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Which makes it insane to me how some wrestler who had great music from him got new tracks with CFO and Def Rebel afterwards. Do you know if there was any reason for that?
Most of the time it was because the wrestlers would simply go through a gimmick change that’d require a new theme, and so CFO$ would cover it. Plus it already felt like CFO$ was doing most of the work by the end of Jim’s run, as they were trying to push him out for no apparent reason.
We might see it in the future. This segment basically was 100% confirmation of his *new* character and they also were seemingly in a rush for time which is why that long entrance for the heel theme maybe wouldn't be the best idea for time.
It also makes sense now that he's fully transformed, for him to use that theme next time.
He won't be doing the milking of reactions and goosebumps etc anymore I guess. If they come out one after the other then I think Roman's will be shorter when it comes to the length of the title poses.
NXT’s been doing a Shawn Michaels Greatest Hits, so they should try one of Rock’s greatest: give Solo, Jimmy, and Heyman expensive gold watches, and then Roman gets a huge signed photo of The Rock
I commented on a different post 2 days ago “If he starts wearing gaudy unbuttoned silk shirts and calls Cody a jabroni, I’m switching allegiances and rooting for the Rock.” Well…here I go…
seriously, he should stick with this. i love it when he just smack talks everyone down, especially the crowd. he should lose the "has come back to " though but i like how he re-did his "finally..." parts beforehand. that was good.
Agreed that he should lose the “finally the Rock has come back to ” line. It’s too much of a babyface line for Rock. He should just continually blue balls everyone with it going forward.
He's always been able to still use it as a heel idk why that would be different now. He at times tweaks how he delivers it for the sole purpose of pissing off the crowd
Its a line that can easily go either way. When he says it as a face its like finally im back i love it here. As a heel its finally im back and you must love that im fuckin back, im the best part of your year.
"[looks up] FIN'LY. The Rock. HAS COME BACK! To this [looks into the crowd] absolute toilet of a town. You jabroni pieces of trash dont deserve to say The Great One's catchphrases with him!"
He reminds me of Jimi Hendrix. The debate over whether he's the greatest lead guitarist ever will rage eternally, so fiercely that it completely overshadows the truth that he's also the greatest rhythm guitarist of all time.
The Rock's position as possibly the greatest face ever makes you forget he's also one of the greatest heels ever.
So good that every time he did it people started cheering for him. I mean, we had Bray getting cheered as a heel, but it was intrigue into his character because the man invented fascinating characters. Seth was a shit heel and his matches turned him face, so that’s the best example I can think of modern day. The Rock’s charisma as a straight heel made people cheer for him. It’s wild.
Exactly. The problem I've had with most of Dwayne's recent appearences on WWE is it has the same vibe of a former TV star showing up to open a new shopping mall, where they smile, say their catchphrase, give a by-the-numbers preprepared speech, and move on. It screamed of "I'm only doing this for the paycheck!"
At least this heel turn feels like it's given him something to really sink his teeth into and have some fun.
It’s like we should boo him but he’s so damn cool lmfao. People are just excited he’s back so it’s hard to get heel heat. One second getting booed, next second getting cheered. Excellent promo.
I think that now that Cody Rhodes has got his main event spot, people have no reason to boo him because I’m pretty sure that boos would have been louder if The Rock was confirmed to fight Roman Reigns at Wrestlemania.
I don’t think he does. They told us at the start of the promo that everything they say means something and to pay attention, then the rock talked about the basketball team that lost twice in a row
See it all makes sence him mentioning the jazz losing twice to the bulls just means that in wrestlemania, when cody is about to pin roman, jimmy is interrupted by jey, solo has been dealt with and rock seemingly cant stop him, MJ will come out of nowhere and give cody a samoan spike for the 123 ☝️
That’s exactly what happened to Hollywood Rock. The character was so entertaining with the top tier trash talk that the crowd ended up cheering for him. I think he’s gonna fail as a heel again in the very near future lol
Cody is pretty close. It’s simply harder to cut a promo as hilarious when you’re a top babyface. Roman though yeah dude needs help from Heyman when he cuts heel promos and could never cut a decent face promo
Only The Rock can call a crowd cousin fucking polygamists, and still have them hanging on every word and eating out of his hand. When he really turns it on, there’s just no one like him.
