8 Wrestlers The Rock Couldn't Get Over

7. Rikishi

The Rock Big Show
WWE.com

"I did it for The Rock."

A rare Chris Kreski misstep, the Rikishi hit-and-run reveal was such a retcon, and such a senseless killing of a made man with a visible ceiling, that even The Rock had little chance of transferring his star dust to the programme.

The racially-charged premise rang hollow. Rikishi's desperate "island boys!" protests sounded stupid at the time - the WWF Heavyweight Title was draped over The Rock's shoulder as Rikishi delivered his infamously monotone promo - and in retrospect, The Rock was a made man by Survivor Series 1999, and was even hand-chosen by Vince McMahon as the corporate face of the company at the same event in 1998. The plot hole was almost as gigantic as Rikishi's explanation was wooden - and in parroting those six words back to him, The Rock sealed Rikishi's fate.

His "I-did-it-for-da-Rock!" impersonation was far more exaggerated than Rikishi's original promo, but it was such a deep, deep cut that Rikishi was instantly stigmatised as a spectacularly unthreatening heel worthy only of derisive laughter. It was too effective a diss. It's now a meme.

Rikishi had no hope in hell of salvaging himself from that assassination; their Survivor Series 2000 blowoff was a midcard attraction in both card placement and atmosphere, much as Rock was game.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!