t seem that Cody was shaken at all by The Rock’s video. If anything, Cody’s response won a lot of fans over. 

Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins received a WrestleMania challenge from The Rock. The Great One proposed that a tag team match should go down on night one of the show of shows, with the stipulation directly influencing the second night’s main event.

We will have to see how this pans out, but the road to WrestleMania has certainly been interestingly so far. 

Posted March 1st, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , .

The Rock Sets Up New WrestleMania 40 Match During WWE SmackDown

The Rock shook up the road to WrestleMania in a huge way when he returned to WWE television to insert himself into the situation. What followed was a turbulent road where The Great One was forced to change his mind on the Mania match he wanted. Now we find ourselves in the situation today,

Roman Reigns and The Rock kicked things off for SmackDown this week on FOX. The Bloodline was in rare fashion, and Dwayne Johnson was already on fire, ready to rip into some candy asses on the blue brand.

Before The Rock even came out, Roman threatened to leave, because he didn’t like how the fans reacted to him. They booed him out of the building instead of acknowledging him. Then Paul Heyman hyped The Rock’s intro, after a commercial break.

The Rock came out to end the commercial break, and he had a lot to say. He started out by asking if the fans were sure that they wanted to boo him. Then The Rock dragged the crowd, because Phoenix is the #1 location for cocaine and meth use. This was a brutal promo, where he said that the fans finally have something worth shooting into their veins.

“Rocky” chants came after he said, “finally The Rock is back in Arizona.” Then he said that pro wrestling is cool again. He followed that by saying that Cody Rhodes is not cool.

The Rock addressed Cody’s challenge to go one-on-one against The Great One. He then gave his answer to Cody’s match, “no.” Everyone, including every woman in the arena wants to go one-on-one against The Rock. This received a response, but he told the “Crack Head Karens” and “Meth Head Marys” that they can’t handle his 22 inches, of course, he was talking about his biceps.

Dwayne Johnson dragged Cody a bit for challenging him with such a big match coming up. Then he laid down a counter-offer. Night One of WrestleMania 40 will be The Rock and Roman Reigns vs Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. 

If the babyfaces win, then The Bloodline will not be at ringside for the Universal Title match on night two. If the heels win, then it will be Bloodline rules for their Universal Title match.

The Rock said that they will be in Dallas next week for SmackDown so they can get their response first-hand.

Before the segment ended, Roman Reigns told The Rock that he needed one thing: “Acknowledge me.” The Rock took a beat, removed his glasses, and he did just that, “Roman Reigns, my family, I acknowledge you as my Tribal Chief.” That drew quite a response from the crowd as they locked hands and hugged. This was followed by massive “You Sold Out” chants from fans.

SEScoops will have continued coverage of the road to WrestleMania, whatever might happen next. For more updates, please keep checking back.

Posted March 1st, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , , , .

The Rock: From the Bottom of My Heart, F*** Cody Rhodes’ Story

Cody Rhodes may have a burning desire to finish his story at WrestleMania 40, but that doesn’t phase the Bloodline’s newest member The Rock. 

Rhodes’ pursuit of a WWE World Championship has been the focal point of his return to WWE. Recently, the ‘We Want Cody’ movement led to WWE backing out of plans for The Rock to face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. In response, The Rock has turned heel and has vowed to make sure Rhodes doesn’t finish his story this April. 

F*** Your Story

Taking to social media, the Brahma Bull had a message for Rhodes and his ‘crybaby fans. The Brahma Bull explained that Rhodes made a serious mistake by bringing up his family at the WrestleMania kick-off event. The Great One concluded with a clear message to Rhodes and his story. 

“Fans wanted to see the biggest WrestleMania event of all time. You took it away. Now, you’re going to pay. Cody Rhodes, from the bottom of my heart, man to man, f*** your story.”

What’s Next? 

The Rock will be a part of tonight’s episode of WWE SmackDown. Cody Rhodes will also be part of SmackDown as part of his stacked March schedule. It’s unclear if Rhodes will appear during the show as unlike The Rock, he isn’t being advertised for an on-screen appearance. 

At WWE Elimination Chamber 2024, Rhodes challenged The Rock to go one-on-one before Seth Rollins stated it’s never so simple when it comes to The Bloodline. A tag match pitting Rock and Reigns against Rhodes and Rollins has been discussed for WrestleMania 40. 

Posted March 1st, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , , .

The Rock Regrets Not Patching Things Up With Father Rocky Johnson Before His Passing

The Rock comes from a rich family lineage in pro wrestling, and he will never forget what his father did for him and many others. The People’s Champion recently shared a candid message about his father, while revealing a big regret he still harbors.

The Rock Speaks on his father, Rocky Johnson

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson recently shared on his Twitter/X account to deliver some flowers to his late father. Rocky Johnson, alongside Tony Atlas, achieved wrestling history as the first-ever Black Heavyweight Tag Team Champions in WWE.

Rocky’s journey was marked by challenges, yet his son said he paved the way for men of color in sports and sports entertainment.

The Rock concluded his heartfelt post with a poignant farewell to his dad, reaffirming their eventual reunion. He regrets not being able to patch things up and get other their complicated situation prior to Johnson’s passing.

Just delivering flowers to heaven to my old man, Rocky “Soulman” Johnson. My dad, along with “Mr USA”, Tony Atlas made pro wrestling history by becoming the first ever Black Heavyweight Tag Team Champions for the WWE.

He came up the hard way, and trail-blazed for all of us men of color – in any sport & level of entertainment. But it was also very important to him to pave the way for all men, any color – it didn’t matter. My regret in this life is that I never had a chance to say goodbye to him, because he died suddenly.

