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Backstage News On WWE Plans For The Rock’s Heel Persona

By John Canton • Published 12th February 2024
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The Rock is embracing his new heel role in WWE and it may remind longtime fans of what his character was like over two decades ago.

During his WWE career as one of the biggest stars in the history of pro wrestling, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson proved that he could do it all as a performer whether he was a babyface (good guy) or a heel (bad guy).

As Rocky Maivia, he started as a babyface in late 1996, the fans found him boring as they chanted “Rocky Sucks” and by mid-1997, The Rock was born as a heel that would become a WWE Champion at 26 years of age in 1998. From there, The Rock became a top babyface for several years.

It was in early 2003 when The Rock had filmed a couple of movies and was heading in that direction as a career when he developed the “Hollywood Rock” persona. That led to Rock having memorable rivalries with Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin, and Bill Goldberg and even losing to The Hurricane on Raw. Fans still recall his memorable “Rock Concerts” while also insulting fans in cities like Toronto and Sacramento.

In present-day WWE, those “Rocky Sucks” chants have miraculously returned as the WWE Universe has picked Cody Rhodes as their “chosen one” so to speak. At the WrestleMania 40 Kickoff Event in Las Vegas, The Rock joined cousin Roman Reigns on the stage to tease their WrestleMania 40 match, but Royal Rumble winner Rhodes made it clear he was going after Reigns instead.

After Reigns insulted Cody and his late father Dusty Rhodes, Cody told Reigns & Rock that their grandfathers would be disappointed in them. Rock took offense to that, so he slapped Cody in the face and the fight was broken up after that.

Since then, The Rock has confirmed that he’s a heel in WWE now while WWE has certainly teased a Rock & Reigns tag match against Cody & World Champion Seth “Freakin” Rollins at WrestleMania 40.

It has also been reported by Wrestlevotes on X/Twitter that The Rock plans to embrace the heel life while mocking the “Cody Crybabies” who support Rhodes.

Sources suggest that The Rock is expected to fully embrace his heel turn, drawing inspiration from his past ‘Hollywood’ Rock persona. Additionally, I’m told to anticipate the release of Rock branded ‘Cody Crybabies’ merchandise. The story is just beginning…

The Rock & Roman Reigns Set For WWE SmackDown Appearance

As for what’s next, the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion and his cousin The Rock are set for an appearance this Friday on the February 16th edition of Smackdown in Salt Lake City.

It is a rare advertised televised appearance for Rock, who has used the phrase “long game” about his WWE return, which suggests that he could be sticking around for a while.