Rock expected back for much of 2003

[Guest oldschoolwrestling]

The Rock is expected to be back with WWE in time for Wrestlemania, with his movie finishing up shooting in the early part of 2003.

 

Without another major movie shoot planned until the Fall of 2003, The Rock is now expected to remain with WWE for a full time wrestling schedule for about six months after Wrestlemania.

 

Credit: Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter

 

Just wondering, without movies to promote for the most part and with how the fans turned on him at the end, will he come back in heel mode? I think he can piss people off well enough to actually make things interesting.

[Guest El Satanico]

No he'll still be a face. Vince will use Rock as a "come in to get a pop and get me a money match" guy until Rock stops making money.

[Guest oldschoolwrestling]

As a face, he'll only pop the ratings for a couple weeks. As a heel, I think he can actually make some money if they can elevate a face to try and shut him up.

[Guest bob_barron]

But I think it's becoming quite clear fans are getting a little irked at Rock's constant pop-ins and pop-outs.

 

He's terriffic as a heel and I would love to see him play that role again

[Guest Spaceman Spiff]

Heel Rock I'll take back w/ open arms.

 

Face Rock can stay the hell in Hollywood.

[Guest Banky]

Bring back Austin and the Rock as Bischoff's and Stephanie's main men to steal the WWE away from Vince. With control over the RAW and Smackdown shows, they'd have major pull and with the two biggest superstars ever with them - they can seem like a legit threat to the WWE. This plan would work so well because of Austin's walkout and the Rock's inability to stick with the WWE for longer than 2 months at a time.

[Guest HartFan86]

The Rock is going to get booed after the inital face pop when he comes back.

 

They should hype it up as a really big deal and make him look like an arragont asshole Hollywood star and when he comes back, the place will boo him crazy.

 

Remember folks, the fans have been wanting to boo the Rock for over 2 years now. It's coming to the point where the boiling point is going to explode.

[Guest oldschoolwrestling]

The Rock is going to get booed after the inital face pop when he comes back.

 

They should hype it up as a really big deal and make him look like an arragont asshole Hollywood star and when he comes back, the place will boo him crazy.

 

Remember folks, the fans have been wanting to boo the Rock for over 2 years now. It's coming to the point where the boiling point is going to explode.

Exactly, and by the time Vince realizes and pulls the trigger, it will be too late and then he'll be turned back face too fast, just like SCSA, just like Angle.

[Guest TheArchiteck]

Yah that'll be very entertaining.

Having him saying he's bigger than wrestling and is a big Rock Star....i mean a big Movie Star!

[Guest caboose]

Heel Rock would own anything since Jericho-Rock.

But he can't be a psycho heel. He HAS TO BE the cocky Rock from 1998.

[Guest webmasterofwrestlegame]

Heyman said on OTR recently they were going to turn him heel shortly after he returned to build on all of the hatred wrestling fans have for him after leaving wrestling.

[Guest BoboBrazil]

Vince won't let Rock turn heel. Rock needs to be face when his movie comes out so it will make more money for Vince, since he gets a cut. Paul Heyman will be pushing for the idea of a heel Rock I'm sure, but I don't think it will happen.

[Guest NoCalMike]

When Rock returns he should give one of those promos that is neither heel or face. It should be one of those promos that is kind of neutral with a slight arrogant tone, but not over-bearing. Jim Ross should do the initial, "Rooock is back MAH GOD" shtick, but by the time the interview is over, he should be sort of confused but not entirely against the Rock. Lawler can just be silent for all I care but he will be given lines no doubt. THis will of course set up his heel turn by interfering in a match at ppv or something of that nature.

[Guest HartFan86]

Hell, they could do a feud with Rock on SD that's like:

 

Rock (Sports Entertainer/Actor, Heel) vs. Benoit (Pro Wrestler, Face)

 

Sure it's copying NWA: TNA, but they always mention WWE to get themseleves over, so meh.

[Guest The Hamburglar]

Its not just what Vince wants, though - remember Rock's unscripted off-camera words to the crowd at Summerslam? "Sing-along with the Rock is over." Quite frankly, I imagine Rock's fed up of not knowing whether he has to play face or heel in major matches. He adapts brilliantly on every occasion(his up yours signs to the crowd during the Brock match were genius), but it must be a pisser to get booed after the fans loving you so much for so long. I'd say Rock will want to be a full heel when he comes back.

[Guest El Satanico]

I just realized i didn't read the entire topic line. I didn't notice that it said he's planning on returning for most of 2003.

 

Yeah if he'll be back for nearly the entire year I'd say he will become a heel.

[Guest HartFan86]

I'd say Rock will want to be a full heel when he comes back.

And I agree. If the Rock can come back and make that one promo that turns him 100% heel and have it WORK (unlike Hogan, night after No Way out 2002), then it's just $$$ in the bank.