I regret not reconciling our complicated father/son sh*t before I lost him. Raised me with tough fatherly love and an even tougher hand. The more I live life, the more grateful I am for it. See you down the road, Soulman

What’s Next for The Rock

The Rock is back in the fold with WWE right now, and he is on the road to WrestleMania. We will have to see what kind of match they book for the Great One at the show of shows, but odds are Rocky Johnson will be looking down with a smile as he watches the Bloodline do their thing.

SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story, and many more in the pro wrestling business. You never know what will break next, and we will have all the updates you need.

Posted March 1st, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , .

WWE’s The Rock & Bad Bunny Among 2024 Academy Award Presenters

Notable WWE names The Rock and Bad Bunny will be on hand to present Oscars at this month’s annual Academy Awards ceremony in LA. 

The Hollywood Reporter notes that The Rock and Bad Bunny have been added to the list of presenters, alongside Michael Keaton, Jennifer Lawrence, John Mulaney, and others. This group adds to the previously announced list of presenters which includes Jamie Lee Curtis, Brendan Fraser, Matthew McConaughey, Al Pacino, Zendaya, Sam Rockwell, and Michelle Yeoh, among others. 

Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer led this year’s nominations with 13 nods, followed by Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things with 11, Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon with 10 and Greta Gerwig’s Barbie with eight. The ceremony will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and take place on March 10 at 7 pm ET at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles.

Bad Bunny in WWE

Bad Bunny debuted in WWE in 2021 and immediately wowed fans with his in-ring ability. After competing at WrestleMania 37, Bunny was equally impressed in the 2022 Men’s Royal Rumble match. At Backlash 2023, the Grammy Award-winning artist competed in his first singles match and defeated Damien Priest in the San Juan Street Fight.

What’s Next for The Rock? 

The Rock is back in WWE as a heel and has been confirmed as the newest member of The Bloodline. The Great One has vowed that he will prevent Cody Rhodes from finishing his story at WrestleMania. The upcoming two-night show could see The Rock in action as a blockbuster tag team match has been discussed for Night One of WrestleMania 40. The Great One will be on tonight’s episode of SmackDown.

Posted March 1st, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , , .

The Rock Gives Big to Foundation After Couple Loses Daughter to Cancer

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has opened his heart and his wallet to a couple who are grieving the loss of their daughter. 

In an emotional video shared on his Instagram account, Johnson spoke about Esperenza and Edwin, who recently lost their daughter Lily Rose to cancer. The couple have started a foundation in her name to help families who went through the same trauma they are experiencing. 

In the video, Johnson explains how Lily Rose was a big fan of Maui, his character from the Disney hit Moana. The Brahma Bull then gave the pair a $50,000 donation to their foundation. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/reel:C37SMF_Lve4

The Rock’s Generosity

This is by no means the first time that Johnson has shown his generous side. In June of last year, The Rock bought a home for WWE’s Tamina Snuka, and has previously bought a car and other massive purchases for his mom. Last September, he ensured that a fan who a U.S. serviceman who received a fake autograph received a genuine one, among other gifts. 

What’s Next?

The Rock will be a part of this week’s episode of WWE SmackDown, and will be on the subsequent two weeks of programming. The newest member of The Bloodline, The Rock is expected to have a significant role at WrestleMania 40. 

At WWE Elimination Chamber 2024, Cody Rhodes challenged The Rock to go one on one. Seth Rollins reminded Rhodes that it’s never one-on-one with The Bloodline. It is believed a tag match, pitting Rhodes & Rollins against Rock & Roman Reigns could headline WrestleMania 40: Saturday.

Posted February 29th, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , .

The Rock Responds To Rebecca Ferguson’s Story Of Being Abused On Movie Set

The Rock is known to stick up for people who he’s worked with, especially if they are in his circle of friends. It seems that one of his former co-stars went through a bad experience, and Dwayne Johnson wants to handle things in his own way.

Rebecca Ferguson disclosed during an episode of the Reign with Josh Smith podcast that she had confronted an actor on a film set after they directed abusive remarks toward her.

Rebecca Ferguson Speaks Out

During the interview, she said, “I did a film with an absolute idiot of a co-star, and this human being was being so insecure and angry, because this person couldn’t get the scenes out, and I think I was so vulnerable and uncomfortable that I got screamed at, and I would cry walking off set.”

Her revelation has led to speculation about the identity of the actor. Ferguson did not specify the gender of the individual. Notably, Ferguson is presently featured in Dune: Part Two. Ferguson has eliminated Hugh Jackman and Tom Cruise from consideration, both of whom she appeared alongside in The Greatest Showman and Mission Impossible.

The Rock seemingly distanced himself from the online speculation by expressing his support for Ferguson, with whom he collaborated on the film Hercules in 2014.

Hate seeing this but love seeing her stand up to bullsh*t. Rebecca was my guardian angel sent from heaven on our set. I love that woman. I’d like to find out who did this.

Internet Detectives Are on the Case

In case you’re wondering, internet detectives are on the case. One fan posted in response to The Rock’s tweet to say, “LMAO thanks for tweeting it this and helping us narrow it down. Has to be Hugh Grant, then he’s the only one where she doesn’t have any press photos/ red carpet photos next to him. She has multiple photos with Fassbinder and Jake Gyllenhaal.”

We will have to see if the mystery is ever solved, but The Rock is 100% behind Ferguson, and he’s not going to stand for anyone treating her in a negative fashion. 

Posted February 28th, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: .