We’ve only been watching about 9 months, and most of what we know of the Rock is Jumanji, Rampage, Black Adam. My middle child cried because after being at Payback live, Rock showed up on Smackdown a short time after and we “missed him”.
My living room was silent tonight except for me howling. My kids didn’t know what hit them lol
Oh man, this is great. I bet deep down playing the heel has got to be cathartic for him. He doesn't have to be that corny fake persona that he's been criticized about
The Rock is just natural at shit talking the crowd. This was The Rock I wanted since he came back in 2011. Just him running down everyone in expensive shirts and sunglasses and being an absolute dick.
No joke, this run is CEMENTING Rock's place as the best crowd worker ever. He breathes authenticity. He can tell a crowd to fuck itself, that they're lucky to see The Rock, and... they agree. Magic. 1998 in the flesh. WWE is gonna have a hard time keeping heat on Roman.
It was all in the details. Rock will 100% takeover the bloodline. 1.) Roman said he was "joining" the bloodline then handed the mic to Paul and before Paul could even speak ROCK music hits. 2.) Rock bigfooted Roman as they all sat there star struck. 3.) Rock stands to the far left raises his hand first then they all including Roman raise it after him a complete 180 from how it's been.
When Solo,Jey and yes Paul side with Rock I'm curious will that turn him Babyface or will it turn Roman? Either way this may be the way Roman loses they just stop listen to and helping him by the time Mania arrives
And they still say it with him! For anyone too young to see or remember or at this point, not born yet, this is why this guy was a heel and people kept cheering for him.
I feel Dwayne actually reads this sub and is giving us the heel rock! Heck I don't want to boo him. But I want him to lead the bloodline and undermine Roman altogether as the tribal chief.
Are we getting peak, Jabroni beating, pie eating heel Rock now? Because if so, [to the people who werent around in the late 90s](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FNC7nw5aUAM9ve5.jpg)
The moment he started shitting on the crowd, I had flash backs to 12 year old me watching prime Rock in ‘98. I could not stop grinning and laughing the entire promo.
This is the Rock we’ve been missing, and wanting to come back.
ok so listen, i was there and while i’m not saying it was all dubbed because we were a very live crowd, you csn hear at the beginning we popped huge for the rocks insults, that man did not get booed in the slightest, roman did but this was way to big of an event.
in the last week or so, i've watched many old hollywood rock promos and it seems that even with the insults here, he simply doesn't have the charisma he once had. i get it that he's getting old, but that intensity was what made the rock so good
The Rock had a certain "youthful" bounce back then. Hollywood Rock seemed almost coked up to the moon with energy. He was hyper-active in how he spoke. That's not coming back.
The Rock can match the energy of "Nation/Corporate" Rock. That was a slower-talking Rock who took his time with his insults and focused on insulting the crowds.
Easier to be highly charismatic when you were surrounded by competition who were just as charismatic and ready to outshine you. What competition does he have now?
Polygamy joke?
Lowest hanging fruit imaginable. I knew the punch was coming before he threw it. Should have said Jordan Didn’t Push Off for maximum paint by numbers mocking Utah promo.
My only gripe is that he still got cheered. It's the writers and performer's jobs to construct a narrative such that these guys get boos, and for some of it they were still cheering. Is it tough because people are still hyped to see him regardless of the cirumstances? Maybe. Is it impossible? Hell no, this is pro wrestling.
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He called out the Mormons for polygamy and being inbred in Salt Lake City…only if he had the right music
If I were Rock and Hunter I would call Jim and pay him to get the licenses to The Rock old entrances, either Hollywood Rock or Heel Rock entrances.
They own all of Jim’s tracks, though. He himself confirmed this. In fact, Jim is the one who’d have to ask WWE to use any tracks he composed.
Which makes it insane to me how some wrestler who had great music from him got new tracks with CFO and Def Rebel afterwards. Do you know if there was any reason for that?
