Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is set to make a highly anticipated return to WWE SmackDown this Friday, live from the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.
The wrestling icon took to social media on Thursday night to confirm his appearance.
“The Final Boss returns, LIVE on #SmackDown”
This marks Rock’s first WWE appearance since his back-to-back showings last month—first at the historic Raw on Netflix premiere in Los Angeles, followed by a surprise promo on NXT TV the next night. While he initially appeared to distance himself from the “Final Boss” character on Raw, he later doubled down on the persona during his NXT appearance, claiming he was always one step ahead.
Rock’s SmackDown return comes amid speculation surrounding a potential showdown with Cody Rhodes. Last year, WWE set the stage for a future Rock vs. Rhodes clash following WrestleMania 40. However, in his recent Raw appearance, Rock embraced Rhodes instead of confronting him. He later addressed the moment on NXT, hinting that his actions were all part of the “Final Boss” mind games.
Ahead of his return, Rock issued a bold promise to fans via Instagram, stating that he plans to
“Deliver a big beautiful gift to the city of New Orleans and f**k up a certain someone’s life with the Final Boss gospel.”
WWE further fuelled the excitement with a press release quoting Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque:
“When The Final Boss shows up at this time of year, the audience knows absolutely anything is possible. Everything could change in an instant.”
Which Upcoming Movie Is The Rock Being Pitched For?
The Rock is reportedly being pitched to star in an upcoming Martin Scorsese movie alongside Emily Blunt and Leonardo DiCaprio. The project focuses on the story of a Hawaiian crime family boss who rose to prominence during the 1960s and 70s by waging a brutal war against mainland corporations and rival syndicates while fighting to preserve his ancestral land.
In a further update, The Rock is set to deliver a huge announcement on the show.