The latest episode of Friday Night SmackDown in New Orleans witnessed the shocking return of The Rock, who first announced the official location for WrestleMania 42 before addressing Cody Rhodes, strongly hinting that he wanted Rhodes to embrace a corporate champion role.
The Rock’s return was a last-minute decision, with the official announcement coming just hours before SmackDown. However, according to Fightful Select, WWE’s creative team was informed a few days prior, yet the news still came as a major shock to many within the company.
The Rock’s WWE Return Shocks Many
Previously, WWE had been operating under the assumption that The Rock would not be wrestling at WrestleMania 41. His appearance at RAW’s Netflix premiere further reinforced speculation that he wouldn’t be back anytime soon. In fact, reports suggested even The Rock himself wasn’t certain about his next in-ring appearance.
His surprise return also led to changes in SmackDown’s plans, as Cody Rhodes was pulled from the main event. Sources within WWE told Fightful Select that this was a late decision, and even internally, there is still uncertainty about the direction the storyline will take next.
