Throughout the first half-hour of the WWE debuting Monday evening uncooked on Netflix, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson obtained a thunderous reception. The Folks's Champion is one in every of skilled wrestling's most iconic and immediately recognizable characters, and In 2024, The Rock had a banner yr as one in every of WWE's most dastardly heels. His villainous antics as “The Ultimate Boss” got here after WWE followers have been upset with plans for him to take the WrestleMania spot that Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes had taken.
Throughout his look on one of many greatest exhibits in WWE historical past The Rock deserted the complete look of The Ultimate Boss character in Monday evening uncooked in favor of a extra charismatic and emotional promotion in regards to the significance of the event (despite the fact that he threatened to “go Squid Video games” on Netflix executives if there have been streaming points). It was a shocking and controversial transfer that triggered The Rock's future in WWE to change into one of many hottest speaking factors in wrestling.
Why WWE Sacrificed the Ultimate Boss Character
WWE had its causes for The Rock's sudden turnaround
When Monday Evening Uncooked opened with one in every of WWE's all-time nice montages and a rousing speech from Paul Levesque, the musical success of The Rock and The Nice One entered the sector. Your present theme tune is to suit the menacing heel character he performed in WWE all through 2024, The Ultimate Boss. He minimize legendary, expletive-laden promos on social media, defeated Cody Rhodes with a weight belt within the rain, and joined The Bloodline, on the time probably the most villainous steady in WWE.
Nonetheless, it is very important keep in mind that on Netflix, WWE welcomed many new viewers who had no concept any of this had occurred. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson is the man who simply starred in Moana 2 and is the folks's champion, progressive and chilling.
To borrow a time period from Triple H, sending The Rock out to inform the viewers he's there to "get the herpes out of his mouth" or to insult Cody Rhodes' canine like he did final yr isn't greatest for enterprise.
Was it the best transfer for rock?
WWE's full-time viewers is confused by this look
It's simple to grasp why WWE determined to go this route for The Rock, however how he and Cody Rhodes shared laughs about Cody's mom (like promising to point out her his son's blood to the world eventually yr's WrestleMania didn't even occur). , one thing doubtlessly tragic occurred to The Rock on this section. Together with his electrifying new entrance, wardrobe, and swearing/screaming angle, The Ultimate Boss represented an evolution for The Rock that was harmful, daring, and, most impressively of all, cool. His look on Uncooked was something however that.
It's necessary to level out right here that this author loves Dwayne a lot that he would put his coat in a puddle so the person wouldn't get his footwear moist within the rain. The Rock is a board member of TKO, WWE's guardian firm, and It seemed like Dwayne Johnson talking, not The Rock. Contemplating the final time we noticed him as The Rock was when he arrived on the finish of Dangerous Blood to threaten Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns (eliminating CM Punk and Drew McIntyre from the Most important Occasion within the course of), all the things looks as if a multitude to the full-time WWE viewers.
The way forward for The Rock's character is unsure
Too many blended messages go away The Rock in a wierd place
As The Rock left the state-of-the-art Intuit Dome in his truck, strolling away after consuming a purple glass of tequila with the person he threatened on Uncooked after final yr's WrestleMania, There's a whole lot of confusion about how the wrestling viewing neighborhood ought to really feel about The Rock as we speak. A complete yr's value of your tales at the moment are null and void. This wasn't an express flip like wrestling followers are used to. It felt just like the Mark Calloway we now see talking on a podcast coming to Uncooked, performing like he hasn't been a Deadman in years and showing like The American Badass.
There's actually no want for a lot concern right here. The Rock has the flexibility to adapt and shine in any skilled wrestling setting this places him within the dialog in regards to the Mount Rushmore of wrestling. In the future after arriving on SmackDown to problem Roman Reigns for the WrestleMania Most important Occasion, Rocky was public enemy primary. He responded with among the finest runs of his profession. However within the current second, it's arduous to know the right way to really feel about The Rock when Dwayne Johnson is on digicam enjoying another, company, and drastically much less likable model of his greatest character.
WWE Uncooked is a weekly reside tv program that started airing in 1993, that includes a rotating solid of WWE Superstars. Identified for its dramatic storylines and athletic matches, it has change into a cornerstone of Monday evening skilled wrestling leisure.