Is the rock

[Guest mastermind]

Okay, I've seen Rock plastered all over the damn place. I've been reading his interviews with Rolling Stones and other media. There is something that is bugging me about Dwayne Johnson at the moment.

 

He stated he knew about the Rock/Hogan storyline since December. I don't understand WHY he exposes the business like this. I know. I know. I still think stuff like that is not for public consumption and you will see why down this post.

 

He was asked if he was angered that he never won a match at WrestleMania in big money match situations(interview before WM this year). Now take into account that MOST wrestlers put over Mania by saying how important it is to perform and WIN at the event. Rock just shrugs the question off like it's stupid because the business is a work. Stating that winning and losing doesn't matter. Okay, it's his opinion and some here might agree. I don't and you will see why. Rock is also dumb for thinking this imo unless...I will tell you read on.

 

He is the only damn person who really comes straight out and says wrestling is pre-determined at the most opportune time. Always talks about his character in wrestling just like Kurt Angle(one reason I hate Angle for).

 

He asked Vince to do whatever it took to bring in Hogan. Hogan is also known in hollywood moreso than Piper although Piper put out better movies. Rock is going around LYING to the media saying his match was the greatest in history with Hogan at Mania. I mean come on now. With his roots in the business he must know matches like Flair/Steamboat or Steamboat/Savage are LEAGUES ahead of his match with Hogan. The match is BILLED as the match to decide who is the absolute BEST ever.

 

Rock WINS which he knows Hogan within that match should get that accolade. If winning and losing don't count why win against the real icon. I know this contradicts what I said that Rock needed to be passed the torch yadda yadda, but read on. The Rock goes on espn talking about people being jealous of him and stars pulling underhanded stunts to maintain their position. Now it's rumoured to be Triple H or something along those lines, BUT it is funny Rock NEVER said this before until Austin did his little vacation. It COULD be a dig at Austin. Their friends yadda yadda right!

 

The Rock gets booed against two men in consecutive Manias who are arguably hands down the most popular faces in history. Could it be that wrestling fans respect Hogan and Austin more? Could it be that wrestling fans will side with these men for a reason we don't see? Could Rock's cheers be the hollywood or casual viewer at home?

 

The point I want to get to is this. Is the Rock slowly trying to discredit the wrestling business and use it to get into hollywood (like talking about characters and storylines). Will The Rock sell out his fans and the fans SEE it.

 

All I got to say is this. Hogan got booed out the damn wwf when he thought he was too good for the wwf fans. He even stated this in his wwf.com interview when he didn't want to go to certain places. When fans thought Bret Hart sold out in 1997 he got a hefty dose of "you sold out". I think we might hear a lot MORE boos for Rock in the next year if this type of behaviour continues. ESPECIALLY if he leaves and goes to hollywood. He got his big win over Hogan at Mania, thus negating Austin as the BEST EVER in the eyes of certain casual fans. The Rock selling out the wwf? Or the fans will turn on Rock? I'm not talking about movie goers and that type of casual fan, but the fans who made THE ROCK. He was already getting backlash here and the internet for becoming commercialized with his character.

 

What is the REAL future of Rock? If he just gets up and leaves this year I can GUARANDAMTEE if he ever came back he will get booed quickly, while Austin will forver be revered for being a WINNER and badass. I don't know I just feel Rock might get turned on real bad if certain circumstances go down this year. If he stays true to wrestling then he can become the biggest ever in terms of popularity, but if his priorities lie elsewhere(how come he is going to get time off after Mania and Steamboat couldn't? *I know Steamboat still was pretty popular in 1987 standards) I really see things getting interesting.

[Guest cobainwasmurdered]

Interesting read. I don't know about rock TRYING to discredit the business but it raises some interesting questins.

[Guest AlwaysPissedOff]

You know, I was just thinking about that, Mastermind. You raise a damn good point, too.

 

What I really find interesting about all of this is what you said about Rock getting booed out of two WMs and comparing Austin to Flair. If you look at it, Rock and Hogan are a lot alike, much like Flair and Austin.

 

Much like Hogan and Flair, Rock is the movie star, the guy who's the big babyface who hardly ever loses(although Rock jobs a hell of a lot more then Hogan ever did) and Austin is the guy who came up through the ranks(not saying that Rock never did pay any dues, but he was pushed pretty heavily early on in his career) and was groomed to be a World Champion AND has the respect of the fans no matter what he does.