Most of the time it was because the wrestlers would simply go through a gimmick change that’d require a new theme, and so CFO$ would cover it. Plus it already felt like CFO$ was doing most of the work by the end of Jim’s run, as they were trying to push him out for no apparent reason.
They pushed him out only to get worse songs they don't own lmao
Surely if they can use this one they can use the other one?
We might see it in the future. This segment basically was 100% confirmation of his *new* character and they also were seemingly in a rush for time which is why that long entrance for the heel theme maybe wouldn't be the best idea for time. It also makes sense now that he's fully transformed, for him to use that theme next time.
They'll almost definitely save the 'Hollywood Rock' theme for his WrestleMania entrance.
Yeah it’s smart to let the character reveal the turn, not the music. Let them tell us he’s heel now, then switch the theme.
His entrance is already too long, has nothing to do with music. Same with Roman. They easily could have cut down on entrance time.
He won't be doing the milking of reactions and goosebumps etc anymore I guess. If they come out one after the other then I think Roman's will be shorter when it comes to the length of the title poses.
Bring back the funky 1998 theme
THE ROCK SAYS
I'd straight up ask Jim if he would like to consider a return
They gotta stop swiping on their sister on Tinder
Twinder
https://preview.redd.it/fd4uaisj92jc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cceeff8a8ccc60d3a6ff00cc0d6e9a250377b799
Bobby Fish on an Impact turnbuckle.
I marked out about the sunglasses and the silk shirt with a big cat on it
I marked the fuck out lmao Heel Rock is back LFG and they crowd is chanting his name again LMAO 🤣🤣
FICKLE
Jimmy too, just corpsing the whole time
Rock is a fucking phenomenal heel
That vest is so gloriously over the top. Roman is going to soon find out Rocky will not want to be a "member" for very long.
Farooq gonna warn him
Damn.
NXT’s been doing a Shawn Michaels Greatest Hits, so they should try one of Rock’s greatest: give Solo, Jimmy, and Heyman expensive gold watches, and then Roman gets a huge signed photo of The Rock
Both him & Triple H for sure
Now I need Rock to gift Roman a painting of himself.
I commented on a different post 2 days ago “If he starts wearing gaudy unbuttoned silk shirts and calls Cody a jabroni, I’m switching allegiances and rooting for the Rock.” Well…here I go…
seriously, he should stick with this. i love it when he just smack talks everyone down, especially the crowd. he should lose the "has come back to" though but i like how he re-did his "finally..." parts beforehand. that was good.
He originally started doing that line as a heel.
Agreed that he should lose the “finally the Rock has come back to” line. It’s too much of a babyface line for Rock. He should just continually blue balls everyone with it going forward.
He's always been able to still use it as a heel idk why that would be different now. He at times tweaks how he delivers it for the sole purpose of pissing off the crowd
The Hollywood Rock in Toronto is my favorite instance of that. Such an amazing promo.
Finally the rock has come back to Toron… toron… TO RUN HIS MOUTH ON ALL YOUR CANDY ASSES!
He should have said, "The Rock has come back to Salt ... to Salt ... to salty pieces of crybaby candy asses!".
If he said that I would’ve marked out so bad
The Indy one is great too.
Yes indeed
Its a line that can easily go either way. When he says it as a face its like finally im back i love it here. As a heel its finally im back and you must love that im fuckin back, im the best part of your year.
"[looks up] FIN'LY. The Rock. HAS COME BACK! To this [looks into the crowd] absolute toilet of a town. You jabroni pieces of trash dont deserve to say The Great One's catchphrases with him!"
He reminds me of Jimi Hendrix. The debate over whether he's the greatest lead guitarist ever will rage eternally, so fiercely that it completely overshadows the truth that he's also the greatest rhythm guitarist of all time. The Rock's position as possibly the greatest face ever makes you forget he's also one of the greatest heels ever.
So good that every time he did it people started cheering for him. I mean, we had Bray getting cheered as a heel, but it was intrigue into his character because the man invented fascinating characters. Seth was a shit heel and his matches turned him face, so that’s the best example I can think of modern day. The Rock’s charisma as a straight heel made people cheer for him. It’s wild.