 

Here's the big point I'd have the Rock say in his promo:

 

"You know, you fans booed the Rock at Wrestlemania against Hulk Hogan. 68,000 people chanted "Rocky Sucks" when I did absolutely nothing to make you turn against me. Sure, it was the Immortal Hulk Hogan, but I'm The Rock. *Crowd boos* So fine, Hogan and I have the mutual respect bit and we shake hands and all is right again and the people cheer for me again. But then Summerslam came. I heard the people that night just like I did at Mania. You booed me. Again. No motive. You booed the Rock, you booed the GREAT ONE...you booed the People's champ. You booed YOUR champ. *crowd boos again*. Why do you boo the Rock? Is it because I left the WWE to make movies? Is it because I want to venture other things in my life? Since when is the Rock all about the WWE? *HUGE boos* You want to boo the Rock? Then you go ahead and boo the Rock because the Rock is going to walk out of this ring, go straight to his bank account, and laugh his ass off when he realizes he has more money then all of the "people" have together. IF YA SMELLLLLLL...your candyasses know the rest."

 

Something to that extent and it's just gold.

[Guest Angle-plex]

I can't wait until he has to leave again. Then we can have Rock Injury Angle #3.

[Guest BoboBrazil]

Who will they choose to go over him though if he comes back a heel? Booker T? No. RVD? No. Nash? YES.

[Guest Angle-plex]

Well, as WWE has proved to us with Albert/Rey, only a hoss with a chair is strong enough to put somebody out of action. That means we have better chance of seeing the Giant Gonzalez injure Rock than Booker T.

[Guest Hogan Made Wrestling]

Ugh, if they bring the Rock back as a heel just so Goldberg can go over him at Wrestlemania as the face, I think I'll puke. On the bright side, WM is in Seattle which is completely anti-WCW so maybe they will boo Goldberg and cheer the Rock instead, which would be awesome. I don't have a problem with Rock as a heel jobbing to anyone else (except face Nash or HHH) but Goldberg is a definite no.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Ugh, if they bring the Rock back as a heel just so Goldberg can go over him at Wrestlemania as the face, I think I'll puke. On the bright side, WM is in Seattle which is completely anti-WCW so maybe they will boo Goldberg and cheer the Rock instead, which would be awesome. I don't have a problem with Rock as a heel jobbing to anyone else (except face Nash or HHH) but Goldberg is a definite no.

Rocky out-popping another face/tweener ?

 

 

He couldn't outpop Undertaker at Vengeance, turn him heel NOW!

[Guest midnight_burn]

I would definately like to see "The Great One" back, we've had watered down face Rock for a long time now. And he shouldn't have to be a face just because he's making movies, nobody is going to go out of their way to not watch a movie just because the Rock is a 'bad guy'.

[Guest TheyCallMeMark]

They should bring Rock in and job him to Benoit to make him a 100% main eventer. He won't lose any heat.

[Guest TheyCallMeMark]

They should bring Rock in and job him to Benoit to make him a 100% main eventer. He won't lose any heat.

[Guest jester]

If the make Rock heel, they need to really change him. Drop all of catch phrases. Change his theme music. In fact, he should now call himself "Duane Johnson, Actor." To make it 100% clear this is a new, heel wrestler we should hate.

 

But they won't. They won't want to change the nice phrases the audience can say with him, or change his theme music now they've released another CD. And most of all, they won't want Rock to be a heel with a movie coming, because they think we won't see a movie with a heel in it.

 

I think the audience will boo Rock, but they'll try something to cram him up our asses and make us like him.

[Guest creativename]

"IF YA SMELLLLLLL...your candyasses know the rest."

Hey, that's a great line!

 

Of course everyone is right and Rock should be a heel, and most likely will be a heel. Though I hope he isn't simply jobbed out to Goldberg. I don't think Vince would normally job "WWE talent" in the Rock to somebody he didn't make, but he seems real desperate now and will most likely cave to all of Goldberg's demands.

 

I think it would be great if Jericho and Rock did a "mutual respect" thing, saying that they understand where the other is coming from and that the other is the only one worthy of respect in the company, as they are both "stars" outside wrestling. Imagine the hilarity of heel Rock and Jericho doing promo double teams on other wrestlers Doubt that will happen, though.

[ChrisMWaters 0]

Hehehehehe...Heel Rock would be great.

 

He could call himself "Mr. Hollywood"...the Rock.

[Guest wwF1587]

When he first returns.. he will be face.... but i think he should turn heel... looking back at late 98 and early 99 tapes.. I miss the Rock as a heel and now that he is soo famous and is soo hollywood.. it would be the perfect time to heel him.

[Guest gthureson]

Vince won't let Rock turn heel. Rock needs to be face when his movie comes out so it will make more money for Vince, since he gets a cut. Paul Heyman will be pushing for the idea of a heel Rock I'm sure, but I don't think it will happen.

'The Scorpion King' finished making around $100 million (give or take.)

 

You don't make that much money by relying on WWF/E fans, especially when there aren't that many people following it anymore.

 

All the Rock needs to do to sell tickets to his movies is show up on Entertainment Tonight and have flashy trailers for the movie.

 

Whether he is face or heel doesn't make any difference, 'cause that ain't the audience he is marketing his movies too.