Tag: The Rock

The Rock Makes a Chilling Offer to Cody Rhodes on WWE SmackDown

The Rock may have arrived on SmackDown to announce WrestleMania 42 for New Orleans, but by the time he left, he had dropped a far more personal bombshell on Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. In a dramatic in-ring segment, The Rock first extended his hand in friendship—before revealing a much darker intention.

“I Want Your Soul”

Earlier in the night, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis hinted that The Final Boss wanted a word with Rhodes, setting the stage for a tense confrontation. When The Rock finally addressed the WWE Champion, he reflected on their complicated history—how their paths clashed heading into WrestleMania 40, how their families had since grown close, and how much respect he had for Rhodes. At first, his words seemed almost benevolent.

“I want you to be my champion,” The Rock told Rhodes, promising to help him achieve all his dreams and even calling him his “brother.”

But the vibe quickly shifted. The Rock reminded Rhodes that last year, he had planned to main-event WrestleMania 40 against Roman Reigns—until Rhodes got in the way and even slapped him. That, Rock admitted, was why Cody was special. And now, he had an offer: Rhodes had until Elimination Chamber on March 1 to make a decision.

Rhodes, sensing where this was heading, asked if The Rock wanted a shot at his WWE Championship. But The Great One made his true intentions clear.

“No… I don’t want your title. I want your soul.”

The chilling declaration left the crowd stunned, as the WWE Universe tried to piece together exactly what The Rock meant by his ominous words.

The Rock’s Power Play

Beyond his challenge to Rhodes, The Rock also reminded everyone of his growing influence behind the scenes. He brought up his position on TKO Group Holdings’ board of directors—the parent company of WWE—and even joked that Ari Emanuel himself said The Rock practically owned the company.

That statement alone could have major implications. With The Rock’s power in both the corporate and creative side of WWE, is this a sign that he’s setting the stage for something bigger than just a match?

What’s Next for Cody Rhodes?

Now, the ball is in Cody Rhodes’ court. With Elimination Chamber just around the corner, what exactly does The Rock’s challenge mean? Is this leading to a match, an alliance, or something even more sinister?

One thing’s for sure—when The Final Boss makes a move, the entire landscape of WWE changes.

Stay locked on WrestlingNewsBlog.com for all the latest updates as this massive story unfolds!

The Rock Makes Major WrestleMania 42 Announcement

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson made an appearance on “WWE SmackDown” on Friday and made a huge announcement for New Orleans, live from the city’s Smoothie King Center. The Rock appeared in the middle of the show with the announcement that WrestleMania 42 will take place in The Big Easy at the Caesars Superdome on April 11 and April 12 2026

The Rock’s Grand Reveal

Midway through the show, The Rock’s music hit, but with a unique New Orleans twist. As he stepped into the ring, the energy in the arena was off the charts. Before he could even finish his signature line, the crowd erupted, completing the iconic phrase for him:

“Finally… The Rock has come back to New Orleans!”

But The Rock had his own twist. He took the mic and declared, “Finally, WrestleMania is coming back to New Orleans!”—sending the WWE Universe into a frenzy. Fans even broke out in “holy s**”* chants as the People’s Champ basked in the moment. Always one to lean into the atmosphere, he led the crowd in a rendition of “When The Saints Go Marching In,” while balancing his persona between heel and babyface.

New Orleans Gets Its Third WrestleMania

With this announcement, New Orleans joins the select list of cities to host WrestleMania multiple times. The Caesars Superdome—now set to hold its third Mania—previously hosted:

  • WrestleMania 30 (2014): Where Daniel Bryan completed his legendary underdog story by winning the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
  • WrestleMania 34 (2018): Headlined by Brock Lesnar retaining the Universal Championship against Roman Reigns in a match that left fans less than thrilled.

Now, the Superdome is gearing up for another historic WrestleMania in 2026, and with The Rock playing a major role in WWE’s future, speculation is already running wild on what this could mean for the event’s main event scene.

