WWE Calls on The Rock to Shift Attention Away from Vince McMahon Scandal
In a bold move to divert attention from the recent scandal surrounding Vince McMahon, WWE has enlisted the help of global superstar, The Rock. With accusations against McMahon mounting, WWE is desperate to change the narrative, and what better way to do so than by bringing in one of the biggest names in the industry.
The controversy began on Friday Night Smackdown when Cody Rhodes, who had been slated to face Roman Reigns at Wrestlemania, announced that he was stepping aside to make room for The Rock. Despite winning the Royal Rumble and months of speculation about a rematch with Reigns, Rhodes willingly relinquished his spot to the Hollywood icon. It seems that WWE is willing to overlook The Rock’s non-wrestler status in order to shake things up.
Reports surrounding this decision have been conflicting. Dave Meltzer claims that WWE had planned the Rock vs. Roman match since the beginning of the year, even with Rhodes’ victory in the Royal Rumble. Some speculate that The Rock, who recently rejoined WWE’s board, had a hand in reshaping the Wrestlemania card alongside Triple H. Others point to a connection between Cody Rhodes and a snide remark made by Jungle Boy during the All In preshow.
What is clear is that The Rock now wields significant power within WWE at a time when the company is desperate to distance itself from McMahon. Despite standing next to McMahon at the NYSE just hours before the scandal broke, The Rock has managed to avoid the fallout from the initial lawsuit. However, his ties to McMahon cannot be completely disregarded.
Whether The Rock’s involvement will successfully divert attention from McMahon remains to be seen. WWE’s ratings and ticket sales are unlikely to be affected by the lawsuit or the federal investigation into McMahon. The presence of The Rock alone is enough to draw in viewers, even if fans were initially upset about Rhodes being replaced. WWE’s size and influence make it seemingly immune to failure.
Critics argue that WWE’s decision to involve The Rock is a transparent ploy. The fact that The Rock’s agent is Ari Emanuel, who oversees TKO, the merger company between WWE and UFC, only adds to the skepticism. The Rock’s participation in WWE’s creative process may be an attempt to prepare for potential revelations about employees who may have concealed or ignored McMahon’s alleged actions. Having The Rock at Wrestlemania serves as a distraction, regardless of the ongoing legal proceedings.
On a wrestling level, the situation is quite comical. Cody Rhodes has spent years chasing the typical WWE spectacle, which led to him leaving and starting AEW. However, just as Rhodes was on the verge of achieving his own big moment, WWE pushed him aside for an even grander story involving The Rock, which lacks any substantial storyline. Rhodes’ desires have ultimately undone him, a narrative that could have been quite compelling.
WWE has a history of prioritizing big names over the wishes of their dedicated fans. This was evident when they chose not to have Sami Zayn defeat Reigns in Montreal, a decision that would have resulted in a monumental reaction from the crowd. Instead, WWE opted for Rhodes at Wrestlemania, only to backtrack on that plan as well. The company is always in pursuit of the next big thing.
Perhaps this entire saga with The Rock is WWE’s way of shifting the focus away from McMahon’s scandal. Rather than facing questions about who knew what and when, WWE can now present the world with the return of The Rock. While those within the wrestling community understand the true motives behind this move, WWE hopes to buy some time and maintain public interest. Only time will tell if this strategy proves successful.
