The Rock Set To Return For WWE SmackDown 1000?

'The Great One' could join The Undertaker on 16 October.

by Andy H Murray
Dwayne The Rock Johnson Bio
WWE

WWE are stacking the deck for SmackDown's 1000th episode.

With the special broadcast taking place on 16 October, the company are already advertising The Undertaker's appearance to go with three big SummerSlam/Hell In A Cell pay-per-view rematches: Daniel Bryan vs. The Miz, Randy Orton vs. Jeff Hardy, and AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe, which is listed as a WWE Championship bout.

The biggest announcement may still be forthcoming, however, as Barnburner's Fired Up podcast claim that WWE are "very, very close" to booking The Rock for the landmark show.

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Dwayne Johnson's name has been all over wrestling media lately. Most recently, 'The Great One' was linked with a potential match at WrestleMania 35, with the Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer suggesting Roman Reigns as a possible opponent. There have been no further updates on this, but it remains a possibility.

As WWE's biggest mainstream crossover star, it makes sense that the company would reach out to him for this landmark SmackDown. His presence guarantees an interest spike, and while Rocky wasn't present at Raw 25 in January, booking him would be a foolproof way to ensure a big audience on 16 October.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.