Return of The Rock at WWE WrestleMania 40: An Electrifying Match

The buildup to the Rock’s return shockingly focused very little on The Rock’s return. Despite that being a massive moment, Rock centered the feud on WWE’s newest star. Cody Rhodes was the actual focal point of the build, and the results each week were noticeable. Cody looked like he could stand up to a wrestling icon.

Adding two world champions made the match on Saturday feel like a clash of titans.  For as selfish as the final boss character is, Rock knew who the star of the show was. However, any thought that this was deliberate to hide Rocky’s flaws was quickly dispelled when he arrived in Philadelphia. 

Finally, The Rock Has Come Back to WrestleMania

When the lights went down and the stage powered up, it was clear that The Rock had arrived to cap off WrestleMania 40. When the “People’s Champ” stepped out of his Brahma ring of fire, the night kicked into another gear. Even before the match started, the energy began to pick up.

This was the night’s fight and possibly the weekend match. Electrifying is a part of The Rock gimmick, but it was very real at WrestleMania. Perhaps because the crowd had just gotten into Sami Zayn winning, or perhaps it was him finally getting into the ring.  After the bell rang, the match over-delivered on expectations in every way. 

The Rock’s position on the board was a major factor in the flow of the match. The four superstars brawled around the ring and got extreme in the city that made it cool decades ago. He finally had Cody’s mother at ringside to really sell that angle, notably as he beat Cody with his now iconic weight belt.

Outside of his character work, though, Rock was great in the ring. Rock was always more about charisma than technical prowess, but he looked like he belonged in the ring with the three top guys in WWE. No, it was not a high-octane style.

Truthfully, though, only Seth Rollins is genuinely comfortable in that environment amongst the competitors. Rocky held attention and held his own, bumping and selling for everyone while fighting exactly how a final boss should. 

The Bloodline Thrives off The Rock’s Return at WrestleMania 

The fall of The Bloodline is still at the top of many people’s minds in the WWE Universe. The Rock tonight performed at such a high level that it may even complicate that story. During his appearance at the WrestleMania post-show press conference, Rock mentioned wanting to return in a way that added value.

Tonight, as he brawled around the stadium with Seth Rollins and clashed with Cody Rhodes in the ring, he did that expertly. The Rock can lead the Bloodline; he can destroy The Bloodline, really anything that WWE desires. 

The Bloodline has been such a gift to WWE that it has actually been difficult to envision a world without it. Even when they weren’t the most exciting act on the card, they felt too big to fade away. The Rock can be the key to extending this story, which has already propelled WWE to new heights.

Like he revitalized the crowd in tonight’s main event, this Rock 10.0 can breathe electricity and energy into that angle. The Rock has shown interest, and tonight, he proved he very much can get it done. 

The Future of The Rock after WrestleMania 40

The Rock’s future involvement after WrestleMania is undetermined, but it will be fascinating to watch. The Rock’s return at WrestleMania 40 proved that he can still go. Rock looked great, performed even better, and made Saturday night’s main event mean so much more with his presence.

The Bloodline has some issues to iron out, which could worsen after Sunday. Wherever the next steps are, The Rock will be a significant part of it moving forward. If all of his matches are as well executed and received as this one, then this run may be one of the very best from a WWE legend.