Report: People Within WWE Thought The Rock Only Returned To Turn Around His Hollywood Losing Streak
Some in WWE felt The Rock returned due to a Hollywood losing steak
May 2, 2024
People within WWE felt The Rock only returned to the company as an attempt to turn around his losing streak in Hollywood, according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio.
"There were definitely people in WWE who felt that his return to WWE this year was an attempt to turn around kind of like a losing streak, so to speak. Young Rock got cancelled, some of his movies weren't as successful as hoped for, and WWE was an easy win. At the same time, put it this way, WWE made him a $30 million offer to join the Board of Directors. They came to him, that's not him coming, and he's been talking about doing wrestling for literally, as far as doing the Roman Reigns match, since 2019. So it's not like this was something that just came out of the blue because of the idea that he wasn't doing well or something like that," Meltzer stated.
The Rock returned to WWE in early 2024 and he soon joined the TKO Board of Directors in a deal that will see him pocket $30 million in TKO shares. Johnson was a top star on WWE TV during WrestleMania season, main eventing night one of WWE's biggest show of the year when he teamed with Roman Reigns to defeat Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins.
Original plans for WrestleMania 40 called for The Rock to face Roman Reigns but a fan backlash prompted The Rock to stand aside for Cody Rhodes. This also came after backstage 'games' within the company as many wanted Cody to headline the Showcase of the Immortals.
The Rock will remain involved with WWE long-term through his spot on the TKO Board of Directors. A future match against Cody Rhodes was set up on the Raw after WrestleMania 40.
The Rock's perceived losing streak saw Dwayne Johnson's starpower take a hit due to 'Black Adam' flopping at the box office and his failed ambitions to gain creative control over the DC Extended Universe, with Warner Bros. Discovery going with James Gunn and Peter Safran instead. The 'Young Rock' TV series was also cancelled in 2023 after three seasons.
The Rock returned to Hollywood following the Raw after WrestleMania and he is currently working on 'Smashing Machine', the biopic on former UFC fighter Mark Kerr. Johnson will be involved with production on the live action 'Moana' later this year too.
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