The Rock's WrestleMania 40 Return Sparks Controversy and Resentment Among WWE Employees

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's highly anticipated return to WWE for WrestleMania 40 has been met with a wave of controversy and resentment from within the company. The Rock's claims of making wrestling cool again and his behind-the-scenes maneuvering have left many WWE employees feeling frustrated and overshadowed, despite the historic event that saw Cody Rhodes defeat Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.

According to Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio, The Rock's return to WWE was seen by some as an attempt to turn around his career after recent setbacks, including the cancellation of his TV show "Young Rock" and underperforming movies. Meltzer revealed, "There were definitely people in WWE who felt that his return to WWE this year was an attempt to turn around, kind of like a losing streak, so to speak."

However, Meltzer also disclosed that The Rock had been planning his WWE comeback, specifically a match with Roman Reigns, since 2019. The Rock was reportedly offered a staggering $30 million to join the WWE board of directors, a deal he eventually accepted, paving the way for his WrestleMania 40 return. This revelation has raised eyebrows among WWE employees, who question the fairness of such a substantial offer.

The controversy surrounding The Rock's return intensified when he claimed to have made wrestling cool again. Many WWE employees took offense to this statement, feeling that The Rock was attempting to take credit for the company's recent success, which had begun before his comeback. Meltzer reported, "No one can say anything bad about him publicly, but there are people who are very resentful of him going like 'I came back and wrestling is cool' after WWE had a tremendous year."

Behind the scenes, The Rock's influence and power plays have also caused friction. Meltzer revealed that there was significant manipulation and games being played leading up to WrestleMania 40. "There is a lot of stuff behind the scenes with Rock that I didn't realize, you know, regarding the whole thing. It's really pretty obvious to me that there were a lot of games being played earlier this year when it came to the WrestleMania thing,"Meltzer stated.

One of the most contentious issues was the proposed match between The Rock and Roman Reigns. Despite the potential mainstream appeal of the bout, many within WWE opposed the idea, instead favoring Cody Rhodes to face Reigns at WrestleMania. Meltzer disclosed, "There were definitely people who did not want the Roman Reigns and The Rock match." Ultimately, Cody Rhodes won the Royal Rumble, setting up his championship match against Reigns, while The Rock's involvement was limited to interfering in the main event.

The Rock's behavior outside the ring has also come under scrutiny. Reports have surfaced of The Rock arriving hours late for rehearsals and fan events, causing frustration among colleagues and disappointment among fans. His alleged manipulation of rehearsal times to avoid being technically late has further fueled the controversy surrounding his return.

Despite the backstage drama, it is undeniable that The Rock's presence at WrestleMania 40 contributed to the event's success. The two-day extravaganza became the biggest in WWE history, with Sunday's event outdrawing Saturday's in terms of viewership. Meltzer acknowledged, "There are even people who were very negative on him readily admit that when he came in, it made, it made the brand more popular that he drove TV ratings to a great degree."

As the controversy surrounding The Rock's return and claims of making wrestling cool again continues to resonate through the WWE locker room, questions remain about the long-term impact on company morale. While The Rock's star power undoubtedly brought attention to the event, the resentment and frustration among employees cannot be ignored, raising concerns about the fairness of his treatment and influence within the company.

Key Takeaways

• The Rock's WWE return sparked controversy and resentment among employees.
• Some saw his return as an attempt to revive his career after recent setbacks.
• The Rock was offered $30 million to join WWE's board of directors, sparking fairness concerns.
• He claimed to have made wrestling cool again, angering employees who felt he took credit for WWE's success.
• Behind-the-scenes manipulation and power plays caused friction, including a proposed match with Roman Reigns.