WWE SmackDown Preview 2/21/2025 – The Rock

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown will air live on the USA Network in the United States and Netflix Internationally, from the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana,

  • The Rock coming to SmackDown tonight. – The Rock took to social media hyping up his return to SmackDown, noting that The Final Boss is coming to handle business
  • WWE Tag Team Championship: DIY (c) vs. Pretty Deadly
  • WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes, Braun Strowman and Damian Priest vs. Jacob Fatu, Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga
  • Judgment Day’s Liv Morgan vs. WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Naomi
  • Drew McIntryre vs. Jimmy Uso

The Rock’s Next Potential WWE Appearance Revealed

The WWE Universe was stunned at WWE Bad Blood 2024 when Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson made a surprise return during the main event. Jimmy Uso had just assisted Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns in defeating Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu, and in a moment that sent the crowd into a frenzy, The Rock emerged to count the decisive 1-2-3.

But it didn’t end there. After the match, The Rock shared an intense staredown with Cody, Roman, and Jimmy Uso, leaving fans with more questions than answers. The tension teased the possibility of something bigger on the horizon—and the speculation hasn’t stopped since.

WrestleMania 41: The Rock Addresses the Rumors

For months, the wrestling world has been buzzing about a potential showdown between The Rock and Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41. With The Rock’s involvement at Bad Blood, those rumors have only gained momentum.

However, The Rock himself recently attempted to cool the fire. When addressing WrestleMania chatter, he candidly dismissed the growing buzz, saying, “Don’t believe any of that bull***.”* Of course, wrestling fans know better than to take such comments at face value—especially with WWE’s knack for long-term storytelling.

The Rock Teased for WWE RAW’s Netflix Debut

Adding fuel to the speculation, WWE seems to be dropping subtle hints about The Rock’s next appearance. On this week’s episode of Monday Night RAW, General Manager Adam Pearce hyped the highly anticipated Netflix debut of RAW on January 6, 2025, at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.

But eagle-eyed fans noticed something curious during the segment. Behind Pearce, a WWE production truck prominently displayed an image of The Rock—something that certainly didn’t seem accidental.

WrestleVotes, a reliable source for WWE backstage news, reported that these kinds of “easter eggs” are WWE’s way of subtly teasing future storylines or major returns. According to the report:

“If you watched RAW last night… Right over [Pearce’s] shoulder is a semi-truck with a big picture of The Rock. They don’t do that type of thing by accident… There’s a purpose for that. As far as I know, he’s expected to be there [on January 6].”

While WrestleVotes clarified that The Rock’s January 6 appearance doesn’t guarantee he’ll wrestle at WrestleMania 41, it’s clear WWE is keeping him in the mix for its major storylines.

What’s Next for The Final Boss?

The Rock’s connection to WWE remains strong, and it’s clear that his sporadic appearances will continue to be major events. With RAW set to make history as it moves to Netflix, having a Hollywood megastar like The Rock at the inaugural show makes perfect sense.

Whether this all leads to a massive WrestleMania 41 main event involving Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, or even Jimmy Uso remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: The Great One is back, and the road to WrestleMania just got a lot more electrifying.

Fans will want to keep an eye on RAW’s Netflix premiere on January 6 to see what WWE and The Rock have in store. If history has taught us anything, WWE never teases without a payoff.

Stay tuned to WrestlingNewsBlog.com for all the latest updates on The Rock, WWE’s move to Netflix, and the road to WrestleMania 41!

WWE Bad Blood 10/5/2024 (Results) – Goldberg Appears – Raquel Rodriguez, Jimmy Uso & The Rock Returns

The show opens with the usual batch of video packages and arrival montages, plus a host segment from Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, and Naomi where they welcome us to the show etc.

Goldberg and Killer Mike are shown in the front row.

CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre (Hell in a Cell)

Squaring up, McIntyre jawing at a stonefaced Punk and we start trading shots! Ramming CM into the corner, haymakers landing, Punk turns him around, kick blocked, goozle denied and Drew throws him hard into the corner! Throwing him to the floor, McIntyre stalks out after him but CM recovers and whips him hard into the wall of the cage!

Back and forth, getting plunder into it, Punk grinds an adjustable wrench into Drew’s forehead! Back in the ring, Trying to set a table up, CM cuts Drew off as he breaks the legs off a chair and drop toeholds him throat-first into the edge of the table! Continuing to use the table, trying to gouge McIntyre’s eye out with the leg of the table but he fights away to the floor!

