Skip to main content

“Finally, The Rock Has Come Back…Home!”

DPTheRockReturn “Finally, The Rock has come back…Home!”

Despite the usual catchphrase for The Rock, it is a statement that every single wrestling fan has longed to hear ever since he left for Hollywood seven years ago. And because of his comeback, and due to the title of this post, we here can follow that up with a…

“Finally, The Rock has come back…to Dome Pondering!”

Ok, I’ll calm down. I’m just excited the Rock has come back, period. 

Last night when that infamous theme song beginning of “If ya smelllllll…” hit over the airwaves, there was a sudden jolt of excitement, goose bumps, and shock for yours truly. As The Rock came through that curtain, that excitement tripled. Albeit being much older, yet, very much in shape, The Rock stood before 19,000-plus fans in Anaheim who gave him a 3 minute standing ovation, including the millions (and…millions) of wrestling fans at home who I am sure felt like this was all a dream. 


As this was happening, I sat on my futon in full gaze at the television. Yes, the Rock is entertaining, yes he is what he says, "the most electrifying man in all of entertainment”, and yes, he has a special place in the heart of wrestling fans (more on that later). However, viewing his return made me feel like I was fourteen years old again. Cheesy? Of course. However, it’s not something I wouldn’t expect a non-wrestling fan to understand. Or even a newer fan to that extent. 

This was evident as I sat there gazing and hanging on every single word The Rock said,  my tag team partner stood there wondering, with our wedding now less than eight months away, what she was indeed getting herself into. And of course, that was right before I decided to ask her a random question, then cutting her answer off with the proverbial, “It doesn’t matter…”

[Blog Sidenote: How ironic is it that the woman I call my tag team partner, has very little care for pro wrestling as a whole. After all, to her, Monday Night Raw is simply two hours of not being able to watch “better things". But I digress.]



However, the fact is, only a pro wrestling fan can truly enjoy a moment like that. Pro Wrestling fans are very similar to a society within itself. We are true to the product. We have opinions on the business. And when we meet up with other loyal fans, its exciting. Most importantly, much like any society, we stay loyal to those who became known from us – because of pro wrestling. 

As The Rock said last night, even as Dwayne Johnson, the biggest support he had were from his wrestling fans. No matter what he has gone on to do, wrestling fans have supported him. It is the same way we have supported Brock Lesnar. No matter what any MMA die-hard/anti-pro wrestling individual attempts to argue, Brock Lesnar was made by pro wrestling, is popular because of pro wrestling and will always be linked to pro wrestling, just like The Rock. That is a statement even UFC President, Dana White, must admit as fact.

Unlike other sports and entertainment facets, it is rare for a talent to receive the type of homecoming that Wrestlers do, especially, after an extended leave of absence. Very few, in their art form, can appear in the present and make their fans feel like it is old times once again. And finally, very few can have a legend in their industry return after seven years away, and still perform as well as they ever have, all while creating new found excitement in the entire product. 

Only in this society that we call pro wrestling. 

A society, which last night welcomed home and celebrated one of its own in The Rock.

Recently Read

Quick Ponder: Man Love

"A man is only loved under the condition that he provide something"  - Chris Rock  Feeling that these days,  with the understanding  of privilege,  and responsibility. 

The Pondering 10 - Wrestling Roster Moves (2024)

2024 was a great year for pro wrestling. So many things are going on, and so many options for whatever you enjoy. For me, pro wrestling felt fun again, especially as my son is now all about the special art form as well.  As 2024 comes to a close, and I begin placing together the traditional posts in the "Most Fascinating Things" and the "Year in Review", I felt it would be fun to drop a new Pondering 10.  In this one, I take a look at the overall landscape of pro wrestling, and fantasy move a wrestler to another company. Again, this is my list. For all of the company tribalists, don't come at me! All in fun!  With that said, here is my Pondering 10:  10. Jonathan Gresham to NWA Gresham's style is unmatched. The dude is old-school and can make technical wrestling look like a modern science happening right before your eyes in storytelling. NWA is still grasping to establish that identity in the landscape by catering to the "old-style" presentation co...

AEW Full Gear 2024 Review: "the potential that resides in this company"

I attended my first AEW show in Full Gear 2024, as the event made its way to the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The event was even more special as it was the very first live wrestling event for my son who has very much caught the wrestling bug. One would think being around my interests would be the spark, but I genuinely believe he understands the beauty and magic that is pro wrestling. All of it is evident in his "universe" within his wrestling action figures and his constant intrigue in searching throughout Peacock and TNA+.  All of that to say, neither of us are big AEW viewers. Yes, I have my gripes with the company which I'll share. Also, AEW isn't the most suitable for a six-year-old to watch, so there's that. As a dad, I appreciate WWE and TNA's approach to their product. It doesn't have to be PG, but feeling comfortable leaving my son in front of your product unattended is a big plus. Again, more on this... Back to AEW Full Gear, it was a...