It’s well documented that I am not the biggest fan of the Rock. I like the Rock, but I am definitely not the leader of his fan club. When the Rock first changed his persona towards the more humorous side of things, when he first started referring to himself in the third person and was a huge heel, I loved the Rock. I thought the Rock was hilarious, and I marked out for him up until his face turn in mid-1999.
Then, I grew tired of the Rock. I don’t know why, that always happens. The same thing happened with Steve Austin during his huge babyface run in 1998-1999. I think maybe it can be pinpointed by the fact that both of those guys used feuds with the Undertaker and/or Kane to get over as a face. Well, to me, you just can’t accomplish a whole lot as far as getting me to like you by attacking either of those two guys. Especially Kane. But anyway, through the summer of 1999, I just was so tired of the Rock. I wanted to see Triple H, Kane, or the Undertaker shut him up for good. But, then something happened, and I liked the Rock again.
The Rock and Sock Connection was born. I loved their chemistry, the comedy, the ridiculous things that were said and done between the two of them. The Rock was entertaining again. It was great stuff. The "This Is Your Life" segment with the Rock and Mankind still stands out in my mind as one of my favorite segments of all time. The eventual split of the Rock and Sock Connection and then the subsequent main-event push of the Rock left me cold to the Rock again.
I think that could be explained by the Rock going after Triple H. I don’t know. Each time the Rock would go after Kane, Undertaker, or Triple H, I knew what the eventual outcome would be. Of course the Rock would win, he was the top babyface. That’s what pissed me off. There was no real surprise or anything to it. The Rock got the better of Triple H in their feud, but lost the title to Kurt Angle a few months later. That was fine, I was actually quite happy with that. But then...you put the Rock in a feud with Rikishi? Oh god. That killed me. So, when the Rock regained the title at No Way Out and headed into the main event of Wrestlemania X-7 against Stone Cold Steve Austin, I found myself doing something I hadn’t done in a couple years. I was pulling for Stone Cold to win.
The Rock had worn out his welcome as far as I was concerned, and I was more than pleased when Steve Austin turned heel and beat the crap out of the Rock with that chair, and won the WWF title. I was even more happy the next night when Triple H and Austin beat the hell out of the Rock again, leading to his "suspension" from the WWF.
Hey, I’m no idiot. I know that the Rock is what pulls a lot of casual fans in for the shows. I know that the guy is entertaining. I just was tired of him. Things change. The Rock has been gone for about four months. The WCW/ECW invasion is on. I was actually WANTING to see the Rock come back..especially at Invasion after Austin turned his back on the WWF.
I mentioned that it seemed to depend on who the Rock went after in his babyface role as to whether I disliked him or not, well, now that it would seem that the Rock will be targeting the WCW/ECW Alliance, I have a feeling that I will be more than willing to see the Rock each week.
You just have to time it right, and with Kane, Undertaker, and Kurt Angle all on team WWF and Triple H on the injured list, the Rock is more than welcome back in my book. I do however, hope that he does not instantly win the WWF title back.
So, FINALLY, the Rock has come back to the WWF! And watch out WCW/ECW, for the Great One will "lay the smacketh down" on all of your candy asses!
