Backstage News On The Rock's WWE Heel Turn

At WWE’s WrestleMania 40 Kickoff event in Las Vegas, the unthinkable happened as The Rock turned heel for the first time in two decades, siding with Roman Reigns and slapping Cody Rhodes in the face. 

In the week prior to the Las Vegas event, fans were under the impression that the WrestleMania 40 main event would be contested between Roman Reigns and The Rock, leading to a sea of online support for Cody Rhodes and a lot of hatred directed towards The Rock. On social media, The Rock seemingly ignored all of that, doing his usual pandering to fans and speaking as though nothing untoward was taking place. 

This similar formula was followed at the press event itself, as The Rock emerged, performing his usual catchphrases and overlooking the boos that he was being drowned in. In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer gave more information as to why The Rock was presented like this. 

"The goal with The Rock acting like he was perplexed with the boos, pretending they weren't happening and doing his usual shtick was to build to his heel turn and shock people when he sided with Roman Reigns."

The Rock and Roman Reigns will be on SmackDown next week to follow up from this shocking turn of events.