In the lead-up to his anticipated appearance on this Friday’s SmackDown, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson issued what seemed like a direct warning to Cody Rhodes on Tuesday night. The warning came through an Instagram post where The Rock shared a backstage video alongside the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, Roman Reigns, after the WrestleMania 40 press conference in Las Vegas. As the two were walking out of the arena, it was clear they were on the same side. The Rock has confirmed he is turning heel in WWE.

As such, he’s already begun using his huge platform to promote his upcoming SmackDown appearance. In the post, The Rock captioned, “Hear the rumble, hear the rumble. Run for dem life when we step into the jungle. You f–ked around and found out quick, didn’t you boy? You, your little friends, and all your crybabies have no idea what’s coming. The world’s on notice. People’s Champ + Tribal Chief.”

 


The Rock’s warning follows a recent SmackDown where he made a surprise appearance, confronting Reigns after Rhodes we seemingly set to choose Reigns as his WrestleMania opponent. However, Rhodes changed his mind, leading to a series of confrontations and altercations, the last of which was in Las Vegas where The Rock slapped Cody for talking about family. Last week on SmackDown, Triple H, ignored The Rock’s threats the fix the card, ensuring that Reigns vs. Rhodes would be the headline match at WrestleMania 40.

What adds an interesting twist to this storyline is The Rock’s shift towards a heel persona. It’s not clear if this was a pivot by WWE based on fan reaction to Cody being out of WrestleMania’s main event, or if this was always the plan. Either way, The Rock is embracing the change and reports are he is set to draw inspiration from his iconic ‘Hollywood Rock’ heel run. Fans can anticipate a more villainous and provocative version of The Rock, reminiscent of his earlier heel days.

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The Rock’s Character Is Going To Be Much More Interesting

The Rock’s full commitment to being a heel has injected new life and intrigue into his character. And, he’s already finding ways to make it a lucrative decision by the company. Rock-branded ‘Cody Crybabies’ merchandise is on its way, indicating that this storyline is just getting started.

Friday’s upcoming appearance on SmackDown is going to be highly anticipated. The Rock, Reigns, and Rhodes storyline continues to escalate. The promise of a captivating final run for The Rock, coupled with the nostalgia for his legendary heel persona, suggests that the road to WrestleMania 40 is set to be a thrilling one.