10 Booking Steps For The Rock's WWE Return
1. But He Ensures Roman Has No One Left To Protect Him
The Rock shouldn't appear on the Smackdown after WrestleMania. He wasn't around regularly so there shouldn't be a typical retirement ceremony, he should say goodbye similarly to Batista. There is no way to top the emotion of a sold out WrestleMania crowd chanting goodbye to one of the biggest stars wrestling has ever created; the focus of Smackdown should be on the future.
However, the influence of the storyline should be felt going forward and eventually lead to the end of Roman's Universal Championship reign.
Reigns destroyed The Rock at WrestleMania, obliterated him without any help, channelling all his anger into defeating his family. But on Smackdown, after a lengthy match with an impromptu opponent, he has no one left to protect him when Big E's music plays and he runs down to cash in his Money in the Bank contract.
The High Chief doesn't have The Usos by his side or Paul Heyman; he has become King Macbeth, standing alone on a throne of blood. There is no one to help save him from the siege, and after hundreds of days of dominance, he falls on his sword and loses his championship to Big E as the Smackdown crowd erupts in everlasting joy.