Finally Punk is busted open after Drew puts him into the steel on the floor and he punishes the wound by spiking his head into the steel! Promising to end Punk’s career and get his wife to leave him, taking him back inside and jamming a wrench into CM’s open wound! In the corner firing up for the Claymore, Punk recovers enough for the rising knee but Drew counters the bulldog!

Putting CM on the apron, right hands, Punk off the top with a double sledge! Off the top again with the wrench but Drew counters with a belly-to-belly suplex! Counting down but Punk rolls to the floor! CM PUNK BLASTS HIM IN THE FACE WITH A TOOLBOX AND DREW IS POURING BLOOD! Another toolbox shot and Punk goes up top… DIVING TOOLBOX TO THE FACE! GO TO SLEEP CONNECTS BUT DREW ROLLS TO THE FLOOR!

Back inside, Claymore… PUNK WON’T STAY DOWN! Sidestep a second Claymore, CM locks the Sharpshooter in! WRENCH SHOTS FORCE A BREAK AND DRWE USES THE WRENCH TO GRIND PUNK’S FACE! Trading “boo!”/”yay!” punches, Future Shock blocked, Go to Sleep denied and McIntyre lays chops in! Up top…. DREW SUPERPLEXES PUNK TO THE FLOOR THROUGH A DAMN TABLE!

Recovering, back inside… GO TO SLEEP HITS AGAIN AND AGAIN DREW MCINTYRE WON’T STAY DOWN! DREW HITS WHITE NOISE ON THE STEEL STEPS! Bossman Slam… REVERSED INTO THE ANACONDA VISE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RING! CM GRABS THE WRENCH BEFORE DREW CAN USE IT TO REVERSE AND HAMMERS MCINTYRE IN THE FACE WITH IT OVER AND OVER!

Holding it high like the australopithecus that touched the monolith, Drew begs off, CM tells him to pray he dies… AND MCINTYRE UPPERCUTS PUNK’S GENTLEMAN’S AREA! Drew is in the corner and he gets a black bag and dumps friendship bracelet beads all over the ring! Charging in for the Claymore… PUNK SIDESTEPS AND HE SLIPS AND WIPES OUT ON THE STEEL STEPS!

CM Punk loads his knee with a chain and shoves a handful of beads in Drew’s mouth… GO TO SLEEP WITH THE CHAIN! IT IS OVER!

CM Punk wins by pinfall with a chain-loaded Go to Sleep.

Post-match, Punk exits the ring and the cage under his own power but collapses in the ramp and gets some medical assistance. Eventually he leaves under his own power while the medics check on Drew.

We see Jacqueline, Lilian Garcia, and Booker T in the crowd.

Cathy Kelly is in the VIP suite with our hosts for the night.

Bianca Belair says everybody is here, Mickie James, Pete Rosenberg, Diamond Dallas Page, and so on. Jade Cargill is looking forward to Liv vs. Rhea but Naomi is wanting to see her girl Bayley take Nia Jax down.

Bayley vs. Nia Jax (c) (WWE Women’s Championship)

Jax freight trains her early, whip across into a huge lariat for two! Grinding Bayley down with a reverse chinlock, shifting to a bear hug (I can hardly bear it) but the Role Model reverses to a sunset flip! Nia grabs a half crab and wrenches it in hard, body avalanche in the ropes!

Slamming Bayley into the corner, hip attack follows, Frankensteiner counters a powerbomb and a Samoan Drop… SO CLOSE! Fireman’s carry drops the Role Model into the turnbuckles, putting her down in the corner, this time she sidesteps the hip attack! Running knee connects, sunset flip powerbomb into the corner and Jax falls on top of her! Diving elbow… NOPE!

Nia rolls to the floor, Bayley drops an elbow on her spine but she’s dead weight and Bayley has to break the count! Off the steps… JAX BLASTS HER IN THE BREADBASKET! Powerbomb into the steel steps, tossing her into the barricade, Nia takes her back inside and slaps her awake, posing for the crowd! Samoan drop for two!