Full List Of Trademarks The Rock Acquired When He Joined TKO Group

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson now officially owns the rights to his iconic wrestling persona, according to the WWE 2023 Earnings release. The announcement showed the transfer of intellectual property from WWE to Johnson’s affiliates.

Per an IP Assignment Agreement (via PWInsider), WWE assigned ‘The Rock’ trademark along with associated trademarks, service marks, ring names, taglines, and other related intellectual property assets to Johnson’s affiliates.

A search of the US Patent & Trademark Office database shows marks such as ‘The Rock’ are now owned by a Florida-based entity called DJIP, LLC.

According to a new SEC filing, Johnson’s new IP includes the following nicknames and catchphrases:

Names:

  • The Rock
  • Rocky Maivia
  • Team Corporate
  • Rock Nation
  • The Nation
  • Roody Poo
  • Candy Ass
  • Jabroni
  • The Samoan Sensation
  • The Blue Chipper
  • The Brahma Bull
  • The People’s Champion
  • The Great One
  • The Most Electrifying Man in Sports and Entertainment

Catchphrases:

  • If you smell what The Rock is cooking
  • Know Your Role and Shut Your Mouth
  • Team Bring It
  • Just Bring It
  • The People’s Elbow
  • Rock Bottom
  • Finally, The Rock has come back to …
  • It doesn’t matter what…
  • Blue Hell
  • The millions… (and millions)
  • Rockpocalypse
  • Project Rock
  • The most electrifying man in sports and entertainment

Additionally, WWE entered into an Independent Services Contractor and Merchandising Agreement with Johnson and his affiliates, wherein Johnson agreed to provide promotional services to WWE.

Dwayne Johnson is a business, man

Under the terms of the agreement, Johnson will license the assigned IP and his name and likeness to WWE for use in certain licensed products related to professional wrestling for up to 10 years. In exchange for his services and the IP licenses, Johnson received restricted stock units worth $30,000,007 in Class A common stock.

The Johnson Equity Award will vest in stages: 25% immediately, 25% upon completion of specified services, 25% by December 31, 2024, and the remainder in equal monthly installments from January 31, 2025, to December 31, 2025.

Cashing in on his brands

Prior to this agreement, Johnson received annual royalties from WWE for his appearances in WWE-produced content, merchandise, and services, totaling approximately $491,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023. 

Following the agreement, Johnson will continue to receive annual royalties from WWE and will also earn royalties from licensed products utilizing the assigned IP and his intellectual property rights, as outlined in the Johnson Services Agreement.

This comes after Johnson was appointed to TKO Group Holdings Board of Directors in January. He said at the time:

“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.”

Posted February 28th, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , , , , .

Paul Heyman Delivers Message To Cody Rhodes From Bloodline During 2/26 WWE RAW

Cody Rhodes shocked fans during Elimination Chamber when he called out The Rock to a match “any time, anywhere.” This week’s episode of RAW continued that story, as Paul Heyman showed up on RAW to deliver his own message.

Heyman advised that Cody Rhodes needs to take The Rock’s name out of his mouth.

Cody Rhodes Gets Message From Paul Heyman

After Cody Rhodes beat Grayson Waller in the main event of RAW this week, he had company. Paul Heyman made his way to the ring with security guards around him, who he claimed were off-duty police officers.

Heyman said that he knows how embarrassing it must have been for Cody to get “Will Smith’ed” by The Rock like he did during the WrestleMania kickoff conference in the T-Mobile Arena, but he said Cody “needs to take The Rock’s name out of your freaking mouth.“

After a back-and-forth, Cody delivered a message to The Rock through Heyman. He told The Rock to come get him, and that caused Heyman to get into the ring, but Cody wouldn’t let him.

Heyman’s security guards got in the ring instead, and they surrounded him. Then Cody made it clear that he will drop everyone in the ring if anyone takes a step closer to him. Paul said that doesn’t count if he’s the one person stepping toward him, and Rhodes said that was wrong before he took out all the security guards.

Cody made it clear that he is hunting The Bloodline, and it’s not the other way around.

After Paul Heyman got out of the ring, he pulled out two cell phones. He told one phone to call The Rock, as the other he ordered to phone up Roman Reigns. 

RAW ended this week after Cody Rhodes laid out another dish of punishment to Heyman’s security guards. The Rock will be on SmackDown this week, so we will have to see if he answers Rhodes’ challenge for a match. 

The Road to WrestleMania

WrestleMania 40 will be a huge two-night event, so we will have many more matches confirmed for the show as we make our way to the extravaganza. Keep checking back with SEScoops for more information, and you can check out the updated card, including these two reported matches, below.

WrestleMania 40 Card:

  • Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes: Singles match for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship
  • Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley: Singles match for the WWE Women’s Championship
  • Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch: Singles match for the Women’s World Championship
  • Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre: Singles match for the World Heavyweight Championship
  • Jimmy Uso vs Jey Uso (reported)
  • LA Knight vs AJ Styles (reported)
  • Logan Paul vs Randy Orton for the United States Title (reported)

Posted February 26th, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , , , .

WWE Discussing The Rock/Roman Reigns Vs. Cody Rhodes/Seth Rollins for WrestleMania 40

The WWE Universe may be mere weeks away from seeing The Rock team with Roman Reigns to face Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes. 

Despite their past differences, Rhodes and Rollins have been united in their efforts against The Bloodline. When The Rock slapped Cody at the WrestleMania 40 kick-off event, Rollins immediately provided back-up for his Monday Night Raw compatriot. 

The Bloodline Vs. Rollins/Rhodes

At WWE Elimination Chamber 2024, Cody Rhodes challenged The Rock to go one-on-one. Rollins advised Rhodes that it is never one-on-one when it comes to The Bloodline and vowed to have Cody’s back if the match happens. 

