Author: Blake Oestriecher / Source: Forbes
WWE’s Upcoming Plans For The Rock, Why He Didn’t Appear On SmackDown 1000
Many fans were left disappointed when The Rock didn’t appear on SmackDown 1000, but there are conflicting reports on why “The Great One” didn’t show up.
While PWInsider’s Dave Scherer speculated that The Rock may have wanted to distance himself from WWE due to the Saudi Arabia controversy and how it might affect his public image, Barburner’s Joe Peisich reports that it’s because WWE may have bigger plans for The Rock, saying:
The Rock from what I hear — I did not confirm this yet, but you know where is the Survivor Series?
Los Angeles? Could The Rock be at the Survivor Series in LA? That’s why he didn’t show up tonight.
WHAT’S IT MEAN FOR WWE?
WWE typically goes out of its way to load up its pay-per-view events when they’re held in Los Angeles, as evidenced by last year’s No Mercy, which featured two “first time ever” matches in Roman Reigns vs. John Cena and Braun Strowman vs. Brock Lesnar.
With The Rock reportedly wanting to return to WWE, apparently being “penciled in” for a huge WrestleMania 35 match and WWE recently making a habit out of giving massive paydays to part-time stars, all of the ingredients are certainly there for The Rock to be back in WWE sooner rather than later. When it comes to the former WWE Champion, however, one of the biggest issues with him is always a matter of timing and opportunity as The Rock has a notoriously difficult and busy schedule that rarely leaves any room for him to make even a brief appearance for WWE.
If WWE can work around The Rock’s schedule to bring him in for Survivor Series, rest assured that the company will do just that at a time when its TV viewership, especially for Raw, has struggled mightily. The Rock is, far and away, the biggest star the company could bring back at the moment, and at this point, it seems to be a matter of when, not if, he shows up in WWE.
So, perhaps Survivor Series will indeed be the time and place.CHECK THIS OUT
The Undertaker Likely Retiring After WrestleMania 35
WHAT’S THE DEAL?
The Undertaker may be nearing the official end of his in-ring career.
According to the No Holds Barred podcast (h/t Ringside News), “It looks like The Undertaker will be from what I heard retiring officially at WrestleMania this year and going into the Hall Of Fame 2 nights before WrestleMania.”
WHAT’S IT MEAN FOR WWE?
The Undertaker was reportedly “meant to retire” at WrestleMania 33 last year after his loss to Roman Reigns, but those plans obviously changed and “The Deadman” has wrestled several times since then.
Of course, Taker has arguably WWE’s friendliest schedule and is still one of its highest paid stars despite working a very limited number of dates, so it’s likely that working just a handful of shows, especially big money ones like Greatest Royal Rumble, was simply too easy to pass up. The Undertaker will also work Crown Jewel and presumably earn a hefty paycheck for that event as well, and he’s been linked to a potential Survivor Series match against Shawn Michaels, though it’s certainly possible WWE holds off on that bout until WrestleMania 35 instead.
Regardless, it was quite apparent at Super Show-Down that Undertaker’s gas tank is close to empty, which is understandable given the incredible longevity he’s had in WWE for nearly three decades. WWE will assuredly want to get all it can out of Undertaker before he hangs up his boots for good, and whether that’s a retirement match against Michaels or one final WrestleMania encounter with another major star, it wouldn’t be a shocker if Taker call it quits at WrestleMania 35.
Then again, it wouldn’t surprise anyone if he didn’t retire then, either.
CHECK THIS OUT
Batista Expected To Headline WWE Hall Of Fame Class Of 2019
WHAT’S THE DEAL?
“The Animal” could be going into the WWE Hall of Fame.
According to wrestling journalist Brad Shepard (h/t Ringside News), Batista is expected to be the headlining name for the WWE Hall of Fame’s class of 2019:
Batista is now likely to go into the WWE Hall Of Fame this coming year at WrestleMania. Not final, but he is the early major name to go into the Hall Of Fame this coming year.
WHAT’S IT MEAN FOR WWE?
Despite a rather rocky relationship with WWE in recent years, Batista has expressed his desire to return to the company on numerous occasions, specifically stating that he wants one last full-time run that culminates with a WrestleMania match against Triple H.
Batista just returned to WWE at this week’s special SmackDown 1000 event for what was likely a simple one-off appearance, at least for now. “The Animal” is hoping to return to WWE for the right storyline, and the company’s recent influx of part-timers, as well as the increasing frequency of big money shows like Super Show-Down and Crown Jewel (and the revenue that comes along with it), should give him ample opportunities to be brought back into the mix at some point.
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