Like Many Fans, I Hated The Ending Of WrestleMania 41, And It’s Time To Talk About The Rock’s Place In WWE

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Fans generally agree that the finale of WrestleMania 40 is among the best closing sequences in WrestleMania’s storied history. However, WrestleMania 41 has left many fans feeling disappointed, particularly with the prominence given to Travis Scott at the end and the confusion surrounding WWE’s narrative as well as The Rock’s limited participation. I share their sentiments; the event was disorganized, and it’s past time for Nick Khan, Triple H, and the decision-makers at TKO to reevaluate The Rock’s role within this context.

You might wonder how The Rock is involved when he wasn’t at the event yesterday. Let me explain why his name is trending on social media. It all stems from some old history in the wrestling world that some fans might not be fully aware of.

Following his appointment to the Board of Directors following TKO’s acquisition of WWE, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has been a frequent guest on WWE broadcasts. Last year, during the build-up to WrestleMania, he was almost a weekly presence and delivered some of the finest performances of his career as he embraced his new Final Boss persona and tested boundaries with graphic content, strong language, and mature themes. I found it captivating, and it seemed most WWE fans shared my sentiment.

Over the past year, it’s been quite a different tale when it comes to The Rock. He’s been largely absent, and on the rare occasions he’s appeared, things have felt puzzling, falling short of the high standards we’ve come to expect. His promos seemed disjointed and overly repetitive, lacking a clear narrative thread. That all shifted at Elimination Chamber, though.

For several months, there were occasional hints and widespread uncertainty about whether The Rock would participate in any capacity at WrestleMania. However, that doubt was laid to rest when he unexpectedly appeared with Travis Scott prior to the event, and collaborated with John Cena to deceive Cody Rhodes. This turn of events was masterfully executed and left fans stunned, as many had never imagined Cena playing a villain during his final stint in the WWE. As soon as this revelation occurred, wrestling enthusiasts began brainstorming theories about why Cena turned on the WWE and fantasizing about what exciting moments we might witness from their partnership.

During the approximately six weeks leading up to ‘Mania, neither The Rock nor his companion Travis Scott made an appearance on WWE broadcasts. What’s more intriguing is that they were seldom mentioned in any context. Instead, Cody and Cena engaged in numerous promo exchanges discussing their reasons for their upcoming fight, yet the topic of The Rock was barely touched upon. Even during commentary, references to him were scant.

Fans eventually accepted that The Rock was only there for a brief visit, and they decided to concentrate on Cody and Cena’s storyline instead, which I found perfectly fine. Frankly, I didn’t require The Rock to fuel my excitement for this potential generational main event. With Cena aiming for his 17th Championship title and Cody striving to maintain his top position in the roster, there was already more than enough reason to engage with the storyline.

Initially, for six whole weeks, The Rock seemed to take a backseat during his WrestleMania main event match. However, as the climax approached, it wasn’t The Rock who made an unexpected entrance but his associate, Travis Scott. To put it differently, in the last two WWE pay-per-views, including the year’s grandest spectacle, the spotlight was stolen by celebrities, none of whom had graced our screens on WWE television during those six weeks.

As an avid wrestling fan, it often seems like my dedication requires the effort of a full-time job. Each week, I’m committed to five and a half hours of main roster programming, and then there are another three or four hours during any given month for those premium live events on the weekend. It’s us, the enthusiasts watching all this content, who keep WWE financially afloat – we’re the ones purchasing merchandise, action figures, and contributing to their lucrative deals with companies like Netflix. However, at times, it can feel as though The Rock and WWE don’t truly value our passion. Instead, it feels as though they are more focused on crafting moments that will trend on social media platforms, rather than catering to the heart of their dedicated fanbase like us.

Did you hear that at WrestleMania, Travis Scott, who’s only appeared a few times in WWE last year, unexpectedly joined Cody Rhodes, disrupting what was supposed to be the biggest wrestling event of the season? To add insult to injury, The Rock, believed to have orchestrated the whole thing, didn’t even make an appearance. Instead, he sent his famous representative.

In wrestling, nothing surpasses the sport itself – a principle both WWE and TKO should keep in mind. Having The Rock involved can certainly be beneficial, but it’s not worth sacrificing clarity in storytelling. It’s not worth compromising if his unpredictable schedule distracts from the main narrative that’s captivating audiences across the industry. It’s not worth it when he leverages his power to draw focus away from the climactic match of WrestleMania, placing more attention on his friend Travis Scott instead.

It’s unclear to me who arranged the final segment of WrestleMania 41. It’s possible that The Rock played a role, or maybe Triple H was the one pushing for it, or even TKO wanted to bring in more star power. However, as a wrestling fan, I find this setup unsatisfying, and based on social media reactions, it seems I’m not alone in my opinion.

I enjoy it immensely when well-known figures and icons grace us with their presence. Wrestling is like a grand circus, and I appreciate its diverse offerings. Nostalgia and top-tier stars are fantastic, but the charm doubles when these nostalgic A-listers actively engage with the main storyline. However, if they fail to prioritize this involvement, it undermines the plot’s credibility. It gives off an impression that fans should be content with their occasional appearance, even if it contradicts the ongoing storyline.

I find myself engrossed in wrestling, not just because it’s entertaining, but because I’m deeply invested in the characters that grace our screens weekly. I eagerly follow their narratives, wanting to witness how each story unfolds. While the appearance of celebrities like The Rock and Travis Scott might elicit cheers from live audiences who are taken aback and excited by their presence, from my couch’s comfort, it seems that John Cena’s heel turn didn’t necessitate such star power. I believe this WrestleMania season would have been more impactful without them.

As a passionate moviegoer, I’d advise the WWE to ponder their next moves carefully, particularly regarding the strategic deployment of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Travis Scott. Both have unique charisma that could significantly enhance the WWE experience when utilized effectively.

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2025-04-21 18:39