The Rock: Face Or Heel?

3. Moments

The Rock
WWE.com

Face:

There's 'This Is Your Life', the legendary skit that humanised the Rock just enough to put him all the way over as a man worth rooting for, and not just being in awe of. There's the Billy Gunn promo so funny that it birthed a running gag of a put-down from which there was no comeback. There's-uh the evisceration-uh of Triple H-uh that actually caused him to look inward-uh and do better promos-uh. There's a contrarian narrative that Rock didn't just use notes to get John Cena over in a sophisticated worked shoot in 2011 - that he was heavily reliant on Brian Gewirtz for his best boy-poppers - but the look of shook indignation on his face at WrestleMania X8 lasted only a second before he went with Hogan's self-serving behaviour. He proved himself an improv wizard.

Heel:

The way in which Rock sold every Stunner is iconic, which doesn't get stated enough as an argument for his in-ring greatness. The Rock could go, and he wasn't afraid to show ass to get his opponent's finish over. He seemed to enjoy playing the fool, when the context demanded. His facials in Halftime Heat are unexplored meme fodder. He was a great bastard too, when throwing Steve Austin in a river like he was the piece of trash he called him in a fabulous heat angle.

Also, simply, "Toronto".

Winner: Face

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The Rock
 
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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!