This segment left many speculating that a tag-team match between The Bloodline and Rollins/Rhodes is in the works. On the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer said that he’s heard that the match could headline night one of WrestleMania 40. While some had speculated on the match being held off (potentially for one of WWE’s Saudi Arabia events) it now seems the fans won’t have to wait so long.

What This Means for WrestleMania

If this match goes ahead at WrestleMania 40, it’ll mean that Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and Cody Rhodes will be performing double-duty at the event. Rhodes and Reigns will face off for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship in what will almost certainly be the main event of WrestleMania 40: Sunday.

Rollins will defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Drew McIntyre, who earned the title match by winning the Men’s Elimination Chamber match. If the tag-match goes ahead, it’ll virtually guarantee that the World Heavyweight Championship match will not headline WrestleMania 40: Saturday.

Posted February 26th, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , , , , .

The Rock Confirms His Next WWE TV Appearances On The Road To WrestleMania 40

The Rock will be at several upcoming WWE television appearances on the road to WrestleMania 40. He’s now aligned with Roman Reigns and The Bloodline and is an integral part of Cody Rhodes’ journey to Finish The Story on April 7.

Just six weeks out from WWE’s biggest event of the year, we now have a better idea of which shows The Rock will be attending in the weeks ahead. 

We knew The Rock will return this week on Friday Night SmackDown from Glendale, Arizona. He’s now confirmed on Instagram that he’ll be at the March 8th SmackDown from Dallas, TX and the following week’s show (3/15) from Memphis, TN.

The Rock announced the following upcoming WWE TV appearances on Instagram:

  • Friday, March 1:  Glendale, AZ at the Desert Diamond Arena 
  • Friday, March 8: Dallas, TX at the American Airlines Center
  • Friday, March 15: Memphis, TN at the FedExForum

He included this caption, which shows show charged up he is about his current WWE run:

“You can feel the uptick, excitement, energy & disruption happening now in pro wrestling. It’s super fucking cool to see. Glendale, Arizona  SOLD OUT Your city will never be the same  Up next: DALLAS • March 8th MEMPHIS • March 15th”

WrestleMania 40 Plans Changed

Changes occurred on the WrestleMania 40 card due to various reasons, such as injuries or other factors. Of course, fan reaction played a huge part in it this year.

The Rock initially pushed for a match with Roman Reigns at the event, but faced backlash from fans, leading to a shift in plans. Then, The Rock conceded that Cody Rhodes should get that spot instead, so he can finish his story.

Fans will see Cody Rhodes challenge Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Title at WrestleMania 40. WWE seems to be setting up a tag team match featuring Rhodes and World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins against Reigns and The Rock at the event.

You can click the link below for our extensive exclusive about what went down behind those WrestleMania plans changing for The Rock this year.

SEScoops will have many more updates on the road to WrestleMania. Please keep checking back for more information as it is made available. 

Posted February 26th, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , .

‘This Kid Ain’t Gonna Make It’: The Undertaker Recalls Reaction To The Rock’s WWE Debut

The Undertaker had the same reaction to The Rock’s wrestling debut as everyone else.

The Rock was originally built in WWE as Rocky Maivia. He was pushed by the company from the start due to his lineage and his first match came at Survivor Series 1996 from Madison Square Garden.

The Dead Man recalled his reaction to The Great One’s debut during the latest episode of his Six Feet Under podcast. Taker thought that the Hollywood star was doomed from the start and he was going to get a couple of years in WWE only because of his family’s legacy:

“I’ll never forget, I remember him coming out in the Garden. He had the funny colored thing on and whole deal. I was like “This kid ain’t gonna make it. He ain’t got a chance. He’s dead in the water.’ I thought him being a legacy would give him a couple years that he probably wasn’t going to deserve.”

While the fans rejected Rock’s original gimmick in WWE, he still managed to turn things around. The generational star slowly won over the fans after turning heel and he later became one of the faces of The Attitude Era.

‘He Is The American Dream’: The Undertaker

Speaking about his success, Undertaker put over the People’s Champion for always staying motivated even during bad times. He mentioned how the Rock managed to think outside the box and find a unique persona for himself, something that is lacking in the current generation of wrestlers:

“He is the American dream. He wanted to play football, that fell through. There are a lot of times when something like that happens, people cave. Then they never rebound. Even when I thought he sucked, he was always motivated. He wasn’t like having a pity party.

He was picking people’s brain. He was around the guys that knew what the hell was going on and picking their brain. Trying to figure out what it was that he was going to bring to the table. I wish more people had that. I’m just talking about the wrestling side of it for now.

Because a lot of times guys are very…right now I feel like there’s a lot of guys that are very cookie cutter. They’re looking at the formula that, what they think is going to lead them to success. And they’re bringing nothing new to the table. They’re staying within the box. That was what was so great about Bray Wyatt. He thought outside of the box. Guys like Rock with his promos. It was just always ‘never be content’ and ‘always try and be better.'”

You can check out the latest episode of Undertaker’s podcast below:

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

Posted February 24th, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , , .

Cody Rhodes Challenges The Rock At WWE Elimination Chamber 2024: “Any Time, Any Place”

WWE brought the Elimination Chamber to Perth, Australia on February 24th, and the event was graced with a very special Grayson Waller Effect. He also had very special guests for this segment, as Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins joined him to progress a prominent WrestleMania angle.

Road To WrestleMania Backstory

The Rock re-inserted himself into WWE’s picture on the road to WrestleMania, and that brought a big change to everything that they previously had planned. There was a time when it appeared that Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes would collide for the World Heavyweight Championship instead, but then The American Nightmare decided to finish his story.