 

The parallels are pretty scary when you sit down and actually think about some...

[Guest]

God, i hate the Rock....

 

( just thought i'd say it! )

[Guest Austin3164life]

Interesting read.  I thought along the same lines as you do for a while.  But I think that The Rock is just trying to cement his Hollywood status, because he probably thinks that if Scorpion King does well, he can get other big money deals and solidify his future.  I don't think he directly wants to discredit the wrestling world, but I'm not sure on that point.  To me, I feel that wrestling fans love The Rock's character, but it is too cartoony for today's type of wrestling.  Sure, Hulk Hogan is a huge face but right now it's because of nostalgia.  When most of us were younger, we couldn't differentiate the cartoonish character with the realistic one.  Austin is different because wrestling was changing and he is a highly independent no nonsense badass which fans can relate to.  The fans respect Hogan and Austin more because that's the way they were built.  Fans know Hogan for becoming the first mega star and first wildly popular World Champion, and they know Austin for being the most popular wrestler and the Greatest WWF Champion of all time.  That's the way the WWF built Hogan & Austin.  The Rock's career is different, because he has achieved a huge amount of success in a short time, and still resembles his Blue Chipperness that he had once.  The Rock doesn't have the same type of aura that Hogan and Austin posess.  The WWF didn't make The Rock into such a household name like Hogan or Austin.  Sure, The Rock's media success is huge, but in terms of professional wrestling, you think of Hogan, Austin, and probably Bret Hart.  Those three names are synonymous with wrestling more than The Rock is......at least that is what I believe......

[Guest Austin3164life]

*Oh and to add to my last line, you also think of Ric Flair when you think of pro wrestling*

 

Hogan's career = Rock's career (Rock isn't respected as much because he is a modern day cartoon character, Hogan is because he became huge when most of us were young)

 

Flair's career= Austin's career(Both men are realistic and hard working athletes who pave their own way to the #1 spot in wrestling)

[Guest HartFan86]

It's amazing Mr. Johnson went from being in the Nation and the Blue Chipper to being the modern day Hulk Hogan.

 

Rocky, if you leave the WWF and expose the business, fuck you and die.

[Guest AlwaysPissedOff]

It's amazing Mr. Johnson went from being in the Nation and the Blue Chipper to being the modern day Hulk Hogan.

 

Rocky, if you leave the WWF and expose the business, fuck you and die.

Whoa there, tiger... No need for all that death stuff, especially since the business has been "exposed" numerous times and not just by Rocky.

[Guest HartFan86]

Yeah, but did Hulk Hogan do it when he left? No. This is coming from someone that will, if not isn't a big star. People will listen. It's not just about exposing the business either...

 

The Rock needs to choose one carrer, stick to it, and get the hell out of the other one. That's my honest opinion. Don't like the guy, never will.

[Guest El Satanico]

For a long time i always thought Rock was the kind that would leave as soon as he gets a better offer. I know we all love wrestling but we've got admit a Hollywood picture deal is a better offer and i expect Rock to be gone sooner rather then later.

 

ALOT will depend on Scorpian King...If it flops Rock will be back to WWF for along time, however if it does good business expect Hollywood to start pitching movie deals to him till they find an offer he can't refuse. Yeah he'd basically be selling...but while it doesn't make it the correct thing to do we all would do it if we were in his position of having succes in Hollywood.

 

Is it just me or has anyone else noticed a change in Rock's promo delivery since he become an "actor". He sounds like he is trying to use vocal acting in them now. He is starting to sound like a true arrogant prick not a arrogant wrestling character.

[Guest Sadyv]

The business already is exposed, my friends. I think its the better for it to, as some people actually see the work and effort that go into and respect it more.

 

I don't mind Angle and Rock talking about their characters, as they both exist outside the WWF as people. Rock has made his way into TV and movies, and Angle is a Olympic champ and great amatuer wrestler. They have other concerns outside of the WWF, and thats fine.

