WrestleMania 40 is done and dusted, with Cody Rhodes finally finishing his story and capturing the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship by defeating Roman Reigns and the Bloodline at the event. The following episode of Monday Night Raw marked the start of Rhodes’ era as champion, but Dwayne Johnson, aka The Rock, was once again there to steal the spotlight.
The Rock appeared on Monday Night Raw, where he shared a moment with Rhodes before announcing his hiatus from the WWE. However, the Great One did leave with a promise that foreshadows the start of another exciting storyline. Nonetheless, fans are convinced that Dwayne Johnson will be away from the WWE for a while.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson Bows Out on Monday Night Raw After WrestleMania Run
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson returned to the WWE in early 2024 and was quickly included in the picture for the main event at WrestleMania 40. The Rock’s return kickstarted one of the best heel turns in the recent era of WWE, culminating in a conflict against the American Nightmare Cody Rhodes.
Following their match at WrestleMania 40 and Rhodes’ victory in the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship title match, The Rock briefly reunited with Rhodes on the April 9, 2024, episode of Monday Night Raw. During his appearance, The Rock still seemed to be in his Final Boss persona and also carried the People’s Championship.
During his interaction with Rhodes, The Rock acknowledged the latter as the new champion. However, The Rock warned Rhodes that his story with the Final Boss was only just getting started. The Rock then announced his hiatus from the WWE. As a result, fans are speculating that the wrestler-turned-actor will be absent from the company at least for a while, leaving the status of his feud with Rhodes uncertain.
WWE Fans Brace Themselves For The Rock’s Latest Wrestling Hiatus
The build-up to WrestleMania 40 was The Rock’s first major WWE storyline since 2019 and proved to be a hit with the fans. After Dwayne Johnson appeared on Monday Night Raw and confirmed his long-expected hiatus from the WWE, fans quickly took to social media to express their feelings about his departure for the time being.
Here is what WWE fans had to say after The Rock announced his hiatus on Monday Night Raw on X.
The Rock is now prolly gone until June or July 💔
Man, what a GENERATIONAL run it was…#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/s86uoQmGkd
— EliteRockerz 𝕏 (@EliteClubS0B) April 9, 2024
It might be longer since he has multiple movie projects right now…
— EliteRockerz 𝕏 (@EliteClubS0B) April 9, 2024
elite level entertainment from the great one
— AJ (@PrestigePrince9) April 9, 2024
He lifted the whole road to WrestleMania and the event itself to heights, no one could imagine before.
— Ali (@ssjali) April 9, 2024
I already miss him, he indeed made Wrestling great again on a different level above anything else in the last years
— Daniel (@De00Daniel) April 9, 2024
Prolly be longer then that he got 2 movies to do
— ⚡️uper Judah (@JudahSuper) April 9, 2024
As the tweets indicate, fans are saddened by The Rock’s latest hiatus from wrestling, especially after a memorable experience at WrestleMania 40. However, fans also took the opportunity to praise The Rock for his in-ring work during the event and the build-up to it.
According to reports, Dwayne Johnson is set to start filming his next Hollywood project, the biographical sports drama The Smashing Machine. As a result, it could be a while before the Great One returns to the WWE for some in-ring action.
Moreover, The Rock’s hiatus also leaves questions regarding his ties to the Bloodline and run as the holder of the newly minted People’s Champion belt unresolved. At the same time, The Rock also set up a potential feud with Cody Rhodes before his departure, exciting fans at the prospect of his return, and making his hiatus all the more somber.
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