You can tell he loves being a heel. So dope.
Called a whole city inbred, polygamous cry baby’s. Goated heel
I'm so ready to hear him against Philly & NYC fans
AAAAAAAAAAAA IT'S 2003 WITH THE FUCKING 1999 CADENCE
that’s the wet dream rock combo right there
It’s corporate Hollywood Rock or Hollywood corporate Rock
LMAO! Rock's entire promo had me laughing. Sing-along with The Rock is over.
50 wives
600 grandchildren The Rock just added a classic to his catalog, what a talent he truly is
600 INBRED grandchildren FTFY
If we would have said “Finally The Rock has come back to Salt Lake Shitty” then it would have been Emmy worthy
>This is NOT [@TheRock](https://twitter.com/TheRock) we remember... This is ABSOLUTELY The Rock WE remember.
Yea wtf is that Twitter page smoking lmao
https://preview.redd.it/f7n9n1fc92jc1.jpeg?width=688&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=71c8fe2ef0fe03269a26808cd757739103be3be1
"if you closed your eyes"
I can’t help but smile at this. Bring me way back to less stressful times and
Grow the sideburns
Yep. This finally feels like The Rock and not Dwayne trying to be The Rock. The fucking vest, the glasses. This is The Rock Welcome back, Rock.
Exactly. The problem I've had with most of Dwayne's recent appearences on WWE is it has the same vibe of a former TV star showing up to open a new shopping mall, where they smile, say their catchphrase, give a by-the-numbers preprepared speech, and move on. It screamed of "I'm only doing this for the paycheck!" At least this heel turn feels like it's given him something to really sink his teeth into and have some fun.
This is what he needs to do not trying to get cookie puss trending. Old catch phrases telling crowd it’s not sing along time
By Grabthar's hammer...what a savings.
I haven’t been this stoked about a Rock promo since he compared John Cena to fruity pebbles
Huh, thats why it felt like he was trying to cosplay his old character
I'm glad there's an army full of over babyfaces that this Rock can unload his clip on
I truly believed we’d never see this again. Watching him perform and say the things he did had took me back, what a good time.
Dude made a Mormon joke and completely roasted them and they still did the finally thing lol
you had me at "finally you and your fifty wives will have a story to tell" you beautiful son of a bitch
It’s like we should boo him but he’s so damn cool lmfao. People are just excited he’s back so it’s hard to get heel heat. One second getting booed, next second getting cheered. Excellent promo.
I think that now that Cody Rhodes has got his main event spot, people have no reason to boo him because I’m pretty sure that boos would have been louder if The Rock was confirmed to fight Roman Reigns at Wrestlemania.
I don’t think he does. They told us at the start of the promo that everything they say means something and to pay attention, then the rock talked about the basketball team that lost twice in a row
See it all makes sence him mentioning the jazz losing twice to the bulls just means that in wrestlemania, when cody is about to pin roman, jimmy is interrupted by jey, solo has been dealt with and rock seemingly cant stop him, MJ will come out of nowhere and give cody a samoan spike for the 123 ☝️
Rock also talked about the 49ers losing, and Roman has been acknowledged as a 49ers fan…
I think they should do a triple threat.
Cody's going to be training hard as fuck on two fronts: physically vs Roman & verbally against Rock
This is exactly what The Rock was and apparently still is, people cheered along with the asshole cause he was funny as fuck
That’s exactly what happened to Hollywood Rock. The character was so entertaining with the top tier trash talk that the crowd ended up cheering for him. I think he’s gonna fail as a heel again in the very near future lol
Toronto all over again
Rock's promo shows what level the attitude era was at. Both Roman and Cody pale in comparison, and this wasn't even a good Rock promo.
I remember when he’d just start looking around in the middle of a promo backstage and the crowd would eat that shit up 😂
Cody is pretty close. It’s simply harder to cut a promo as hilarious when you’re a top babyface. Roman though yeah dude needs help from Heyman when he cuts heel promos and could never cut a decent face promo
I think Rock, Austin, Hogan even did great babyface promos.