[Guest Austin3164life]

The Rock's overzealous behavior could cost him his popularity as a wrestler.  He has stated before many times "I want to be the best, period."  He could realize that he might not surpass Flair, Bret, Austin, and Hogan in terms of legendary status.  To be honest, when I think of wrestling legends I don't think of The Rock as one.  He was more or less groomed to be big, whereas the men I mentioned above (excluding Hogan somewhat) worked their way to the top.  It's a highly debatable subject.  The Rock could just be trying to make himself a Hollywood name, or he could literally be trying to tarnish legendary names, especially his (at least he says) close friend Steve Austin.  Wouldn't that make for a great shoot fight feud.  Rock jealous of Austin's legendary status, so he turns heel.  But I'm just getting ahead of myself.....

 

*The Rock is also very young and he's done so much in his short career.  Fans could be thinking "what else can he do?"*

[Guest mastermind]

First I'm not hating on Rock or anything as I like the guy, but when it comes to making wrestling less entertaining for me I will rant. Okay, maybe Rock isn't DIRECTLY trying to discredit the business. He IS downplaying it though. I understand him trying to get into hollywood and whatnot. However, he is downplaying the "looked down upon" business by hollywood AND sports to "get in" which I think is somewhat to what he does when he comes to Toronto. He FORGETS his damn roots.

 

Since he is going into hollywood he talks about being a character in the wwf. He even does this crap on WWF HOME VIDEOS where there is suppose to be some kind of kayfabe. Talking about being a character and being in a storyline is all hollywood crap to get over in the movie business. I understand it, but I don't like it. For being this big a crossover I think he should actually talk about the athleticism and other aspects. He can make certain people look at wrestling in a different light with respect. As some of you have pointed out his character and goofiness only makes people think of wrestling in that manner.

 

The more the fans are brainwashed with that crap the more Vince will shove crap down our throats like Rock surviving a semi attack. Believe me this thing has many tones to it. More ACTION ADVENTURE crap from Vince is what I see both men trying to do here.

 

In 2000, Rock loses a big money match at Mania. He loses his title to a relative on-screen rookie. How come he never came out and said people were jealous of him then? Or talk about the politics of people? Because his movie career didn't look so promising as now and he didn't want to burn bridges.

 

I don't think Rock wrestling wise compares to Hogan. Hogan is seen as the super champ of the 80's. When Hogan was in his prime and wasn't stale he had an aura of invincibility. Where Rock is similar is in the catch phrases and smack. If Hogan of 1987-88 was transported to 2002 he would be a badass champion. The Rock has never had this and that's why I think he's so flippant about telling the media that wins and losses don't really mean anything.

 

Well, go right ahead and kill off another wrestler's gimmick(Goldberg anyone). Some wrestlers actually have to rely on ring work and wins and loses to maintain a career. Rock saying things like that kill of people like Jericho. Jericho beating Austin and Rock on the same night means jack according to Rock because it's a work. You see the problem?

Rock depends on character mannerisms to get over while someone like Benoit will need wins and losses to get over. Downplaying the business.

 

Austin had an aura being anti-establishment. If The Rock just sees wrestling as a work then why won't he turn heel to freshen up his character? He knows damn well there is a fine line between reality and fiction and fans will relate that to not turning out to the movie that's why. I just see Rock's attitude having a bad idea on how the wwf will present wrestling to us. I mean we did see Lucy the dog just last month.

[Guest]

How is the rock like hulk hogan? He let Chris Jericho give him the Rock Bottom and pin him. He's the first out of the "Main Eventers"to put over Jericho ,Angle, He's jobbed to HHH, Austin like 4 or 5 times, hell even put over the Big Boss Man for gods sake. I dont understand people bitch that he wasnt pasionate about losing at WM. And that he's "Exposing" the business. He's had to bring in millions of dollars in revenue,ppv buyrates.  If he was a dick like HHH then people would be bitching too. He's brought in more fans than (im not saying hes better than) HHH,Michaels,Hart, and most everyone else except maybe Austin and Hogan,

Only he doesnt have their ego. Maybe "BretHart4ever" would like him better if he took a bigger contract to leave the wwf  and held the world title hostage by refusing to do the "time honered tradition" like Hart did.

 

You do have a point Mastermind, but what would you rather have him not caring about wins or losses or him refusing to job to rvd, angle, and jericho, and be a politition like HHH or Michaels, i'd rather take the first one.