Back elbow takes Bayley down again, Role Model with a Samoan drop of her own and Jax throws Bayley into referee Jessika Carr on the kickout! Carr stunned, Bayley kicks Nia and she falls on the referee and knocks her out for real this time! Big Stunner from Bayley, Roseplant, cover… NO REFEREE!

Tiffany Stratton is here!

She runs down and wallops Bayley with the briefcase a few times and wakes Carr up! Jessika picks the briefcase up as Nia wakes up and Tiffany has to take it from her and beg off! Bayley wakes up, nearfall, sidestep whiplashes Jax to the mat, Role Model up top and Stratton throws the briefcase at her!

Nia climbs up top with her… AVALANCHE SAMOAN DROP! Into position in the corner…

Nia Jax wins by pinfall with the Banzai Drop, retaining the WWE Women’s Championship.

We get Xavier Woods doing an ad for a Dragon Ball game, which is pretty cool.

We see X-Pac, Tully Blanchard (the only good Blanchard!), and Arn Anderson in the crowd.

Damian Priest vs. Finn Balor

Balor slaps him and Priest drops him with a right! Into the corner, chop, Damian pops him up and stampedes him across the ring into a whirlwind of punches! Whip across, big pop-up flapjack, Finn with Kawada kicks from the apron and choking Priest over the ropes! A kick sends Balor to the floor, back and forth, back inside, huge right hand from Damian!

Tilt-a-whirl Russian legsweep gets Finn two, falling knees, Damian lights him up with rights, kicks, elbow in the corner, short whip, float over, reverse the headlock into Broken Arrow… NOPE! Off the ropes, Sling Blade connects, big lariat in return, cover for two! Boxing the ears, laying kicks in, Finn hits the Pele and both men are down!

Out to the floor, Damian shoves him over the announce desk! Back inside, Carlito and JD McDonagh run in but aren’t enough for Balor to win! Shotgun dropkick, Coup de Grace… NOT ENOUGH! Balor with a chair, Damian boots him with it, sends Judgment Day packing! Off the top a second time, Damian catches him…

Damian Priest wins by pinfall with South of Heaven.

Commentary hypes up Raw on Monday.

Triple H makes his entrance for a big announcement.

He talks about the crowd here making history, with attendance at 16,092 making for WWE’s 60th sold out show this year and again a new record for largest gate for an arena show. The next history-making event is in just four weeks, Crown Jewel.

This year’s Crown Jewel will mark the beginning of a new era in WWE, annual event at Crown Jewel where the reigning WWE Champion will face the reigning WWE World Champion for both the men and the women, and the catch is of course neither title will be on the line, but he promises us there will be a definitive winner, and that winner will be crowned 2024’s Crown Jewel Champion.

He unveils the ugliest, gaudiest title belt you’ve ever seen in your life. It’s got 50 carats of diamonds on it, apparently.

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1842715779533254740

Enter GUNTHER.

He talks about how he’s gonna be winning this piece of crap (my words) after he defends his title against Sami Zayn on Monday and calls Bill Goldberg out in the front row to clarify something. He may have seen a few weeks ago where he told Bret Hart that Goldberg was a childhood hero of his, but that’s not true.

How can the greatest wrestler in the world today be impressed by a one-trick pony like him? But no, he’s just busting balls, but he has serious advice for Gage Goldberg, which is that he hopes Bill is a better father than he is a wrestler. That gets Goldberg to stand up and GUNTHER taunts him, so Bill jumps the barricade!

GUNTHER tells him he’s got three minutes for him and security swarms to keep Goldberg away! SAMI ZAYN BLINDSIDES HIM AND THEY BRAWL UP THE RAMP AS ROAD AGENTS DESPERATELY TRY TO BREAK THEM UP!

Security finally does their job and the segment ends with Goldberg posing in the turnbuckles for the crowd.

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1842717924080914928
https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1842718211134857416

We see “Diamond” Dallas Page, Mickie James, and Scott Steiner in the front row.

Cathy Kelly and our hosts chat with Metro Boomin backstage and he says he told Cody to handle his business. Everybody holds their noses as Chelsea Green rolls up, she tries to flounce off with Piper Niven but Piper wants to stay so she goes off alone and sad.

