On a recent edition of the “Busted Open Radio” podcast, former WWE broadcaster Jonathan Coachman weighed in on Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s recent WWE return, as well as his heel turn on the Road To WrestleMania XL.
The Rock has slapped Cody Rhodes and joined the Bloodline to reprise his heel gimmick from the late 90s.
Coachman said, “I hope that The Rock is back and is gonna show up many times. A lot of guys won’t go full-blown heel because it costs them money in their merch. But now if you can be a really cool heel, like The Rock is, then you can flip it on its head no matter how you do it. And I hope that young kids are looking at that and saying, ‘This is what I can be.’”
Meanwhile, ECW legend Tommy Dreamer also discussed the fan outrage over The Rock almost replacing Cody Rhodes against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania XL.
While Cody will challenge Roman for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship in the main event of WrestleMania 40, WWE almost swerved people when it appeared that The Rock would challenge Reigns and Rhodes would face Seth Rollins. Due to fan outrage, WWE reversed their decision in favor of The American Nightmare who will now get a second chance to “finish his story.”
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On how The Rock originally got over after his initial failed babyface run: “If I can quote a famous philosopher: ‘It doesn’t matter what you think. Know your role and shut your hole.’ If you think about how Rocky Maivia got over, he listened to the crowd. And they were pushing him as this mega, mega babyface.”
On the fans being upset about the idea of The Rock replacing Cody Rhodes: “Your audience was mad at that decision. It’s all placement and timing. That’s why I say, ‘Know your role.’”
The Rock’s recent return to the WWE has caused quite a stir among fans and industry insiders alike. Former WWE broadcaster Jonathan Coachman and ECW legend Tommy Dreamer recently shared their thoughts on The Rock’s comeback and the potential storyline involving him and Cody Rhodes.
Coachman expressed his excitement about The Rock’s return and hoped that he would make multiple appearances in the future. He also praised The Rock for embracing his heel persona, despite the potential financial implications it may have on merchandise sales. Coachman believes that being a cool heel, like The Rock, can actually benefit wrestlers and inspire young talent to explore different character options.
Meanwhile, Tommy Dreamer addressed the fan outrage over the possibility of The Rock replacing Cody Rhodes in a match against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania XL. Initially, it seemed like The Rock would challenge Reigns while Rhodes would face Seth Rollins. However, due to fan backlash, WWE decided to stick with the original plan and give Rhodes another opportunity to “finish his story” by facing Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.
Dreamer emphasized the importance of placement and timing in wrestling storylines. He acknowledged that the audience was upset with the idea of The Rock replacing Rhodes, highlighting the need for wrestlers to understand their role and listen to the fans’ reactions.
The discussion also touched upon The Rock’s initial struggle to connect with the audience during his early babyface run as Rocky Maivia. Coachman mentioned The Rock’s famous catchphrase, “It doesn’t matter what you think,” and how it played a crucial role in his character development. The Rock listened to the crowd and adjusted his persona accordingly, eventually becoming one of the most beloved and iconic figures in WWE history.
Overall, The Rock’s return to the WWE has generated excitement and controversy. Fans are eager to see how his involvement in WrestleMania XL will unfold, especially with the unexpected twist involving Cody Rhodes. As the event approaches, it will be interesting to see how the storyline develops and whether The Rock’s heel turn will have a lasting impact on the wrestling industry.