[Guest El Satanico]

Oh bloody hell...i can't believe everyone still doesn't know the whole story with the Bret thing. He didn't want to go to WCW for the sake of money(i think he would've made more in WWF) he was basically forced to leave.

[Guest]

He signed the 10 year contract. And then Vince told Brett he couldnt afford it and he could do what he wanted, So He took the money from Bichoff. How was he "forced to leave"?

[Guest TheHulkster]

Wins and losses most certainly matter. The Rock has lost so many times to everyone that a win over the Rock doesn't mean much anymore. Hogan in his prime rarely lost, so when the Ultimate Warrior pinned him at WM6 it boosted Warrior's credibility ten fold. Andre the Giant had the same deal. He was VERY rarely pinned, so going into WM3, you really had no clue who was going to win because Andre almost never lost and Hogan was this big champion having 3 years of not being pinned under his belt. That is why I think the WWF's humbling process is bad for business. If you have a guy with loads of moneymaking potential who is really over with the fans, you should have him run roughshot. Like RVD for example, if they did a slow build with him winning all his matches, leading up to him facing a top name guy, that's money. They blew their first chance and now RVD's heat isn't quite what it once was, not saying it still isn't large. This was one of the faults of Jericho's title reign. They never gave him a chance to be credible. He beat the Rock and Austin in one night. The Rock isn't the guy to get over by beating so much anymore, and Austin has been "screwed" so many times, what makes the fans think it won't happen any time he's in a big money match?

[Guest Smeghead]

Oh bloody hell...i can't believe everyone still doesn't know the whole story with the Bret thing.

And you do?

[Guest]

He stated he knew about the Rock/Hogan storyline since December. I don't understand WHY he exposes the business like this. I know. I know. I still think stuff like that is not for public consumption and you will see why down this post.

Everyone know its fixed. If they act like it isnt wrestling will look even stupider.

 

He is the only damn person who really comes straight out and says wrestling is pre-determined at the most opportune time. Always talks about his character in wrestling just like Kurt Angle(one reason I hate Angle for).

All wrestlers admit its fixed. And whats wrong with Kurt Angle talknig about his character? He doesnt want people to think that even if its fixed hes a jackass in real-life.

 

The point I want to get to is this. Is the Rock slowly trying to discredit the wrestling business and use it to get into hollywood (like talking about characters and storylines). Will The Rock sell out his fans and the fans SEE it.

How will that help him to discredit the wrestling buisness? I think being a wrestler actually helps him.

 

He even does this crap on WWF HOME VIDEOS where there is suppose to be some kind of kayfabe. Talking about being a character and being in a storyline is all hollywood crap to get over in the movie business.

Those videos about the wrestlers are supposed to be out of kayfabe.

 

All I got to say is this. Hogan got booed out the damn wwf when he thought he was too good for the wwf fans. He even stated this in his wwf.com interview when he didn't want to go to certain places.

Where is that interview? Is it still up? And how did he think he was too good for the WWF fans?

 

What is the REAL future of Rock? If he just gets up and leaves this year I can GUARANDAMTEE if he ever came back he will get booed quickly, while Austin will forver be revered for being a WINNER and badass. I don't know I just feel Rock might get turned on real bad if certain circumstances go down this year.

What circumstances? Like if his movie is a hit? I know he could get boeed if he decides to leave but hell be gone so they wont get a chance. If he left and came back though...I have no doubts the palce would explode.

 

He was already getting backlash here and the internet for becoming commercialized with his character.

What do you mean whne you say too commercialized?

 

If he stays true to wrestling then he can become the biggest ever in terms of popularity, but if his priorities lie elsewhere(how come he is going to get time off after Mania and Steamboat couldn't? *I know Steamboat still was pretty popular in 1987 standards) I really see things getting interesting.

I think they did give him time off. Thats why he lost to Honky Tonk Man.

[Guest]

 To me, I feel that wrestling fans love The Rock's character, but it is too cartoony for today's type of wrestling.

How?

 

The WWF didn't make The Rock into such a household name like Hogan or Austin.

Yes they did. He would of never been heard of if not for the WWF.

 

Is it just me or has anyone else noticed a change in Rock's promo delivery since he become an "actor". He sounds like he is trying to use vocal acting in them now. He is starting to sound like a true arrogant prick not a arrogant wrestling character.