Liv Morgan (c) vs. Rhea Ripley (WWE Women’s World Championship)

Dominik Mysterio is suspended in a shark cage for this one.

Rhea Ripley laughs at Dom for being scared of heights as the cage is raised.

Big dropkick from Ripley to start, biel, lighting her up with punches and a fallaway slam follows! Taking her to the floor, hammering her into the barricade, throwing her in the ring. Liv lands a dragon screw and targets the knee with a chop block, punches, and stomps!

Bridging suplex for two, whip across, Morgan trips her up and smashes her leg into the apron! Smashing the leg into the ringpost as “Dom, you suck!” chants rain down! Sunset flip powerbomb into the barricade, Liv in control, back inside, Codebreaker… NOPE! Riptide blocked, the Cobra Twist driver… SO CLOSE!

Slaps, jawing at the challenger, a little shimmy, blowing a kiss to Dom and looking for the Three Amigos! Third suplex blocked, float over, powerbomb lift… RAZOR’S EDGE BUT DOM GETS THE CAGE DOOR OPEN! Rhea lands a frog splash.. STILL NO! Prison Lock applied, Liv crawling and she forces the break!

Ripley takes her to the floor and puts boots to her in front of Mysterio… RIPTIDE ON THE FLOOR! Dominik tries to be brave and leave the cage but he slips out and is hung from his foot by the chain that kept the door closed! Rhea walks over and swats at him for fun as crew members consider what to do about him.

Back inside, Rhea asks Dan Engler for a minute for some unfinished business and he gives her the go-ahead! Ripley gets a kendo stick out from under the ring! She wishes herself a happy birthday and goes to town on Mysterio with the kendo stick until Raquel Rodriguez stops her?!

Raquel rolls her back in the ring, Engler calls it…

Rhea Ripley wins by disqualification.

Rodriguez powerbombs Rhea and puts Liv on top of her but the match got called so who cares? She goes and gets the title belt to give to her buddy.

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1842726231185281405

We get the cryptic Detroit skyline vid that’s probably for Motor City Machine Guns again. (Hot take— Time Splitters is and has always been the better Alex Shelley team, I said it.)

“American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes & Roman Reigns vs. the Bloodline (“Samoan Werewolf” Jacob Fatu & Solo Sikoa)

Rhodes and Fatu to start, the Werewolf absorbs Beautiful Disaster and returns a superkick, which leads both Tribals Chief get in the ring for a showdown! Sikoa tags in, Reigns offers his hand and Cody tags him in! Whip across, front kick, Solo with a headbutt and he mocks him! Roman blocks getting shoved into the corner and climbs up for mounted punches!

Whip reversed, elbow wipes Sikoa out! Passing him to the floor, Jacob slides back in the ring to confront Roman! The distraction allows Solo to cut Roman off and work him over, with Fatu getting some cheap shot headbutts in there! Ode to Rikishi connects, the heat segment rolls on and eventually Cody comes in hot with a powerslam!

Turning jabs, the Flip, Flop, & Fly into the Bionic Elbow! Cody Cutter takes him down, Rhodes laying in wait, inverted facelock but Solo runs in and the Werewolf hits a Samoan drop! This leads to another heat segment as Cody finds himself getting worked over. Finally he gets the path cleared but Fatu pulls Roman off the apron!

Sikoa lays him out with a lariat for two, Fatu off the top with the senton atomico… THE KNEES ARE UP! Roman fires himself up on the floor and gets back up on the apron… TAGS MADE! Roman taking Solo out with lariats, whip reversed, leaping lariat! Calling for it, Superman Punch denied, Samoan Spike ducked, crucifix pin… NOPE! Superman Punch connects this time… NOPE!

He howls… AND FATU IS RIGHT BEHIND HIM! Big slicing right, Jacob with a superkick, Bloodline superkick party, moonsault sets him up, Sikoa diving splash… CODY BREAKS IT UP! Right hand from Jacob, dumping Cody out of the ring, whip reversed and the Werewolf goes into the steel steps as Rhodes clears the announce desk!

Fatu blasts him with a superkick, Cody sidesteps… JACOB FATU GOES THROUGH THE BARRICADE! CROSS RHODES ON THE FLOOR! He sets Fatu up on the desk and perches up top… CODY RHODES DIVING SPLASH THROUGH THE DAMN ANNOUNCE DESK! Solo and Roman back on their knees, trading right hands as they get to their feet.

