The Rock Responds To WWE WrestleMania Critics
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Another day means another reason for The Rock to make noise and be in the headlines. The only problem is that it's for all the wrong reasons.
Earlier this week, The Rock appeared on The Pat McAfee Show to provide his perspective on the events of WWE WrestleMania 41, which saw John Cena defeat Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship in the main event of Night Two. The build-up to WrestleMania was significantly shaped by The Rock's return to WWE television in the lead-up to Elimination Chamber, where he confronted Rhodes with a cryptic proposition regarding his "soul."
Ultimately, at Elimination Chamber, Rhodes declined The Rock's offer. The pivotal moment of the event saw Cena execute a shocking heel turn, betraying Rhodes and aligning himself with The Rock, thus establishing the main event for WrestleMania 41 with Cena challenging for the Undisputed WWE Championship.
Notably, The Rock was absent from WWE television in the weeks preceding WrestleMania 41 and did not make an appearance at the event itself. He revealed that his involvement began with a call from TKO CEO Ari Emanuel approximately one month before Elimination Chamber, seeking his participation to generate excitement for the event.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 07: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and John Cena fight during Night Two at Lincoln Financial Field on April 07, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 07: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and John Cena fight during Night Two at Lincoln Financial Field on April 07, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.Elaborating on the strategic decision behind Cena's heel turn, The Rock disclosed that Triple H, WWE's Chief Content Officer, originated the idea. The Rock explained he intended to craft a compelling narrative to draw significant viewership to Elimination Chamber and lay the groundwork for a high-stakes WrestleMania main event.
More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation
Once Cena's heel turn and the subsequent Undisputed WWE Championship match against Rhodes were firmly established, The Rock felt his immediate purpose in the storyline was fulfilled, allowing the focus to shift to the dynamic between the champion and the challenger.
Following his appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, The Rock directly addressed criticism from Sirius XM's Busted Open Radio host Dave LaGreca regarding his absence from WrestleMania.
In a social media response, The Rock wrote: "Hi Dave, the business is a complete work. Always has been, always will be. Every aspect of it. Every match. Every interview. Please join me, Cody, Cena, Brian and the rest of us for our creative discussions so you can expand your perspective. Until then, stop ranting, it's not healthy my friend. Enjoy the show. P.S., tell Bubba I have Grand Marnier and hush puppies for all of us."
The Rock responded to a video on Busted Open Radio's Instagram page of Dave LaGreca's rant about his comments the Pat McAfee show
This man is spiraling… pic.twitter.com/BbkGK90QYs — Public Enemies Podcast (@PublicEnemiesHQ) April 24, 2025
The Rock's response defends the nature of professional wrestling as a planned spectacle, but also spotlights the lack of awareness that he has of the situation. In no way, shape or form, does what he said make sense to WWE fans, and they've made that clear.
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