 

Sicne when have you noticed this? What is meant by vocal acting? I dont know how you can tell hes actually a prick in real life from his onair stuff. Triple H you can sometiems but that is another story...

[Guest Mystery Eskimo]

I was going to post something pretty similar to Ghast (thanks for saving me the time!)

 

Sure, the Rock wants to get into Hollywood. But to suggest he's exposing wrestling to do it is silly - kayfabe has been steadily eroded over the years, its nothing to do with the Rock.

[Guest]

No problem Mystery. Awesome avatar by the way.

 

Sicne this a thread about Rock being everywhere nowadays I thought I would incldue this interview I found for more discussion:

 

 

 

The Rock Rolls Between Wrestling And Family

By ANTHONY BREZNICAN, AP Entertainment Writer

 

LOS ANGELES - To understand The Rock, you have to break him into three pieces.

 

First there's his World Wrestling Federation persona, also nicknamed "The People's Champ," a body- slamming muscleman known for raising his eyebrow suggestively and snarling wisecracks that whip crowds of thousands into a frenzy.

 

Then there's Dwayne Johnson, who turns 30 in May, a former college football player who laughs easily, plays acoustic guitar in his spare time and dotes on his wife of four years and their daughter.

 

"I always say that The Rock is just Dwayne Johnson with the volume turned up to its highest level," he said. "As wild and as loud and as passionate as my fans get, I feed off that same energy."

 

Finally, there's "The Scorpion King," his ancient warrior character from "The Mummy Returns," whose martial-arts swordplay and "Conan the Barbarian"-style brawn inspired Universal Pictures to gamble on a spin-off film.

 

"The Scorpion King" represents the future of The Rock, a chance to break away from the bone- wracking showmanship of the WWF and move into films — where at least you get a stunt double some of the time.

 

"A lot of people at this point say, 'Man, you've already done everything in wrestling,' but it's not easy to give up what you love," he said. "My role will lessen — it's already lessened — but there's nothing better than the love of a live audience. ... I might not do (wrestling) full time forever, but it's something I don't think I'll ever give up completely."

 

But wrestling is all-consuming, requiring weekly travel from city to city, endless training and rehearsals (yes, it's all staged), and a substantial physical toll on the body.

 

When flinging yourself off the top ropes and landing on your back in the ring, it's best to make you legs, arms and backside as flat as possible, he said. That way the limbs absorb much of the shock, and your spine doesn't break.

 

But it still hurts.

 

"It's theatrics. You know who's going to win, you know who's going to lose and there are scripts, but nonetheless, it's still me," he said. "It's kind of like doing stunt scenes all day everyday."

 

Although his father, Rocky Johnson, and grandfather, Peter Maivia, both were pro wrestlers, he had planned to be a football star. He became a defensive tackle at the University of Miami and graduated with a degree in criminology, but injuries kept him out of the National Football League.

 

That's when he adopted the wrestling pseudonym Rocky Maivia, which he eventually shortened to The Rock. By his mid-20s, he had become one of the WWF's biggest stars.

 

In the world of wrestling, The Rock is considered a "fan favorite," a virtuous hero audiences cheer while he pummels villainous rivals such as Triple H and Hulk Hogan.

 

Tournaments draw upward of 20,000 people, most of whom realize the sport is fake. The attraction of wrestling is the burlesque personalities — the more volatile the better — and the sense of goofy comedy and lawless brawling.

 

Even Vince McMahon — the 56-year-old owner and impresario of the WWF — is known to jump into the ring to punch out his employees and take a few body-slams in kind.

 

McMahon technically owns the intellectual property rights to The Rock and has the power to determine when and how the character is used, according to Johnson.

 

In "The Scorpion King," Johnson is credited as The Rock, and McMahon has an executive producer credit for freeing Johnson from wrestling dates to shoot the movie and offering notes on what WWF fans will expect from the film.

 

But Johnson likes the name Rock, and that's what he prefers friends call him in private. The rights to that name may be a source of contention someday between the two, but not now.

 

"He knows my goals and has been real supportive," Johnson said.

 

Universal Pictures is hoping "The Scorpion King" will turn into a franchise similar to its lucrative "Mummy" films, and Johnson is negotiating to appear in a new action-comedy for the studio this summer.