Roman is ready but Guerrillas of Destiny are here for the distraction and Solo hits a spear… NOPE! Sikoa yells at Roman that he lied to him about being the next Tribal Chief, there’s a man in a mask and a hoodie on the floor, Guerrillas grab him but he takes ‘em both out with superkicks! “BIG” JIM USO IS BACK!

Roman lines Solo up…

Cody Rhodes & Roman Reigns win by pinfall with a spear from Reigns on Solo Sikoa.

Jim and Roman have a lovely little reunion after the match.

Reigns turns to Cody Rhodes as the American Nightmare gets himself to his feet in the corner and he and Roman stare each other down but Reigns and Uso leave peacefully.

Guerrillas of Destiny attack Cody from behind and Solo and Jacob join the beatdown. Jim asks Roman for instructions, and Reigns gives the nod… THE OG BLOODLINE MAKES THE SAVE AND CLEARS THE RING!

Reigns ends up holding the Undisputed WWE Championship title belt as Cody makes it back to his feet and he gives it back to Rhodes in a show of respect. Cody raises the belt…

THE ROCK IS HERE!

Rock surveys the scene and puts an eyebrow up before throwing his one up, then two, then three, and his music plays again.

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1842737953191178331
https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1842739715243491634

Source: CageSideSeats

Janel Grant Spokesperson Buries Two High Profile WWE Names For Vince McMahon Association

After he resigned from WWE this January, very little regarding the happenings of former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon had emerged. That changed Wednesday, when an NBC news story gave a glimpse at McMahon’s life since his resignation, particularly in how he’s handling Janel Grant’s lawsuit against him, a lawsuit that accused McMahon of sex trafficking and abuse. The story also shined a light into McMahon’s private life, including the revelation that McMahon has remained in contact with two key WWE figures in the form of John Cena and TKO board of directors member Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

Shortly after the story on McMahon emerged, a spokesperson for Grant reached out to Wrestlenomics’ Brandon Thurston with a statement regarding Johnson and Cena maintaining a relationship with McMahon. Posted on X, the statement called Johnson and Cena “shameful” for maintaining a relationship with McMahon despite the allegations against him, and that “behind-the-scenes support is louder than any public statement could ever be.”

https://twitter.com/BrandonThurston/status/1780697405152719142

The statement, as well as the revelation of Cena and Johnson’s continued association with McMahon, comes shortly after both wrestlers played integral parts in WrestleMania 40, an event seen by many as an attempt by WWE to distance itself from McMahon. Appearing as a regular through WrestleMania season, Johnson competed at Night One of WrestleMania 40, teaming with Roman Reigns to defeat Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins, before interfering during Rhodes and Reigns’ match on Night Two. Cena also interfered during the match and even briefly confronted Johnson moments before Rhodes emerged as the victor.

While Johnson hasn’t publicly acknowledged McMahon since the latter’s resignation, Cena has spoken about McMahon’s ongoing situation in both 2023 and 2024, receiving criticism both times for showing McMahon support. Neither Johnson nor Cena have responded to the statement from Grant’s spokesperson at this time.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

The Rock Promises To Come Back To WWE For Cody Rhodes: ‘Our Story Has Just Begun’

New Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes may have finished his story with Roman Reigns, but Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson confirmed their story is just beginning after he pinned Rhodes in the main event of Night 1. On the “WWE Raw” after WrestleMania 40, a traditionally rowdy show when it comes to the crowd, The Rock interrupted the new champion to not only give him his flowers, but give him a mysterious object, saying Rhodes wouldn’t even have to open his hand to know what it was.

Rhodes was introduced by Paul “Triple H” Levesque to open the show, and a video package recapping his victory was played. Rhodes began to address the crowd before The Rock’s music hit. The men waited in the ring as the crowd chanted various things at “The Great One.” The Rock told Rhodes that his father in heaven had a “big smile” on his face when Rhodes captured the championship, and asked if he could hold the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. The men traded belts for a moment, as Rock was still carrying the belt given to him by Muhammad Ali’s widow at the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony.

