At Saturday night’s WrestleMania 40 (Night One) pay-per-view event, The Rock and Roman Reigns defeated Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins in the main event. This means the Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns match at WrestleMania 40 (Night Two) will be contested under a “Bloodline Rules” stipulation.
During the post-WWE WrestleMania 40 (Night One) media scrum, The Rock commented on whether there was a moment that made him ready to return to WWE, his priority to build the company going into the future, and more.
You can check out some highlights from the media scrum below:
On if there was a moment that made him ready to return to WWE: “Yes, there was. When Ari Emanuel called and said, hey, I’m gonna buy the company. I said OK. What does that strategy look like? And we discussed that. There was talks almost two years ago about me returning to WrestleMania 39 in Los Angeles, again it felt like everything was going to dovetail nicely into that, great story, that didn’t shake out and the way we had anticipated and that’s OK. I had said back then to the people who we were negotiating with, maybe it’s time to put the pencils down and we’ll revisit when it feels right. So I think between putting the pencils down about a year and half, two years ago, regarding WrestleMania 39, the clear shift and the actuality of the selling of the company, I think that kind of became the impetus to really look holistically at the opportunity of doing WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia and a lot of things had to come together and sure, the agreement and the deal, I’m not worried about that, especially when the negotiations are between myself, Ari Emanuel, Nick Khan, both of whom I’ve known for a very, very long time. Nick and I actually go back to Hawaii when we were kids, and Ari I’ve known for over 20 years, he’s my lead agent and business partner, so I wasn’t concerned about the agreement.”
On his priority being not just building to WrestleMania 40, but the future as well: “My number one priority was can I come back and add real value this time around and not, ya know, coming back for hot shots one at a time maybe, make an appearance one night, it’s fun, it’s fun for the fans, but I wanted something more substantial, and something that we can really build upon, and so these past two, three months, we’ve been laying ground work nicely, and not only building for WrestleMania this weekend, but also beyond that, and building for the future, and what that could look like.”
The Rock Discusses His Return to WWE and Future Plans at WrestleMania 40
At WrestleMania 40 (Night One), The Rock and Roman Reigns emerged victorious in the main event, defeating Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. This win sets the stage for an intense matchup between Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 (Night Two) under a “Bloodline Rules” stipulation.
During the post-WWE WrestleMania 40 (Night One) media scrum, The Rock shared his thoughts on his return to WWE, his priority to build the company’s future, and more.
When asked if there was a specific moment that made him ready to return to WWE, The Rock revealed that it was when Ari Emanuel, the owner of the company, expressed his intention to buy the company. The Rock stated, “When Ari Emanuel called and said, hey, I’m gonna buy the company. I said OK. What does that strategy look like? And we discussed that.” This conversation sparked the possibility of The Rock’s return to WrestleMania 39 in Los Angeles two years ago. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, the plan did not materialize. The Rock expressed his willingness to revisit the idea when the timing felt right. With the recent sale of the company and the opportunity to participate in WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia, everything fell into place.
The Rock emphasized that his priority was not just building up to WrestleMania 40 but also focusing on the future of WWE. He stated, “My number one priority was can I come back and add real value this time around… I wanted something more substantial, and something that we can really build upon.” Over the past few months, The Rock has been laying the groundwork for not only WrestleMania but also for what lies beyond. He aims to contribute to the long-term growth and success of the company.
The Rock’s return to WWE has generated significant excitement among fans. His presence brings star power and a wealth of experience to the wrestling world. The anticipation for his upcoming match against Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40 (Night Two) under the “Bloodline Rules” stipulation is palpable.
As The Rock continues to make his mark on the wrestling industry, fans eagerly await his future plans and contributions to WWE. With his determination to add value and build for the long term, it is clear that The Rock’s return is not just a one-time appearance but a strategic move to shape the future of the company.
For more insights from The Rock’s post-WrestleMania 40 media scrum, you can watch the embedded video above.