 

He's eager to star in a comedy, too, saying humor helped jump-start his film career.

 

An appearance on "Saturday Night Live (news - Y! TV)" in 2000 featured the 6-foot-5, 250-pound entertainer playing the monkey father of the Chris Kattan's comic simian "Mr. Peepers." He also sported lipstick and a dress in a "Ladies Man" skit, and crooned "Are You Lonesome Tonight" with two fellow wrestlers singing backup.

 

That performance and his work in "The Mummy Returns" led Universal Pictures chief Stacey Snider and producer Kevin Misher to create "The Scorpion King" as a starring vehicle for The Rock.

 

Kelly Hu, best known for TV's "Martial Law," plays a seductive sorceress in "The Scorpion King" and attributed The Rock's success to his blend of machismo and charm.

 

"The Rock is a guy's guy, he loves joking around and he's tough. Guys love that," Hu said. "And women love him because he has that gentle way about him as well, and he's sexy and he's beautiful and he's macho. He's got everything it takes."

 

Following the debut of "The Scorpion King," The Rock will disappear for a while. He said he's looking forward to vacationing with his wife, Dany, and their 8-month-old daughter, Simone, at their Miami home.

 

"That little baby girl is very gorgeous and she's going to have him wrapped around her finger," said Michael Clarke Duncan, co-star of "The Scorpion King" and a friend of Johnson's for five years.

 

She's the one thing that makes The Rock go soft.

 

"With everything I've ever done in my life, I have a sense that nothing will ever be better than this," he said. "Very little is ever guaranteed in life, but I can be sure that I'll always take care of my daughter."

 

Credit: Yahoo! News

[Guest bcu1979]

I don't really understand what you are so upset about. On one hand, you complain because Rock is talking openly about storylines, characters and wrestling matches being pre-determined. But then you also complain when Rock says his match with Hogan is the greatest of all time, which is something the WWF tried to promote it as.

 

I also don't see what Rock says that other wrestlers like Angle and Jericho talk about in every mainstream media interview they do. Heck, most wrestlers talk about "storylines and "characters" in interviews on WWF.COM

 

I think it's healthy that guys like Rock see the business for what it is and realize everything's a work. He also shows a level of respect to the audience by not trying to insult their intelligence. It would be a positive thing if all wrestlers had the same attitude as Rock. Since I think it's become apparent that other wrestlers/writers have fallen in love with their television charactes to the detriment of the product.

 

Where did Rock say that he wanted Hogan to come in? I don't remember reading that anywhere. The story I remember is that after Kevin Nash found out no one but Triple H and Stephanie wanted him in the company, he demanded that Hogan and Hall be brought in as well so he would not be sabotaged.

 

And the plan from the beginning was for Rock to go over. Hogan knew that coming in. Hogan comes in and "puts over" Rock so everyone think he's business. It was certainly not some demand or power play by Rock that he had to go over in the match.

 

The whole buildup to the match meant Rock had to go over. The WWF presented the match as its future against its past. How could they have their past win?

[Guest mastermind]

I don't think some are understanding what I'm trying to say here. I KNOW there are people out there KNOW wrestling is fixed. I'm talking about the PRESENTATION of wrestling. I have seen the wwf do this before. Remember 1989 when Hogan came out with his "family entertainment" movie no holds barred. Soon afterward the wwf became "family entertainment" with stupid crap which 2-3 years later almost tanked the wwf.

 

Jericho and Angle DON'T talk about the intricracies of wrestling as much as Rock do. That's just misinformation. I have never read Austin, Hogan, Piper, HHH, Angle, etc. speak the amount of times about the business in the way Rock has. If some think wins and losses don't really matter than why the hell do I see so many complaints about Jericho or RVD not winning matches or made to look strong in their matches? I'm not contradicting myself. When Rock is claiming his match is the greatest of all-time he isn't doing that in kayfabe terms. As some have said he is being open about the business isn't he? He's saying that to make himself look like the greatest. Nothing wrong with that, but if you're being open be all the way. That's contradicting.

