The Rock Confirms Appearance On WWE Raw Netflix Debut

The Rock makes waves, but his WWE Raw role is still unknown.

WWE Bad Blood 2024 The Rock
WWE

It just wouldn't be WrestleMania Season if The Rock wasn't suddenly a major part of the discussion, and The Great One inserted himself into the conversation Sunday in a big way.

Rock announced via social media that he will be at WWE Raw's debut show on Netflix tonight, describing it as "com[ing] back home to WWE... as we make history on Netflix and begin a new and exciting era."

In the post, Rock talked broadly about his family and heritage, referencing his "Samoan High Chief Title, High Chief Seiuli" as one of the greatest honors of his life. The third-generation wrestler then dedicated his upcoming appearance on Raw to his late family members. This is likely significant considering that Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa are battling on Raw for the title of Tribal Chief.

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The news also comes following multiple published reports detailing how WWE's creative team has been booking WrestleMania 41 and the build to it without The Rock factored in due to his schedule not being clear, but everyone pretty much knows that could change if the Final Boss' schedule does indeed open up.

WWE Raw The Rock
WWE

The Rock's WWE Raw Role

Of course, Dwayne Johnson returning for the first Raw on Netflix does not automatically mean he is being programmed into a feud for 'Mania. The show is a significant one for WWE, with the company loading it up like a PLE, and the Great One's appearance could be another draw to boost viewership on the debut.

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This will mark The Rock's first appearance on WWE programming since Bad Blood in October, which itself was a return that sparked discussion about his involvement in the ongoing Bloodline and Cody Rhodes sagas. However, nothing has yet to come of Rock's silent countdown and throat-slashing gesture.

Rock's role at WrestleMania 41 -- schedule permitting -- has been a source of heavy speculation since before WrestleMania 40, ever since WWE pivoted away from a Rock/Reigns match in Philadelphia and opted for the tag match with the cousins teaming up against Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1.

Since then, Rock/Roman has carried on as a "dream match" that seemingly has been on the table for the past few WrestleManias. And the Raw after WrestleMania 40 almost perfectly set up a Cody/Rock match at this year's Showcase of the Immortals -- if WWE wants to pull the trigger on that contest.

If Monday's appearance indeed is the beginning of The Rock inserting himself into the Bloodline saga -- possibly during the Tribal Combat match -- then it will be fascinating to see how that shakes up the top of the card heading into WrestleMania 41.

Contributor
Contributor

Scott is a former journalist and longtime wrestling fan who was smart enough to abandon WCW during the Monday Night Wars the same time as the Radicalz. He fondly remembers watching WrestleMania III, IV, V and VI and Saturday Night's Main Event, came back to wrestling during the Attitude Era, and has been a consumer of sports entertainment since then. He's written for WhatCulture for more than a decade, establishing the Ups and Downs articles for WWE Raw and WWE PPVs/PLEs and composing pieces on a variety of topics.