Cool Again: How The Rock Is Leading Pro Wrestling Into A New Boom Period
Ask a layman about pro wrestling, and they’ll probably mention names like Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior, Stone-Cold Steve Austin, and The Rock. Yet they’ll also likely talk about how the business isn’t as popular as it used to be. What if we told you that’s simply not true, though? Pro wrestling has quietly been experiencing a boom period that has exceeded all its former glories — and The Rock has returned to fully cement this new era of dominance.
The Rock makes a villainous return
On March 1, 2024, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson — fully embracing his status as a dastardly heel in his latest WWE run — posted an Instagram video in which he ran roughshod over the company’s top good guy Cody Rhodes.
As part of the storyline, he angrily accused Rhodes of going back on his word to allow Johnson into main event Wrestlemania XL against his cousin Roman Reigns. He also made fun of Rhodes’ dedicated fanbase, to whom he assigned the hilariously juvenile nickname the “Cody Crybabies.”
Spouting gospel about the wrestling business
As Johnson is one of the finest microphone-workers ever to grace the wrestling business, the promo was entertaining, compelling, and full of twists and turns. Interestingly, though, he began the diatribe by making some very salient points about the state of the wrestling business — while still in-character as a narcissistic villain, of course!
He begins, “It’s been a big week in the world of professional wrestling. It has been a big week in the world of the WWE. It has been a big week in the world of The Rock.”
“Pro wrestling is cool once again”
“In the world of the most electrifying man walking God’s green Earth, daddy,” continues Johnson, “it has been that kind of week. And to quote the legend, one of The Rock’s heroes, what’s causing all of this?” He then smiles at the camera, and says, “Pro wrestling is exciting once again.”
He continues, “It’s been decades! Pro wrestling is cool once again. It’s been decades. Pro wrestling is undeniably exciting. Once again, it’s unpredictable. It’s disruptive because of one man — and that is The Rock.”
“Back on top, and it feels good”
The self-proclaimed “People’s Champion” continues, “The Rock…came back to pro wrestling — a business that The Rock loves, an industry that The Rock was born into — took professional wrestling, turned it on its head, disrupted…it, and it will never ever be the same again.”
He adds, “And it feels good. It feels so damn good. And whether you like The Rock or you don’t like The Rock, it doesn’t matter — because it feels good. Pro wrestling is back on top, and it feels good!”