The most exciting sporting event I've ever been to was Stephen Strasburg's debut with the Nationals last year. If I'd been at the Honda Center in Anaheim yesterday, last night's Monday Night Raw might have been a close second.
"Absolutely berserk" is an understatement. A crowd hasn't demonstrated that level of complete and utter devotion to one man since Jonestown.
It feels more than a little foolish to talk about something happening in professional wrestling the same way I would something happening in football or baseball, but damn, that was some exciting stuff last night. For nearly 20 minutes, The Rock gave a speech to the crowd that managed to both point out how awful the WWE has become since he was a part of it (I missed that entire era, but fans seem to speak really highly of it, so I'll take their word for it) and inject new life into the company in the lead-up to WrestleMania. It was even more impressive when you consider how awful the preceding two hours of Raw had been, with weaker-than-usual matches and a stupid kiss-cam gimmick. Although, it was weirdly amusing to see The Miz and Michael Cole struggle to both give their condolences to Jerry Lawler on the death of his mother and maintain kayfabe, talking about how he was going to get his ass kicked at this Sunday's pay-per-view.
(Speaking of long speeches, I'll repeat a question I once asked on Twitter: Why is it that wrestlers can come out every week and give lengthy monologues without any visual aides whatsoever, but celebrated actors on Saturday Night Live can't get through more than a couple of lines without having to glance at cue cards? I'm not saying all these guys are gifted thespians, and some are clearly less gifted than others, but they're also a lot more talented than people give them credit for.)
The best part was The Rock trashing John Cena, while the crowd, who twice earlier that night had been wildly cheering Cena, started happily chanting, "Cena sucks!" I mean, just from a business perspective, regardless of how you feel about the WWE or professional wrestling in general, this is pretty fascinating. It would be like McDonald's introducing a new sandwich or bringing back the Arch Deluxe or whatever, and having the ad campaign center around how awful the Big Mac is. The WWE is taking the face of its company and biggest cash cow, and putting his image through the ringer. Maybe this results in Cena turning heel. (Not likely.) Maybe this storyline will end with The Rock developing respect for Cena and giving him The Rock Seal of Approval. (Unfortunately, much more likely.) But for now, it's interesting stuff.
It is a little weird that The Rock implied he'd be sticking around the WWE well beyond WrestleMania. In fact, he didn't so much imply it, as he came right out and said it. In all likelihood, he's not. Even part time. And if it wasn't for the fact that his movie career has stalled, he probably wouldn't be back now. (Of course, he only has himself to blame for that. It's not like anyone had a gun to his head, forcing him to abandon action films and make family-friendly crap like The Tooth Fairy or Race To Witch Mountain. At least, I hope no one did. It would explain a lot, though.) So I'm not sure how he's going to extricate himself from that guarantee. Or who knows, maybe there's a deal in place where he will stick around. If so, Linda McMahon should run on that accomplishment in her next Senate run, as it's far more impressive than anything else she's done.
Every now and then, the WWE proves it can pull off something great. Don't get me wrong, based on its track record, I still have faith that it might manage to screw even this up. But for now, I'm cautiously optimistic that the next couple of months are going to be a lot of fun.
After seven years in Hollywood that ranged from blockbusters like "The Game Plan" and duds like "The Tooth Fairy," Dwayne Johnson came back to the scene that made him a star, announcing his return as the guest host for WrestleMania.
The crowd in Anaheim, California went absolutely berserk when the lights went out followed by the speakers blasting out, "If you smell....what The Rock....Is Cookin."
The most electrifying man in sports entertainment pulled off one of the most electrifying moments in recent WWE memory. It was a trip down memory lane for those fans that remember the WWE Attitude era, seeing The Rock pull off all his trademark lines while also trashing both heels and faces alike. (Bleacher Report)
"Absolutely berserk" is an understatement. A crowd hasn't demonstrated that level of complete and utter devotion to one man since Jonestown.
It feels more than a little foolish to talk about something happening in professional wrestling the same way I would something happening in football or baseball, but damn, that was some exciting stuff last night. For nearly 20 minutes, The Rock gave a speech to the crowd that managed to both point out how awful the WWE has become since he was a part of it (I missed that entire era, but fans seem to speak really highly of it, so I'll take their word for it) and inject new life into the company in the lead-up to WrestleMania. It was even more impressive when you consider how awful the preceding two hours of Raw had been, with weaker-than-usual matches and a stupid kiss-cam gimmick. Although, it was weirdly amusing to see The Miz and Michael Cole struggle to both give their condolences to Jerry Lawler on the death of his mother and maintain kayfabe, talking about how he was going to get his ass kicked at this Sunday's pay-per-view.
(Speaking of long speeches, I'll repeat a question I once asked on Twitter: Why is it that wrestlers can come out every week and give lengthy monologues without any visual aides whatsoever, but celebrated actors on Saturday Night Live can't get through more than a couple of lines without having to glance at cue cards? I'm not saying all these guys are gifted thespians, and some are clearly less gifted than others, but they're also a lot more talented than people give them credit for.)
The best part was The Rock trashing John Cena, while the crowd, who twice earlier that night had been wildly cheering Cena, started happily chanting, "Cena sucks!" I mean, just from a business perspective, regardless of how you feel about the WWE or professional wrestling in general, this is pretty fascinating. It would be like McDonald's introducing a new sandwich or bringing back the Arch Deluxe or whatever, and having the ad campaign center around how awful the Big Mac is. The WWE is taking the face of its company and biggest cash cow, and putting his image through the ringer. Maybe this results in Cena turning heel. (Not likely.) Maybe this storyline will end with The Rock developing respect for Cena and giving him The Rock Seal of Approval. (Unfortunately, much more likely.) But for now, it's interesting stuff.
It is a little weird that The Rock implied he'd be sticking around the WWE well beyond WrestleMania. In fact, he didn't so much imply it, as he came right out and said it. In all likelihood, he's not. Even part time. And if it wasn't for the fact that his movie career has stalled, he probably wouldn't be back now. (Of course, he only has himself to blame for that. It's not like anyone had a gun to his head, forcing him to abandon action films and make family-friendly crap like The Tooth Fairy or Race To Witch Mountain. At least, I hope no one did. It would explain a lot, though.) So I'm not sure how he's going to extricate himself from that guarantee. Or who knows, maybe there's a deal in place where he will stick around. If so, Linda McMahon should run on that accomplishment in her next Senate run, as it's far more impressive than anything else she's done.
Every now and then, the WWE proves it can pull off something great. Don't get me wrong, based on its track record, I still have faith that it might manage to screw even this up. But for now, I'm cautiously optimistic that the next couple of months are going to be a lot of fun.
1 comments:
I totally agree. I finally watched the video today, and it was simply amazing. I didn't know how much I'd missed him until he came back. Like you, I missed much of Rock's heyday. By the time I came back to wrestling, the only people wrestling were Stone Cold, HHH, The Rock, and American Badass Undertaker in interchangeable weekly matches. I missed The Rock's rise, but I caught him after he peaked.
As for his "promise", I think he was talking more about his legacy. He understands that he's where he is because of the the WWE, and he'll never turn his back on them. Will we see him after Wrestlemania? Nah, but he will pop in every few years when the company needs a shot in the arm. It's almost like the WWE Legends contract, but more extensive than an action figure and HOF induction. The Rock now has the role that Hogan used to have before he went over to TNA. So, now that Elder Statesman role will go to Dwayne.
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