The Rock is a major figure in both wrestling and Hollywood and has been making headlines with his recent move. The Rock previously joined the board of TKO Holding Group, the parent company of WWE and UFC, demonstrating his ongoing interest and involvement in the wrestling world. He also recently turned heel before WrestleMania 40, but that is not really the first time The Great One was a heel in his career.
Fans definitely want to see The Rock vs Roman Reigns at some point in time, but they most definitely did not want that to happen at the expense of Cody Rhodes not being able to finish his story. That was basically the belief last week on Friday Night SmackDown, but things have thankfully changed course for a better direction at WrestleMania 40.
The Rock Turned Heel At The WrestleMania 40 Kickoff Press Conference
The entire controversy surrounding WrestleMania 40’s main event unfolded on the T-Mobile Arena stage, featuring The Rock, his cousin Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and Cody Rhodes, all brought together to set a clear direction for WrestleMania 40.
While The Rock and Roman Reigns appeared aligned for a dream showdown at the Show of Shows, Cody Rhodes was determined not to let the Samoan family stars overshadow his moment and opportunity.
The American Nightmare finally chose to face Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal title. Despite The Rock and Reigns standing together, Rhodes, having secured his chance by winning the Royal Rumble, basically kicked The Rock out of the Mania spotlight.
Rhodes went further, invoking the Anoa’i family ancestors and stated that they would be ashamed to witness The Rock and Roman stealing opportunities from others. This declaration led to The Great One slapping Cody Rhodes in the face, escalating into a brawl on the stage. With this, The Rock finally turned heel for the first time in 21 years, something that fans definitely enjoyed in a big way.
The Rock Has Been A Heel Quite A Few Times In The Past
In 1997, fans began booing Rocky Maivia, prompting WWF to leverage that resentment by turning him heel. After a four-month hiatus due to a legitimate injury, The Rock returned in August 1997 as part of The Nation of Domination stable. This turn allowed him to embrace a character he was comfortable with, showcasing charisma in delivering promos.
The heel turn proved successful, leading to captivating feuds with Ken Shamrock, Triple H, and D-Generation X. The Rock eventually overthrew Faarooq to become the leader of The Nation, solidifying his dominance. His promos became a highlight as he insulted everyone, transitioning him to a babyface with growing crowd support.
In 1998, The Rock further transformed into a main eventer through a heel turn at Survivor Series, defeating Mankind for his first WWF Championship. This corporate gimmick showcased Rock’s exceptional promo skills, establishing him as a bonafide main eventer.
In 2003, The Rock returned as a Hollywood Megastar, portraying an arrogant heel who looked down on the wrestling business. Despite the brief duration, this run produced some of the best heel work, featuring memorable moments like the “Rock Concert” segments and victories over wrestling icons like Hulk Hogan and Steve Austin.