Now, Cody and Seth are on the same side, and they are in a very interesting situation. The two were in Perth, Australia for the Elimination Chamber event, but neither of them wrestled. Rollins is currently nursing a knee issue, and Rhodes was simply not booked to compete on the show.

The Grayson Waller Effect

Austin Theory had the mic first, and he dissed Australia’s love of Vegemite, and then he said he prefers Outback Steakhouse. Both of those jabs received a heel reaction. Then he introduced Grayson Waller, who came out to a mixed reaction. Waller also did a shoey at ringside.

After doing a chant with the Australian crowd, Waller introduced Seth Rollins, who came out to a big pop. Fans also sang his song in massive numbers, and that is always great to hear in a big stadium. Cody Rhodes received an even bigger pop and his “WOAH” was massive as well. He also got legit fireworks over the stadium during his Kingdom entrance after the second pose in the ring.

Seth Rollins said that he is days away from being medically cleared to compete. He can’t wait to face whoever win the Elimination Chamber match later on.

Then, they were questioned about The Rock coming back. A “Rocky Sucks” chant broke out in the crowd, Cody asked if there are any “Cody crybabies” here tonight? He asked it twice to really rile up the crowd and get them to accept the moniker.

Cody addressed why he stepped out of the Mania main event, just to step back in. Waller called The Rock “The People’s Champion,” but then Cody proposed that to be the People’s Champion, “you have to be around the people.”

This was followed by Cody Rhodes making a bit of an announcement himself. Then he told The Rock that he is “wide open” before the WrestleMania main event match. He said he wants to wrestle The Rock one on one, “any time, any place.”

Seth said that he admires Cody’s hatred toward the Bloodline, so he stepped in. He said that if The Rock takes him up on the challenge, he won’t be fighting the battle alone.

Then Austin Theory got in the middle of things, and he did an impression of The Rock. This was not received well by Cody and Seth, who proceeded to take him out.

WrestleMania 40 Drama

WrestleMania 40 takes place from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on April 6 and 7. The show of shows promises to be a massive two-night spectacle, with massive main event matches on each night. Since Roman vs Cody will main event night two, so Rhodes can finish his story, night one also needs a main event match.

It certainly appears that The Rock and Roman Reigns will team up to take on Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins at the show of shows. While this is a big match, it is not the contest that The Rock wanted.

The Rock wanted to face Roman Reigns, and his eyes were set on that match alone. As we previously reported, he called his shot for WrestleMania 40 during the Day 1 episode of WWE RAW. WWE planned an injury angle to take Cody out of the situation, but that was abandoned after the public outcry that Cody received on his behalf.

As I previously reported, The Rock conceded that Cody Rhodes should be in the match. Then things were changed, and we have the current WrestleMania setup. 

Posted February 24th, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , , .

The Rock Is Returning To WWE TV Next Week

WWE has announced ‘greatness returns’ next Friday when Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson returns to SmackDown next Friday, March 1.

The People’s Champion will have Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman, Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso at his side when Friday Night Smackdown heads to Glendale, Arizona at the Desert Diamond Arena.

The Rock’s most recent WWE TV appearance took place last Friday on SmackDown. After cutting a scathing heel promo on the live crowed, he officially joined The Bloodline and made the group stronger than ever.

By next Friday, WrestleMania season will be in full swing and we’ll be just 5 weeks out from WWE’s biggest event of the year.

The Rock is not currently scheduled to compete at WrestleMania 40, but that could all change very quickly. The 51-year-old WWE icon turned Hollywood heavyweight has not competed in a full match since 2013.

He’s not scheduled to be at Elimination Chamber this weekend, but Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins will be. They’re scheduled for a special appearance on the Grayson Waller Show during the Chamber PLE. The Rock has warned them to keep his name out of their mouths, but good luck with that. 

In addition to a rare appearance by The Rock, next week’s SmackDown will feature fallout from Elimination Chamber 2024 and continued hype for WrestleMania 40.

Posted February 23rd, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: .

WWE Planned Injury Angle To Take Cody Rhodes Out Of WrestleMania 40 Main Event

WWE has seen quite a ride on the road to WrestleMania 40 so far. This included The Rock re-entering the fold, and plans changing multiple times. CM Punk’s injury also threw a wrench in WWE’s plans, so there were several things that they needed to address. Their plan to take Cody Rhodes out of the picture was also nixed in the process. 

WWE Planned Injury Angle For Cody

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that Cody Rhodes was informed in the fall that he would face Reigns. However, he was not informed about Rock’s involvement in the match until January 3rd. Therefore, any interviews he gave about concluding the story before the Rumble assumed he was part of the match, despite rumors about The Rock.

The report also went on to say that WWE planned an injury angle for Cody to write him out of the WrestleMania 40 main event match once The Rock showed up. Of course, they pivoted from those plans in a big way.

[Cody] was told the day of the Rumble that Rock was facing Reigns even though he was winning the Rumble. He was also told that they would be going to Reigns against him later so all the post-match stuff building that match wasn’t there to swerve people as much a build a later match. But the fact it was not going to be Reigns vs. Rhodes was keep secret from almost everyone (obviously a few knew) because Rock wanted the angle the next Friday a surprise. Even fewer knew the injury angle planned for Rhodes because even people who knew this complete story were not aware of the original idea of how to get Rhodes out of the match and Rock in.

WWE Changed More WrestleMania 40 Plans

The report also noted that Punk’s injury changed plans, but there was still no use for a men’s Elimination Chamber match because Rhodes was going to choose Rollins as his opponent. The Rock was also not wrestling in Australia, at an event that takes place at 5:00 AM on the East Coast. 