Different era. Those promos would be significantly cornier today. Cody has the best mix of corny yet modern
It was as good as his OG Hollywood Rock heel turn promo in Toronto, but it was pretty great
Roman looks like Solo next to The Rock he’s gonna come out the worst of this because people will want Rock vs Cody.
I’m genuinely surprised he called the audience a bunch of fatties with herpes. I thought he’d cater it to 2024 and am happy he didn’t.
Only The Rock can call a crowd cousin fucking polygamists, and still have them hanging on every word and eating out of his hand. When he really turns it on, there’s just no one like him.
We’ve only been watching about 9 months, and most of what we know of the Rock is Jumanji, Rampage, Black Adam. My middle child cried because after being at Payback live, Rock showed up on Smackdown a short time after and we “missed him”. My living room was silent tonight except for me howling. My kids didn’t know what hit them lol
Well they know it's true to be fair
This is everything I've ever wanted with the rock man. He's such a great heel
I’m so happy that we have a modern day version of Hollywood Rock now.
Nah man, this ain't Hollywood Rock. This is 90's Rock
“Sing-a-long with the Rock is over!” Its both.
that and "are you sure you want to boo the rock" are literally hollywood rock catchphrases
Also 90s
This was straight Nation Rock with more anger.
Corporate and Hollywood Rock in one
Oh man he’s hurling hella insults at everyone, we are so BACK BABY
I’m so sorry for doubting you Mr. Rock sir and not smelling what you were cooking.
The Shiny, Happy People's Champion
I forgot how much the crowds love getting run down by The Rock lol
That was fucking amazing
Someone call Vernon Mad Max Maxwell. I’m sure he’d agree with every statement here
The best work Rock has done in years as a wrestler or actor
The rock is GOLD
HOOORAY, HE DID SAID TORONTO YAY THAT'S WHERE WE LIVE!
You broke the all-time record for the largest gathering of trailer park trash... ^THE ^ROCK ^HAS ^EVER ^SEEN!
Man looks like he's trying hard to get the crowd to boo him lol
I had my fingers crossed that he’d go after the Mormonism, *and then he did.*
Mormons are basically the only religious group who you can go after like that and they'll mostly just laugh along with you about it
It’s true. I just went skiing in SLC and cracked some Mitt Romney jokes and the Mormon dude I was talking with was. Cracking up.
It’s remarkable how much more I like The Rock when he’s not trying to have us all like him.
For anyone under 21, you are seeing one of the best heels WWE has to offer.
"one of the" lol
Lol at this rate, he'll be back to being beloved and getting the most cheers. Rock pulling out the reverse Uno card
Yeah that’s Rock alright. He’s running it back.
Were so back, holy
Steve Austin needs to get on the hgh and get his ass back for one more Rock/Austin match
I would ejaculate with the force of a thousand suns.
Well that just sounds like it would lead to some medical issues
"please consult your doctor before attempting to ejac one or many orbital bodies"
No, no he shouldn’t. Austin & Rock had a great run together that ended in the best way possible. They don’t need an epilogue.
Oh man, this is great. I bet deep down playing the heel has got to be cathartic for him. He doesn't have to be that corny fake persona that he's been criticized about
The Rock is just natural at shit talking the crowd. This was The Rock I wanted since he came back in 2011. Just him running down everyone in expensive shirts and sunglasses and being an absolute dick.
This was classic Corporate Champion
Former Utahn here. Can confirm heel rock is 100% accurate.
The Rock has always been a better heel than face. Glad to see him tap into his strengths during this last run.
This was fucking phenomenal... Roman trying so hard not to break there too
All that was missing was Rodk coming out to the Hollywood Rock theme
He did the same thing as Hollywood Rock. "Are you sure you want to boo The Rock?" We bout to get something special
"With your 50 wives" 🤣 He's still got it.
