Report: Unhappiness Within WWE Over The Rock's Return

There is unhappiness within WWE about The Rock's return to the company and how it will impact plans leading into WrestleMania 41.

That is according to Dave Meltzer, who reported on Wrestling Observer Radio:

"I know that there's definitely people not happy with the way they had a game plan and the game plan completely changed this last week. But it's probably only changing for a couple of people. I guess we'll find out Saturday if they change from Cody vs. Cena, and I don't know where he [The Rock] fits in."

The Rock made his return to WWE TV on the February 21 episode of SmackDown, with his plans coming together only a few days before the show. WWE had been working on creative for WrestleMania 41 under the assumption The Rock would not be involved at the company's biggest event of the year after Dwayne Johnson informed WWE at some point in 2024 that he wouldn't be able to wrestle at WrestleMania.

Following his return, The Rock reignited a programme with Cody Rhodes, telling the Undisputed WWE Champion in a rambling promo that he could give Cody everything he ever wanted if Rhodes became The Rock's champion. Johnson ended the promo by telling Cody that what he wanted more than anything in the world, though, was Rhodes' soul and gave him until Elimination Chamber to think about the offer.

The backstage reaction within WWE to The Rock's SmackDown promo reportedly wasn't universally positive, with one person in the company noting they felt it "really diminished" Cody. Another said The Rock turned more times during the SmackDown segment than The Big Show did in his entire career.

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