The angle with Rhodes endorsing Rock, which was reportedly suggested by Triple H, was well-received by the crowd and WWE thought it went well at first. Then social media backlash changed things. Johnson reportedly already considered turning heel if fans booed him, which led the company to push in that direction.

I reported the entire time that The Rock was the only one who could change those plans. In the end, Dwayne Johnson conceded that it should be Cody Rhodes in the main event of WrestleMania 40 against Roman Reigns. 

If the Rhodes injury angle was followed through with, they would have likely faced an even greater negative social media reaction. Now, fans have a chance to see Cody finish his story.

Posted February 23rd, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , , , , , , .

Seth Rollins Mocks The Rock For Recent Peculiar Comments Ahead Of Elimination Chamber 2024

The war of words has been ongoing between Seth Rollins and The Rock after their altercation at the WWE WrestleMania 40 Press Conference. It all started when Cody Rhodes chose to challenge Roman Reigns for his title at the ‘Grandest Stage Of Them All’ against the Hollywood star’s wishes. This was After The Rock slapped Rhodes and aligned himself with the Bloodline, while Rollins decided to side with the “The American Nightmare.’ 

Rhodes and Rollins are set to be in a talk show segment with Grayson Waller at WWE Elimination Chamber in Perth, Australia, on February 24. Rhodes has yet to accept Rollins’s help to go against the Bloodline, but that may change at the premium live event. Regardless, that hasn’t stopped The Rock from taking jabs at the ‘babyfaces.’

In a video on Twitter promoting WWE Elimination Chamber on February 24, The Rock praised Waller and acknowledged that he won’t be at the event. He also took another shot at Rollins and Rhodes, which some fans have felt were dated. 

“…Here’s the bullsh*t that happening now down in Australia. Cody Rhodes and his little girlfriend, Seth Rollins, are going to go on the Waller Effect,” said The Rock.

He then warned both of them not to mention him or that he would come to Australia to slap them. The Hollywood star also kept referring to Rollins as Rhodes’s “Little Girlfriend.” 

The Rock’s choice of words has left some wrestling fans feeling that he is out of touch, and Rollins has clapped back at him and Reigns. 

Seth Rollins Delivers Creative Response To The Rock & Calls Out Roman Reigns 

In response to The Rock, Rollins reposted an article about his comments on Twitter and replied with a popular GIF to symbolize that he’s old. Rollins also decided to call out Roman Reigns at the WWE Elimination Chamber Press Event on February 22. 

One of Rollins’s gripes with Reigns is his lack of appearances for WWE events. The WWE Champion is not advertised for WWE Elimination Chamber and doesn’t seem like he will appear on the show. A fan chanted Reign’s name during the Rollins segment at the press event, to which the WWE World Heavyweight Champion chose to highlight Reign’s absence. 

“…He(Reigns) isn’t coming, sorry,” said Rollins. He laughed briefly and continued, “Come on, that’s kind of his M.O. He don’t show up, you know what I mean.”

It doesn’t seem like the back-and-forth between these two factions will stop anytime soon. After WWE Elimination Chamber, it could be clear what the creative direction will be for them as the “Road To WrestleMania” continues. 

Posted February 23rd, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , , , , .

Triple H Confirms The Rock’s Status For Elimination Chamber 2024

The Rock lightly teased that he’d fly down to Australia to lay the smackdown on Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes and Triple H wanted to make Dwayne Johnson’s status perfectly clear for the fans down under.

Speaking on the Xav & Michelle Show, Triple H let the people know that “The People’s Champ” would in fact not be in attendance for Elimination Chamber.

“You are not (going to see The Rock at Elimination Chamber). I’m not gonna spin that because I don’t want people expecting that and not see that. This show will be spectacular and nobody will miss The Rock. As this all came to be, his schedule is quite tight as you can imagine. So we have him for a lot of events, unfortunately, this was not one of them.” 

The Rock may not be in Perth but the star power is powerful for Elimination Chamber. In addition to Triple H, it appears that Australia will get a special appearance from The Undertaker at some point during the PLE. Plus, major names like Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins are lined up for a Grayson Waller Effect segment. Additionally, Becky Lynch, Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair, LA Knight and Randy Orton are all on hand to compete on the card.

Rhea Ripley will more than likely get a “Rock” like reaction as the Women’s World Champion is returning to her home country to defend gold against Nia Jax.

The absense of The Rock will be somewhat bittersweet considering his recent return to his 1998 aura. This past Friday on WWE SmackDown The Rock took some specific verbal jabs at Salt Lake City, so one could only imagine that he would have some gems in store for the people in Perth.

H/t to WrestlePurists for the transcription.

Posted February 22nd, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , , , .

Val Venis Lashes Out: Alleges The Rock and John Cena Sold Their Souls

There are many controversial figures in pro wrestling, but few utilize their social media platform like Val Venis to spread his own message, albeit a very radical one. He is far from finished spouting his own version of the truth on Twitter/X, even though his account is certainly shadow-banned at this point. 

Val Venis’ Social Media History

Val Venis has not been quiet on his Twitter/X account when it comes to his beliefs. He made a bold statement that he isn’t returning to pro wrestling because of the “LGBTQ+++XYZ Nutjobs.” That is just scratching the surface, as his account is constantly pouring out political posts.

In the past, Venis has called out The Rock for selling his soul. Now, he’s adding John Cena and Cody Rhodes as his target.

