On a recent edition of his “Hall of Fame” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Booker T weighed in on Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s recent WWE return, as well as his heel turn on the Road To 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 The Rock’s heel SmackDown promo: “A damn good promo… Well, I mean, I’m not surprised one bit. You heard me say it: Blood is thicker than water, alright? And I said, ‘Now, sit back and see how this thing plays out.’ Yeah, I mean, I’m not gonna jump too well because I — you know, I was looking at something on YouTube. And they was talking about this, he was talking about how The Rock pulled the trigger on being in the match. And then after the backlash from people, Rock had the wherewithal to say, ‘We need to switch gears.’ Now, can I see that happening? Perhaps. I can see that happening. You know, so that’s why I try not to, you know, write the show or book the show. Because the way it was yesterday may not be the way it is today. So I think it was the right move. It was the right call to do this angle right here, and put Cody in that position. Nah, man, it’s a no-brainer. It’s a no-brainer, and it was the smartest move anybody could have thought of.”
On WWE changing plans because of the backlash: “I don’t know if it was the plan or not. But I do know it was its on track to be the WrestleMania people have been asking for quite some time, for the last two years. So I say let’s do it. And no better person to be a part of something like this. It’s already sold out, and just the cherry on top, the icing on the cake. This is it, man.”
On The Rock being back is good for business: “Nah, man. You know, I say The Rock being back is definitely good for business. Anyway you look at it, The Rock being back is good for business. I know a lot of people have disagreed with me on that, especially the Gen-Zers of this generation. They don’t understand the marketability of and the star power of someone like The Rock. And anytime you can have someone like that anywhere near your arena, you want him there. It just plays simple mathematics. It really is.”
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s recent return to the WWE and his heel turn on the Road to WrestleMania XL has sparked a lot of discussion among fans and industry insiders. WWE Hall of Famer Booker T recently shared his thoughts on The Rock’s return and the decision to change the planned match lineup.
One of the key moments in The Rock’s return was his heel promo on SmackDown. Booker T praised the promo, calling it a “damn good promo.” He also mentioned that he wasn’t surprised by The Rock’s performance, stating, “Blood is thicker than water, alright? And I said, ‘Now, sit back and see how this thing plays out.'” Booker T also acknowledged the backlash The Rock received after announcing his match against Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes facing Seth Rollins. However, he commended The Rock for having the foresight to switch gears and change the plans based on fan reaction. Booker T believes it was the right move and the smartest decision anyone could have made.
Regarding WWE changing plans due to the backlash, Booker T stated that he wasn’t sure if it was the original plan or not. However, he mentioned that it was on track to be the WrestleMania people had been asking for over the past two years. He fully supported the decision to include Cody Rhodes in the main event against Roman Reigns, considering it the cherry on top and the icing on the cake for an already sold-out event.
Booker T also emphasized that The Rock’s return is good for business. He acknowledged that some people, especially from the younger generation, may not fully understand the marketability and star power of someone like The Rock. However, he believes that having a superstar like The Rock near your arena is always beneficial for business.
In conclusion, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s return to WWE and his heel turn have generated significant buzz and discussion within the wrestling community. Booker T’s insights shed light on the decision-making process behind the changes in the WrestleMania lineup and the positive impact of The Rock’s presence on business. As fans eagerly await WrestleMania XL, the anticipation continues to build for what promises to be an exciting event.