The Rock made his return to WWE television on SmackDown, marking his first appearance since the January 6 edition of Monday Night RAW. During the segment, he addressed multiple topics including the announcement of WrestleMania 42’s location before shifting focus to Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.
The Final Boss began by revealing that WrestleMania 42 will take place in New Orleans before calling out Rhodes to the ring. This interaction follows their previous reconciliation on the RAW on Netflix premiere, where they appeared to resolve tensions that had developed during their feud leading into WrestleMania XL.
During the face-to-face confrontation, The Rock presented Rhodes with an ambiguous proposition, asking the champion to become “his champion” and requesting his “soul.” While the specific details remained unclear, the implication suggested The Final Boss wanted Rhodes to potentially align with him and become a corporate champion.
Rather than demanding an immediate answer, The Rock instructed Rhodes to consider the offer carefully. He announced he would return at the upcoming Elimination Chamber: Toronto Premium Live Event to hear The American Nightmare’s decision regarding the proposition.
The timing of this development adds another layer of intrigue as Rhodes will learn his WrestleMania 41 opponent at the same event, with the Men’s Elimination Chamber match winner earning a championship opportunity against the Undisputed WWE Champion.
Brandi Rhodes later responded to The Rock’s proposition through social media, though the nature of her reaction remained subtle following the segment.
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— Brandi Rhodes (@TheBrandiRhodes) February 22, 2025