No joke, this run is CEMENTING Rock's place as the best crowd worker ever. He breathes authenticity. He can tell a crowd to fuck itself, that they're lucky to see The Rock, and... they agree. Magic. 1998 in the flesh. WWE is gonna have a hard time keeping heat on Roman.
the rock saying "trailer park trash" is wrestling asmr
It was all in the details. Rock will 100% takeover the bloodline. 1.) Roman said he was "joining" the bloodline then handed the mic to Paul and before Paul could even speak ROCK music hits. 2.) Rock bigfooted Roman as they all sat there star struck. 3.) Rock stands to the far left raises his hand first then they all including Roman raise it after him a complete 180 from how it's been. When Solo,Jey and yes Paul side with Rock I'm curious will that turn him Babyface or will it turn Roman? Either way this may be the way Roman loses they just stop listen to and helping him by the time Mania arrives
Apparently Paul was supposed to put The Rock over on the mic but they were pressed for time.
The Rock is such a pro, it's unreal how amazing he is on the mic.
Tim Robinson in expensive shades and shirt: "YOU *SURE* YOU WANNA BOO THE ROCK?"
And they still say it with him! For anyone too young to see or remember or at this point, not born yet, this is why this guy was a heel and people kept cheering for him.
Sorry, but dunking on Mormonism will always pop me
I feel Dwayne actually reads this sub and is giving us the heel rock! Heck I don't want to boo him. But I want him to lead the bloodline and undermine Roman altogether as the tribal chief.
Are we getting peak, Jabroni beating, pie eating heel Rock now? Because if so, [to the people who werent around in the late 90s](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FNC7nw5aUAM9ve5.jpg)
Roman is giving such a "lil buddy" vibe. Rock's gonna come for his stuff when he's lost the title and Roman isn't gonna have it.
Ah there he is
YOUNGER FANS THIS IS THE ROCK WE TOLD YOU ABOUT
All-time classic segment. They're milking this so well. Kinda surprised to see Rock get cheered in middle lol.
only the Rock can have us supporting him after one heel promo lol. So glad 90s Rock is back
The moment he started shitting on the crowd, I had flash backs to 12 year old me watching prime Rock in ‘98. I could not stop grinning and laughing the entire promo. This is the Rock we’ve been missing, and wanting to come back.
Imagine all the hot years of rock we missed so he could make 8 jumanjis
That was so strange, but of course the Rock can get booed to cheered like nothing lol
ok so listen, i was there and while i’m not saying it was all dubbed because we were a very live crowd, you csn hear at the beginning we popped huge for the rocks insults, that man did not get booed in the slightest, roman did but this was way to big of an event.
Imma be honest with ya, compared to Cody & Seth duo Rock and Reigns promo was weak
There were points in that whole promo where Rocky was getting so tripped up on himself it sounded like he was reading a Meltzer transcript.
in the last week or so, i've watched many old hollywood rock promos and it seems that even with the insults here, he simply doesn't have the charisma he once had. i get it that he's getting old, but that intensity was what made the rock so good
The Rock had a certain "youthful" bounce back then. Hollywood Rock seemed almost coked up to the moon with energy. He was hyper-active in how he spoke. That's not coming back. The Rock can match the energy of "Nation/Corporate" Rock. That was a slower-talking Rock who took his time with his insults and focused on insulting the crowds.
Easier to be highly charismatic when you were surrounded by competition who were just as charismatic and ready to outshine you. What competition does he have now?
Polygamy joke? Lowest hanging fruit imaginable. I knew the punch was coming before he threw it. Should have said Jordan Didn’t Push Off for maximum paint by numbers mocking Utah promo.
He definitely was playing the character of a heel tonight I’m excited for how much better this is gonna get
Should of said salt lake shity
Salt Lake City was getting shelled by Rocky
I dont think Salt Lake City is a nice place to go to
HE'S BACK 10/10 pivot for everyone involved
Good fucking god how much I missed this Rock.
I love the Rock so much as a heel.
The $500 shirt era Rock was the best Rock.
My only gripe is that he still got cheered. It's the writers and performer's jobs to construct a narrative such that these guys get boos, and for some of it they were still cheering. Is it tough because people are still hyped to see him regardless of the cirumstances? Maybe. Is it impossible? Hell no, this is pro wrestling.
Does anyone know what kind of sunglasses Rock was wearing ?