Rikishi shared his perspective on The Rock’s recent appearance during WWE RAW’s Netflix debut on his Off The Top podcast. The WWE Hall of Famer discussed the memorable moment when The Rock presented the Ula Fala to Roman Reigns following the Tribal Combat match against Solo Sikoa.
The main event featured appearances from various stars including Sami Zayn, Jimmy Uso, Jacob Fatu, Cody Rhodes, Tama Tonga, and Kevin Owens before Roman Reigns emerged victorious.
Missed Opportunity for Family Drama
Rikishi, uncle to Roman and father to Solo, expressed his thoughts on the post-match interaction:
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If Rock wanted to turn heel, what a perfect time to do it
The wrestling veteran elaborated on the significance of the moment:
It was a good way of The Rock validating, somewhat like passing the torch over to [Roman]
Reflecting on the peaceful conclusion, Rikishi noted:
I’m 26 years old and live in Brazil. I'm fluent in English, a journalist, and a pro wrestling fan for 15 years. Creator of the Brazilian website Wrestling Notícias. Fan of CM Punk and Chelsea Green.
Becky Lynch departed WWE after her contract expired in June 2024. Reports indicate she signed a new contract with WWE following her departure.
Seth Rollins mentioned during a Chris Van Vliet interview that Lynch has a major project in development, along with her role in the Star Trek series on Paramount. Rollins provided no additional details about the upcoming project.
Fightful Select reports Lynch is under contract with WWE. Contrary to speculation, there were no plans for her appearance at the RAW on Netflix premiere, and she was not present at the event. As of December 2024, WWE had not finalized any WrestleMania plans for Lynch, and her return date remains undetermined.
Drew McIntyre Reveals Real Reason for Loss to Jey Uso on RAW’s Netflix Debut
In a Daily Mail interview, Drew McIntyre discusses the circumstances of his loss to Jey Uso on Raw’s Netflix debut and addresses environmental factors in LA.
Drew McIntyre discussed his recent loss to Jey Uso during the Raw on Netflix debut in an interview with Alex McCarthy of The Daily Mail. McIntyre addressed the environmental conditions during their singles match.
I wasn’t joking when I said I had a contact high. It’s an LA thing. In general, the place just reeks of a certain substance. And then during his entrance, very publicly, having a good old time with old Travis Scott and that’s not my thing, and that 100 percent is a thing, contact high. I’m not making excuses, I’m just stating facts.
McIntyre commented on the match outcome against Uso:
He got a quick one. I’m not somebody that’s going to spend the truth and make too many excuses. I’m annoyed about the constant smell of you know what in LA while I’m trying to wrestle, but I beat him 10 times in a row. That’s the first time he’s beaten me. It was a quick one. It was out of nowhere. It was a cheap one. Does it make him better than me? Absolutely not. Does it stop my goals going forward? Absolutely not. It just motivates me more.
McIntyre Reflects on 2024 Rivalry with CM Punk
Drew McIntyre and CM Punk engaged in a memorable rivalry throughout 2024, which began after Punk’s injury at the Royal Rumble. The feud progressed through social media and verbal exchanges before culminating in three matches.
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The rivalry included matches at SummerSlam on August 3, Bash In Berlin on August 31, and a Hell In A Cell bout at Bad Blood on October 5. In his Daily Mail interview, McIntyre discussed his approach to the rivalry on social media, noting that he “went completely gangbusters for him.”
McIntyre praised Punk’s professionalism during their feud, stating that despite his aggressive social media tactics, Punk remained composed. “I went at him and went at him,” McIntyre said. “And I’ve done that with a couple of people, and they have got a boo-boo face. Not that I care, but he didn’t. He ate it like a man and then came back with what he had to say. So I’ll give him that.”
Roman Reigns defeated Solo Sikoa in a Tribal Combat match on WWE RAW’s Netflix debut, reclaiming the Ula Fala and establishing himself as the Only Tribal Chief. Following this victory, Reigns announced his entry into the 2025 Royal Rumble match, targeting the Undisputed WWE Championship.
WWE released promotional material for Royal Rumble 2025 featuring a countdown display of numbers one, two, and three. Observers have connected this imagery to The Rock’s appearance at Bad Blood 2024, where he performed a three-count gesture during interactions with Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, and Jimmy Uso.
The Rock previously addressed WrestleMania 41 speculation during RAW’s Netflix debut, where he reconciled with Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns. Sources suggest The Rock may enter the 2025 Royal Rumble match despite this reconciliation.