 

I guess guys like Ric Flair and Austin aren't healthy for business since they DO take  themselves seriously most of the time. They also take the business seriously. I think its good to have a variation of attitudes toward the business or we would have Doink the Clown walking around if the wrestlers don't even take the thing seriously. Notice guys like Bret Hart, Austin, and Flair are known to put on better matches and have more interesting characters to most more times than not. Why? They take their on screen character seriously to portray themselves and the business in the best light.

 

Again, I KNOW Hogan knew he had to job coming in. I KNEW that even before it was on the damn internet as I heard it on the LAW sports radio. What I don't like is how they handle the damn storyline because it's just a work. Rock gets injured by a dam semi and returns two weeks later. He has one piece of bandage under his rib cage. I mean come on now. THAT'S not insulting your audience? I guess that contradicts what Rock does in his interviews which try not to "insult" the viewers. It's their flippant attitude of how they want to present wrestling as action adventure. It's all a work, so I guess no one should complain that X-Pac is in main events then. If Hogan wins on sunday I guess there are some who shouldn't complain since kayfabe has been eroded over the years and the wwf is a work. I know for sure there will be a thread against Hogan being a 50 year old champion and why he is putting other down and so on and so on.

 

It's all a work, so if the past won does it really matter? Yes it does and that's my point. Those videos are suppose to make you THINK it's out of kayfabe. It's still flippant in how they want to take the wrestling out of the wwf. I just think this sports entertainment crap is slowly thrown around because Vince kind of hates "pro wrestling". I could be wrong, but as posts here have for weeks shown that I'm basically not off the mark too much. It's why we get stupid segments like Vince and Stacy last week which have tuned out viewers, but it's all a work and entertainment. By focusing on that aspect and taking away the wins and losses as much as they do it excuses the writers for that kind of crap. I think Rock is being carefully orchestrated to talk like he does through some of Vince's vision. As someone has posted Vince has right over THE ROCK character and how he should be promoted or portrayed.

[Guest Mik at Cornell]

The reason why Austin and Jericho and everyone else besides the Rock don't talk about the intricacies of the business is because no one is asking them. No one outside of the wrestling world gives a shit what Chris Jericho or Steve Austin has to say. They only want to hear from the Rock. Who is to say that Jericho or Austin wouldn't say things like that if they were w/ the regular media.

 

And I know exactly what you are going to say, but Austin was on Nash Bridges and I see Jericho on OFf the Record all the time. That doesn't matter because they are still on those shows only due to wrestling, nothing. It's not a coincidence that the two guys who talk about their characters, Angle and Rock have the national media interested in them for reasons other than wrestling. So you can't really say that they suck for doing it and other guys would never do that because you just don't really know.

[Guest]

Short and to the point. I don't think the Rock is a "sell-out." Hell, if anything, he's smart. With all the rumors going around that Vince is cutting back people's pay, but still making them work more house shows, I'd say The Rock is smart for trying to find something else. Rock is fortunated enough to find something else out side of Wrestling.

[Guest notJames]

Rock's just about done with wrestling. I'm sure he realizes he's still relatively young and healthy and that a multi-movie deal is much safer and more lucrative than the hard road of wrestling can ever be. Is he dragging the name of wrestling through the mud, or exposing the business? I don't think so. Like it's been said before, kayfabe is pretty much over and done. Look how many wrestling websites there are. It's a little naive to think the mystique of wrestling can be maintained in this day and age.

 

I've never been a great fan of the Rock's in-ring work, but I can't deny his ability to entertain. If that translates to box-office success, more power to him. If it means he has to leave wrestling, oh well. More room in the uppercard for guys who still have wrestling in their blood. And isn't that what a lot of people have been asking for? Bottom line, Dwayne Johnson, just like Austin, Hogan, etc., are looking out for themselves, and if it means he's gotta leave wrestling behind to be happy, can you really fault him for that?

[Guest Ripper]

some of this stuff is so ridicoulous is funny.  You say that Rock shrugged off the question as and said it doesn't matter if you win or lose at Mania, thus lessening the meaning.  Did you happen to hear the next sentence when he said that it such a honor to be involved in the "Super Bowl of wrestling" that it doesn't matter about the out come, you are just happy to be there?  Missed that, huh.. Or trying to point out the he got booed in his match with Austin.  Hmm...A face Austin getting more cheers in Texas...I can't see why.  Now if that match had been in Miami...who do you think would have gotten booed? It has nothing to do with the fans thinking Austin works harder(which I don't believe. Rock works just as hard and HARDER than Austin in the ring.  If Austin is wrestling a lower card wrestler, you can see him turn it down...Rock goes out and sell like a champ and gives his best performance against ME or jobber...).