The Rock then said he “has to go away for a little while,” but when he comes back, whether Rhodes is champion or not, he’s coming for him. He said Rhodes’ story with Reigns may be over, but “our story has just begun.” Rhodes replied that while The Rock is his actual boss since he’s on the TKO board, Rhodes is the champion — and he’s The Rock’s champion. That’s when The Rock gave Rhodes something small that fit in his hand before “riding off into the sunset.” As of this writing it’s unclear when he plans to return.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

The Rock Is Giving One Fan An All-Expenses Paid Trip To WWE WrestleMania 40

Despite playing a convincing villain on WWE TV in recent months, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is still as charitable as ever. Responding to a picture of a fan’s tattoo on social media platform X, Johnson invited the man and his daughter to this weekend’s WWE WrestleMania 40.

After seeing The Rock live last month, the fan had Johnson sign his arm. Before the marker washed away, the fan had the signature made permanent, with Johnson now rewarding his dedication. In addition to covering tickets to the show, transportation, and a hotel, Johnson even offered to cover the cost of food for the pair during their trip.

WrestleMania 40 will be a two-night affair once again, and the lineup for both shows has been announced. The Rock will team with his cousin, Roman Reigns, against Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins on night one. Should Johnson and Reigns win, Sunday’s main event between Reigns and Rhodes will have the Bloodline Rules stipulation. If Rhodes and Rollins win, then The Bloodline will be banned from ringside.

Including the drama involving The Bloodline, WrestleMania 40 is set to feature 13 matches. Rhea Ripley will defend the Women’s World Championship against Becky Lynch, a Six-Pack Ladder Match is scheduled with the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship on the line, and Logan Paul will attempt to hang onto the WWE United States Championship in a Triple Threat with Kevin Owens and Randy Orton. Brothers Jimmy and Jey Uso will face each other in singles action for the first time, and Sami Zayn will attempt to topple GUNTHER to capture the WWE Intercontinental Championship, along with several other matches.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

The Rock Viciously Assaults Cody Rhodes To End WWE RAW

The Rock viciously assaulted Cody Rhodes as this week’s episode of WWE RAW came to a conclusion.

Following the main event of RAW which saw Jey Uso face off against Shinsuke Nakamura, The Rock attacked. The Jey Uso/Nakamura match saw Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa try to get involved. However, Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins came down to stop the attack. As Rhodes fought Jimmy to the back, The Rock was there to take over and attacked Cody.

The Rock slammed Cody’s head into a table while trash talking him. He also hit him numerous times with a trash can. The two battled outside in the rain, with The Rock slamming Rhodes’ head into the side of his own private bus.

The Rock continued to call Cody a “boy” and stated that he was the “Final Boss” and that Rhodes shouldn’t have “stuck his nose in his business.” The show went off the air with The Rock smearing the blood of Rhodes on a belt that said “Mama Rhodes.”

Source: eWn

Dave Meltzer Addresses WWE Talents’ Frustrations With Dwayne The Rock Johnson

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson had caused some frustration among network executives and WWE wrestlers because of his language during in-ring promos. A memo was reportedly sent out to talent recently, which said they must continue to adhere to the promotion’s PG guidelines when it comes to their promos. According to this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, there have been discussions “among talent and outside” about a “double standard” involving the former WWE Champion. However, the report pointed out that there will always be that type of situation regarding someone with star power, like Rock.

Additionally, an unnamed individual told the Observer that nobody would question Rock because he’s a member of the TKO Group Holdings (parent company of WWE) board and generally does what he wants. Also, it was mentioned that Rock has a team of representatives, so he wouldn’t necessarily get involved with any issues. Meanwhile, there was said to be a feeling that “the era of Vince McMahon’s double standards for his handpicked stars” was over. However, since Rock’s return, that belief has changed.

Meanwhile, some talent has reportedly claimed they would be able to pick up more steam if the “handcuffs” were taken off their promos on television and social media. It’s said that despite Rock having significant freedom, stars like Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes have had to stick to the usual guidelines. “The Great One” recently responded to the complaints about his language and cursing on WWE programming, saying he’d “rather be real than not” and “talk from the heart.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.