Venis Takes Aim At Cody Rhodes, John Cena and The Rock

In recent memory, he has taken some serious shots at Cody Rhodes and his alliance with the LGBTQ+ community. The Big Valbowski previously said that, “HEY @CodyRhodes! Maybe think before you “affirm” would be a better idea. Promote Jesus. Not mental disorders.”

There were many posts directed at Cody Rhodes from Val Venis. One even lumped John Cena and The Rock with him, as the former IC Champion claimed that they sold their souls to the devil.

FACT: Both @JohnCena and @TheRock sold their souls to the same cartel of communist comrades that stole the brains out of the heads of @CodyRhodes fans.

For the record, Val also posted, “Ha! I am a retired free agent. I can say what I want, when I want and how I want. It would be prudent for leftist mental midgets to hit the unfollow button if they wish not to be triggered by truth.” So, it seems that he’s not going to sweat any negative backlash he receives.

Val Venis Claims He’s Being Erased

Val Venis recently made headlines when he called out WWE 2k24 for erasing him from history. He’s not the only one who got the axe, because Brock Lesnar and Vince McMahon were also taken out of the game.

We will have to see if Venis re-appears in WWE any time soon, but it’s not likely at this point. He also doesn’t need pro wrestling to pay the bills. He made it very clear that he has a stable living in the cannabis industry. 

Posted February 21st, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , , , , .

Ric Flair Biopic Coming From The Rock’s Seven Bucks Productions

Ric Flair has two WWE Hall of Fame rings for a reason. His landmark career broke boundaries and records for years. Now, fans should prepare themselves for a cinematic retelling of his life story. 

Upcoming Ric Flair Movie

The Wrap reports that the project will be produced by The Rock, Dany Garcia, and Hiram Garcia, partnering with Misher Films’ Kevin Misher. Misher and Seven Bucks Productions had previously worked together on “Fighting With My Family,” a movie based on the life of Saraya, also known as WWE’s Paige.

The yet-to-be-named Ric Flair biopic will see The Nature Boy’s story told in a new way on the silver screen. While hyping this upcoming project, Dwayne Johnson said, “As a kid who grew up in professional wrestling, I idolized, ‘The Nature Boy’ Ric Flair. He was a hero to me.” He went on to really expand on The Nature Boy’s career

“He was a hero to me. And once I broke into the wrestling business and began to spill my own sweat and blood – my reverence for Ric turned to respect. Because I realized just how rare and impossible it is to disrupt the wrestling business, culture and truly change the game – and that’s exactly what Ric Flair did. This project is personal, and we can’t wait to tell his unbelievable story. As always, thank you for the house, Ric.”

What’s Next For Ric Flair

Ric Flair is known for his decades-long career, as he holds the record for being a 16-time World Champion. Now that he’s with AEW, Flair remains a captivating figure, no matter what he is doing on Tony Khan’s show.

Flair’s autobiography “To Be The Man…” is still a great read. He also co-wrote “Second Nature,” a second autobiography with his daughter, Charlotte Flair. Only time will tell what stories this new film picks to focus on, because Flair’s career could fill a docuseries by itself. 

Posted February 21st, 2024 in AEW, WWE. Tagged: , .

“I’ve got The Rock” – Michael Chandler Makes Unique WrestleMania 40 Prediction

UFC fighter Michael Chandler recently made a bold prediction about The Rock’s involvement at WrestleMania 40.

Cody Rhodes recently won the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble for the second time and he’s determined to ‘finish his story’ this time around. ‘The American Nightmare’ Cody Rhodes had made the way for The Rock to challenge Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 but that saw a massive twist. 

The main event was changed back to the original plan of Roman Reigns vs Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Universal title match at ‘The Show of Shows.’ However, The Rock is still involved in the storyline as he has now joined forces with Roman Reigns and become a part of The Bloodline.

A decades-long pro wrestling fan, Chandler recently showed up on this week’s edition of Monday Night Raw in a move that nobody saw it coming. He grabbed a mic and went on to call out former UFC Double Champion Conor McGregor as the Anaheim crowd cheered. 

Michael Chandler feels The Rock will claim the World title

Now, while speaking with Sports Illustrated, he shared his prediction for WrestleMania 40 which is unique. Many fans believe that Cody Rhodes will finally finish his story at ‘The Show of Shows’ while another set of fans feel Roman Reigns will continue his dominance as the champ. 

But Chandler offered an out-of-the-box prediction. Chandler believes that ‘The Great One’ will work his way into the world title match and take the title. 

“I got The Rock taking the title. He’s coming back to shock everybody. All the doubters, all the naysayers, all the crybabies, The Rock is about to put an ass-whooping on all of them.”

WrestleMania 40 is still more than a month away. But WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth, the final stop before ‘The Show of Shows’ is taking place this weekend. 

Fans can catch the Elimination Chamber event on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Optus Stadium in Perth, Australia. The show will start at 5:00 AM EST. Keep checking SEScoops for the coverage of the show.

Posted February 21st, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , .

Daily Drop (2/21): WWE Descends On Perth, Shotzi Injury Fallout, Cash Wheeler Gun Charge

Welcome to a new feature we’re running here at SEScoops, the Daily Drop – a rundown of the top news and rumors in wrestling. It’s Wednesday, February 21, 2024 and we’ve got AEW Dynamite tonight from Tulsa, Oklahoma (Preview below).

The big item on our radar is Saturday’s WWE Elimination Chamber 2024 premium live event from Perth, Australia. 

Here are the special Elimination Chamber 2024 start times:

WWE Elimination Chamber 2024 Start Times
  • WrestleMania Countdown: 45 days away

WWE

– Carlito turns 25 years old today. He was born February 21, 1979.