 

You can say what you want about the guy. But what you can't deny is 1: He will be remembered as a legend in this business.  People that don't know who Rick Flair is know the Rock.  People that love Ric Flair know the Rock.  The guy is the most over wrestler since Hogan, hands down.  

2: He worked hard to get where he was.  Billy Gunn has been shoved down our throats twice as much as the Rock...whats the difference? Rock entertained the crowd and got over on his on recorse.  He got over before HHH and everyone else getting the super push at the time.  And if you dare say that he got over only because the WWF wanted him too and he didn't work for it I never again want to see anyone praise Kurt Angle for shit.  

3: He does what is best for the business.  I have NEVER heard a single report about Rock refusing to work, or job for anyone.  Who else can you say that about.  Flair? nope..Austin...nope..Bret? nope. Shawn?..hell naw...Hogan..HAHAHAHA...HHH?..teehee NO other maineventer has heen so ready to do what was best for the business that Rock.  Now just because he has a chance to do something else, he doesn't have the love for the business that these guys had??? Thats ridiculous.  Wrestling is a you're a god today, jobber tommorrow business.  If you think tommorrow if Flair or Austin were offered the lead in a big Hollywood movie they wouldn't take it, you are indeed naive.  

 

Vince McMahon started the whole "No more Kay-fabe" thing.  You think Rock is doing more damage to the credibility of wrestling than "Beyond the Mat" "Tough Enough" or "Wrestling in the Shadows"  You can expose wrestling anymore.  It is exposed.  Bret did a whole movie exposing it, but for some reason Rock is worst because he doesn't stay in kayfabe while promoting a movie?

 

I've watch Angle do plenty of interviews and he doesn't do a thing to perserve the business.  HHH doesn't either. They put over the fact that it takes a lot of athletisim and its a hard work business but they all say matter of factly that it is scripted.  That whole thing you wrote is basically twisting around things to make it look like Rock is a selfish prick that is trying to run down the business and I don't even believe that you are buying it.

[Guest mastermind]

Rock's just about done with wrestling.

This is what I'm talking about. I'm not even going to go into any more detail. Just watch how things fall into places. You guys will soon see what I'm talking about. I don't blame Rock one bit for going to the movies, but just as the "original generation" did he is leaving most likely without putting back. Just watch. Hogan left the same way and you saw the big void that was left until 1996.

 

Apart of the reason people here and others BOOED Hogan so much was how he raped the business and left a big void where guys like Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels were doomed before they started. Hogan was a muscle man and monster where it let the up and comers smaller than him have no chance because how the wwf talked about wrestling in family entertainment terms and whatnot. The "cartoon" era. It was at those times the wwf should have promoted the other aspects of wrestling. The smaller fan base grew who were wrestling oriented and they started to boo Hogan because they were "expsoed" to Hogan's cliches.

 

Rock imo should also give back if he is considering going part time. By stating the winning and losing stuff he bascially can't put anyone over as a passing of the torch. Just like Hogan. I'm not saying Rock IS a sell-out. Just stating that there is a big possibility there. Anyways, let's watch the next 2 years and see how it effects the wwf when guys like Jericho and Angle go through what Bret and Shawn had to. Some may say how do I know for sure. Well, wrestling and life is a cycle. Look at wcw when the "gang" raped it. Look at the wwf in the mid 90's when the "gang" raped it. All I got to say is watch.

[Guest The Fett]

I read to interview at Rolling Stone and the way I'm interpretting the interview it really doesn't seem like a big deal to me. I don't think Rock is purposely trying to discredit wrestling or winning wrestlemania, just giving his opinion on jobbing. The interviewer asks him whether he's upset about always jobbing at Wrestlemania.

 

All Rock is saying is no. He's fine with jobbing because he understands that wrestling is a business. I don't think he's trying to say that all wins and loses are meaningless. Just that, for him, doing the job at Wrestlemania 3 years in a row is no big deal. Entertaining the fans is what's most important regardless of whether he wins or not. I don't see what's wrong with what he's saying.