REAL Reason The Rock Missed WWE WrestleMania 41 (WWE News)
The Final Boss tells all - or perhaps doesn't...
Yesterday, on the Pat McAfee Show, the Rock broke his self-imposed silence to "reveal" why he missed WWE WrestleMania 41.
The Rock delved into the creative process behind John Cena's heel turn at Elimination Chamber, and the resulting finish of Cody Rhodes Vs. The Rock on night two of WrestleMania 41.
Rock explained that he was personally asked by Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel to appear at the Chamber Premium Live Event to drive interest in it - a response to "slow" ticket sales. He implied that he did want to see a Cody Rhodes heel turn, corroborating the reporting of the Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer, before disclosing that it was Paul Levesque's idea to turn John Cena heel instead. The Rock, who said that he loved bouncing ideas around with Triple H, agreed.
Elimination Chamber happened.
After that, Rock claims, he called Cody and Cena individually to tell them that the work of the Final Boss was "done", and that he would withdraw from WrestleMania in order to allow the headliners to do what they do. They can always revisit the soul-selling business later. Rock framed all of this as a magnanimous gesture that allowed John Cena to be the focal point of what, in WWE canon, was the record-breaking 17th World title win. Rock also claimed that he "loved" the critically-savaged finish of the Rhodes Vs. Cena match - albeit with a caveat.
On the face of it, the Rock presented himself as a business-minded executive who was asked to promote WrestleMania season, but did not wish to steal focus from its key storyline.
However, if you are inclined to read things with a more cynical gaze, the interview was loaded with subtext...
Opinion - Is The Rock Playing A Political Game?
The Rock's words are begging for a translation from corporate-speak.
With shocking candour that betrays WWE's relentless corporate messaging of a white-hot boom period, Rock admitted that Elimination Chamber under-performed against company expectations. Translation: Levesque failed to adequately heat up WrestleMania season, and Rock graciously stepped into perform in the "greatest angle" of all-time. Rock's words here also seem to indicate that Emanuel has more faith in Rock than Levesque.
The Rock claimed that he wanted to check the pulse of a teased Cody turn; since Rhodes received a very mixed reaction at WrestleMania, expressing that sentiment on the Pat McAfee show allowed him to appear prescient. Moreover, Cena's heel character has received very mixed reviews; even doing it in the first place is not a great look for Levesque. Was he blamed here?
Rock also said that he would have "finessed" the night two finish differently, were he involved in the process - the clearest indication that he did not in fact "love" it. As politely as he "tried" to articulate this sentiment, his motives were transparent.
Is it too cynical to suggest that Rock all but said that the most well-received elements of this year's WrestleMania season were his doing, and that he was blameless in the execution of Cody Vs. Cena?