The Rock Perfectly Set Himself Up To Be The Next Great Heel Authority Figure In WWE
Highlights
- The Rock turned heel at WrestleMania 40, setting up a potential tag team match.
- WWE listened to fans who wanted Cody Rhodes in the main event.
- The Rock's heel turn coincided with him joining the TKO Board of Directors and abusing his power.
The landscape of WWE was flipped on its head over the last week, as The Rock turned heel for the first time in over twenty years when he was competing under the “Hollywood Rock” persona. Whilst this looks to have set up a potential tag team match for WrestleMania 40 pitting The Rock and Roman Reigns against Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes, it has also set up so much more which could further change the face of WWE. In just a few minutes, The Rock established himself as one of the top heels in the company and potential WWE’s next great heel authority figure.
The Rock Turned Heel At The WWE WrestleMania 40 Kickoff Event
WWE Listened To The Fans Who Wanted Cody Rhodes
- The WWE Universe booedThe Rock for taking Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania main event
- Instead of ignoring fans, WWE played into the controversy
- Cody Rhodes was given his WrestleMania spot back, and The Rock turned heel
In what felt like an unthinkable circumstance not too long ago, The Rock turned heel at the WWE WrestleMania 40 Kickoff event in Las Vegas. After Cody Rhodes stepped aside so WWE could build to The Rock vs. Roman Reigns dream match they’ve been so desperate to book for too long, fans revolted. A swarm of online uproar, worldwide trends, and WWE’s most disliked YouTube video in the history of the channel, all led to WWE changing track. The Rock soaked in the boos, before rejecting the “Cody Crybabies” and pushing for his WrestleMania main event because it is better for business.
WWE: 10 Harsh Realities About WrestleMania Fans Need To Realize
While WrestleMania is the pinnacle of wrestling, things are far from perfect when it comes to WWE's biggest event of the year.The Rock and Roman Reigns even shook hands, showcasing that they were in cahoots to ensure that they make the most money with a big-time WrestleMania main event. It was very clear with how The Rock addressed fans that this wasn’t the PR merchant Dwayne Johnson, and the man who has returned to WWE countless times over the years with the same candor and catchphrases to send the crowd home happy. This was well and truly “The Rock”, and he was once again a defined character in WWE. After Cody Rhodes emerged to cement his main event spot and take that opportunity from The Rock, Reigns disrespected Rhodes’ father. Rhodes hit back by saying the elders in The Bloodline would be ashamed. The Rock didn’t take kindly to this, slapping Rhodes and nailing his heel turn down. It was masterfully done, and it has made The Rock the biggest bad guy in WWE.
The Rock Is Now On The TKO Board Of Directors
The Story Makes Sense For The Rock To Abuse His Power
- WWE hinted at The Rock abusing his power
- The Rock is one of the most influential celebrities
The Rock’s heel turn has coincided with his placement onto the TKO Board Of Directors. With The Rock seemingly pushing himself into the WrestleMania main event, many fans pointed towards his backstage influence now that he is on the Board. WWE looks to be playing into that narrative. The likes of Seth Rollins, Triple H, and Cody Rhodes have made reference to The Rock’s newfound power behind the scenes, bringing that to the forefront on screen.
Die Rocky Die: Why The Rock Has Always Been A Controversial WWE Star
From his Rocky Maivia gimmick, to his Hollywood heel character, and now stealing Cody Rhodes' WrestleMania spot, The Rock has often been hated.With this, The Rock and WWE can further play into it, creating a power struggle with Triple H and ending up with the most famous man on the planet becoming the biggest heel authority figure in WWE. It is a dynamic that makes all the sense in the world, and it is one that fans can easily buy into. Much like with other authority figures in the past like Triple H and Vince McMahon, The Rock abusing his power and his favorites getting big spots would blur the lines between fiction and reality, creating more hatred for the heel and more support for those who oppose him.
It Has Been A While Since WWE Has Had A Top Heel Authority Figure
Steve Austin And Daniel Bryan Had To Face Heel Authority Figures
- Vince McMahon vs. Steve Austin in WWE’s best ever feud
- Daniel Bryan’s storyline with The Authority was red hot
- Cody Rhodes is WWE’s next big babyface, giving him a heel authority enemy makes sense
It has certainly been fresh to see Nick Aldis, Adam Pearce, and Triple H as no-nonsense authority figures, but when you want to build an ultra hot babyface, it is logical to match them up with a tyrannic authority figure. Both Steve Austin and Daniel Bryan were two of WWE’s hottest babyfaces of all time and it was due to them having to overcome adversity from those in power, and Cody Rhodes can follow that same path.
Vince McMahon: Age, Height, Wife & More
There is a lot about Vince McMahon that WWE fans should know about, both in his professional wrestling career and personal life.Rhodes has gotten ridiculously over in WWE through just his likability and strong work, so to ramp that up to a new level as he battles The Rock’s reign as a heel authority figure could create magic and a mega-star. One could argue that it is about time that WWE ran back a formula which has worked wonders in the past, especially if they want the company to grow and reach the next level.