– We’ve added exclusive interviews with Bianca Belair and Omos to the SEScoops YouTube channel. These interviews were conducted at the WWE 2K24 media event that was held over Royal Rumble weekend.

– I exclusively reported WWE’s current booking plan for Omos. Now, fans will have to wait to see him on television again.

– Here’s footage of WWE talent arriving in Perth, Australia for Saturday’s Elimination Chamber 2024 premium live event:

– Shotzi Blackheart headed for surgery for a torn ACL. She will be back for a while, and WWE aired the episode of NXT where she was injured last night. She announced on Instagram that she’ll be out for around 9 months.

– The Rock is back wearing those ‘$500 shirts’ that he made famous during the Attitude Era. We wanted to know how much they’d cost in 2024. calculated the value of The Rock’s $500 shirts in today’s dollars, adjusted for inflation. 

– Vanilla Ice (yes, THAT Vanilla Ice) bought Eddie Guerrero’s low rider car. He also got it for a steal.

– Natalya posted this incredible throwback photo on social media looking back at the first time she met Becky Lynch 20 years ago.

AEW News

– Here’s what’s on tap for tonight ‘s AEW Dynamite from Tulsa, Oklahoma:

  • Samoa Joe & Swerve Strickland & Brian Cage vs. Hook & “Hangman” Adam Page & RVD – Trios match
  • Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli) vs. FTR
  • “Timeless” Toni Storm in singles match
  • Deonna Purrazzo in singles action

– Cash Wheeler’s gun charge is coming back to haunt him. Now, he will go to court and the charge against him is classified as a third-degree felony in Florida.

– Jim Ross said that his broken hip is responding well to treatment. We’ll have to see how long it takes him to make a return to AEW television. 

Upcoming Events

  • WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth is scheduled for next Saturday, February 24.
  • AEW Dynamite: Big Business will be hosted at Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.
  • AEW Revolution is planned for the following weekend, on Sunday, March 3.
  • WWE NXT Stand & Deliver is slated for the afternoon of April 6th, just before the start of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
  • WrestleMania XL is set to take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a two-part event.
  • Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
  • WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
  • WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
  • WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

Posted February 21st, 2024 in AEW, WWE. Tagged: , , , .

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Plans On Delivering “Amazing Spring Football” With Inaugural UFL Season

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is excited about the excellent action and the opportunities that the new United Football League will provide. 

In December 2023, 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. Last month, it was confirmed where the new teams will be based. 

Amazing Spring Football

The UFL’s inaugural season will kick off on March 30, less than two months after an explosive NFL Super Bowl LVIII that saw WWE and AEW stars in attendance. Taking to Instagram this week, Johnson shared his excitement for the UFL which he hopes will deliver exciting football as well as opportunities for the players. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C3l4umHrByA

What’s Next for The Rock?

The Rock is expected to be on several WWE shows on the road to WrestleMania 40. With that said, neither Rock nor Roman Reigns are being advertised for this weekend’s WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth event. Outside of the ring, The Rock recently launched the ‘Big Dwayne Energy’ brand of his ZOA Energy drinks.

One thing fans shouldn’t expect from The Rock is a match with Triple H. Following the chaotic scenes at the WrestleMania 40 kick-off event, The Rock had a tense staredown with the WWE CCO. While some have suggested that this would lead to a match, Triple H remains retired after suffering a cardiac event in 2021 and will not be wrestling The Rock. 

Posted February 21st, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , .

How Much Would The Rock’s $500 Shirt From The Attitude Era Cost In 2024?

The Rock made a point of donning $500 shirts during the Attitude Era, but how much does such a garment cost in today’s prices? 

On last week’s episode of WWE SmackDown, the Brahma Bull brought back his iconic heel look and berated the fans in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Rock mocked the fans for wanting Cody Rhodes to ‘finish the story’ at WrestleMania and vowed that he would do all he could to ensure that this does not happen. The Rock was also officially recognized as a member of the Bloodline. 

The Rock’s $500 Shirts

During the Attitude Era, The Rock made sure to let fans know that he was wearing $500 Versace shirts as a sign of his affluence and arrogance. Given inflation though, those shirts cost much more in 2024. When adjusted for inflation, a shirt that cost $500 in 1998, a year that saw The Rock’s first WWF title win, would cost $946 in 2024.

The Rock’s heavyweight paychecks more than keep up with inflation

The dollar had an average inflation rate of 2.48% per year between 1998 and today, producing a cumulative price increase of 89.21%. While Versace’s shirts should cost close to $950, items listed on Versace’s website are going for $1,500. 

Dressed to Impress

The Rock’s Versace look would become a staple of the Brahma Bull’s presentation when he exploded in popularity during the Attitude Era. While the look was initially introduced when he was a heel, The Rock continued to dress well as a face, a sign of how much the Versace clothes had become associated with the Great One. 

Some of The Rock’s looks from his time on top of the Attitude Era. 

What’s Next for The Rock? 

The Rock is expected to be on several WWE shows on the road to WrestleMania 40. With that said, neither Rock nor Roman Reigns are being advertised for this weekend’s Elimination Chamber: Perth event. Outside of the ring, The Rock recently launched the ‘Big Dwayne Energy’ brand of his ZOA Energy drinks. 

One thing fans shouldn’t expect from The Rock is a match with Triple H. Following the chaotic scenes at the WrestleMania 40 kick-off event, The Rock had a tense staredown with the WWE CCO. While some have suggested that this would lead to a match, Triple H remains retired after suffering a cardiac event in 2021 and will not be wrestling The Rock. 

Posted February 20th, 2024 in WWE. Tagged: , .

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