For the first time in more than three years, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson sent shockwaves through the WWE Universe with his sudden return on last week’s episode of Friday Night SmackDown. The People’s Champion left the crowd electrified and shocked, setting an exhilaration ringside banked on unpredictability.
As an off-booking occasion, The Rock found himself standing in opposition to Austin Theory, a promising young talent on the roster. The unexpected return culminated with a crowd-favorite event; both Johnson and the returning Pat McAfee hit Austin Theory with the iconic ‘People’s Elbow’, leaving the fans wanting more from this surprise-packed episode.
Following this momentous segment, The Rock shared his emotional reaction on social media. The People’s Champion expressed his awe and sheer delight at the crowd’s thunderous response in Denver. With a heartfelt note, he wrote, “My appearance was a 100% surprise to everyone and this crowd of 14,000 erupted with the roar of 100,000 strong. I was, and I’m still completely blown away by this crowd reaction.”
Dwayne’s return to SmackDown ranks amongst his top five loudest crowd receptions throughout his illustrious career. The overwhelming response from fans left him muttering, ‘holy s***’ as he reminisced over his illustrious career and his love for the WWE. It revived an extraordinary sense of humility and gratitude in ‘The Great One’, who admits to cherishing every return home into the WWE ring.
In his post, The Rock extended his appreciation to Pat McAfee for accompanying him on this remarkable journey in Denver. Austin Theory too received a flattering nod from Johnson, adding a good dose of validation for the budding talent.
However, the most heartfelt acknowledgment from the ‘Most Electrifying Man in All of Entertainment’ revolves around ‘the people’. Driven by a profound sense of love, gratitude, and respect, Dwayne thanked the WWE Universe. As The Rock signs off, leaving the fans transfixed, his WWE homecoming has been nothing short of ‘sacred.’
The surprise return of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and the ensuing SmackDown episode have once again shown us that for ‘The Great One’, it’s always been and always will be about ‘the people.’
