Before he became a rather mediocre movie actor
Dwayne Johnson was of course known simply as The Rock, one of the most exciting all round personalities to have ever graced World Wrestling Entertainment and whose popularity was rivalled only by his beer drinking, redneck-proud on screen nemesis Stone Cold Steve Austin. Last night he did what many in the wrestling industry had considered merely a pipe dream by making a live return to Raw to address the millions... and I mean millions of The Rock's loyal wrestling fans and confirming that he would be the guest host at
Wrestlemania, by far the biggest annual event in the world of sports entertainment.
Vince McMahon who has seen Pay Per View Buy-Rates plummet as of late has been in desperate need of a star attraction for this year's big show and after failing in his attempt to scoop up UFC star (and former WWE Champion) Brock Lesnar, he will have been extremely heartened to make the deal with Dwayne. News of the actor guest hosting Wrestlemania has made the rounds in a number of
UK and
US online publications and has inspired the type of media attention that McMahon had been praying for with his biggest show of the year just six weeks away. There is a growing stigmatism towards the world of professional wrestling with the product seen as distinctly uncool in the mainstream particularly as it is catered to children in a tv friendly PG environment and so the return of an iconic star was unfortunately much needed. It was the first time that Dwayne Johnson had set foot in a wrestling ring for seven years yet he cut an electrifying, perfectly timed promo that made it seem like he had never left and reminded many of just how good he used to be in wrestling's heyday. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_9kEdhp4s4 There were some who criticised his initial decision to leave but Dwayne felt that he had accomplished everything he needed to in the wrestling industry and was looking for a different kind of challenge. Not to mention the fact that being paid millions to lead films such as Faster, The Tooth Fairy and Race to Witch Mountain is a lot more lucrative, with more longevity and safer than risking long term injury in the tough as nails environment of wrestling. The matches may be predetermined but the exhaustion, pain and packed schedule is all too real and one only has to look at the old battered bodies of former wrestling stars to see the dangerous implications of an extremely tough profession. During his long and lively return promo Dwayne recalled some of the comments made by current top star John Cena who gave an
interview to The Sun in 2008 in which he praised Dwayne's accomplishments but implied that the movie star should have more consideration for the organisation that helped to make him a star:
"Associating with sports entertainment doesn't do much for his acting career. I get it. Just don't f*** me around and tell me that you love this. That's the only thing that gets me really p***ed off. Our fan base have so much admiration for him, he's got to respect that. He doesn't give anything back."
Dwayne in character as The Rock addressed the fact that John Cena had made these very real comments and began to berate the child favourite by mocking his silly catchphrases and incredibly colourful outfits. The thousands in attendance were probably expecting a mouthwatering confrontation between the two big stars of past and present but for once the WWE appear to have done the smart thing and decided to delay and no doubt build hype for the confrontation at Wrestlemania instead. The ensuing face-off between the two men should be very entertaining indeed not least because one senses that they do share a certain amount of real animosity.
Although The Rock told last night's fans that he would never leave them again, I can't see Dwayne's movie career drawing to a halt anytime soon. He currently has three films in the pipeline including the lead role in the upcoming Sinbad movie
Arabian Nights where he is set to star alongside Anthony Hopkins and whilst he might not be a heavy box office draw his films usually turn a profit and warrant his position as a Hollywood leading man.