The Rock WrestleMania XL Interview: A new era in wrestling & becoming the Final Boss | WWE on ESPN
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- Опубликовано: 4 апр 2024
- Joe Tessitore sits down with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as they discuss how professional wrestling has evolved since the 80’s ahead of WrestleMania XL. They also discuss The Rock’s return to the ring and how it lead to his “Final Boss” persona.
#WWE #WrestleMania #TheRock
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Rock pulling the curtain all the way back with this one, which i appreciate.
He has to be on record because some people can’t see through the act. And that’s dangerous for someone like Rock. It’s awesome for wrestling fans. But dangerous for the most loved man on earth.
Yea some of you marks need to hear this more often. You get way to invested in these fake characters
Appreciate him admitting they messed up with the approach on this and trying to take it from Cody. Then listened to the fans for once and pivoted into something so much better.
Literally the first thing they did. They made the wrong decision, and the first time they were asked to listen to the fans, they did. They've got a 100% record of listening to the fans 👍
They make more $$$ pivoting with the fans than the original plan. Plus if they didn't it would have affected the Rock's other businesses
You say that but Roman vs the rock would have been so much better. Cody wrestled Roman last year and it was dire, awful and boring. Cody isn’t a big star and the fans that support him still live with their moms let’s be honest.
@@jaybee4288 hatt ❤de
@@jaybee4288😂😂😂😂
I love how he’s out of character here. Makes you appreciate his character even more! Love you rock!
Oh he's not out of character, he's just taking care of business calmly before he bleeeeeds that cry baby tonight! Mama Rhodes....I hope you're watching!!
@@sctmcglmao 🤣🤣🤣🤣 the stardust cry babies are offended 😂
All those years of acting is paying off for “the final boss”!
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
@@sctmcg Couldn't have said it better myself😂
Finally a journalist that knows pro wrestling.
Meltzer gave this interview 1 star 😂😂😂
I was thinking the same. It gets very eye rolling when they interview wrestlers in a demeaning manner asking the same stupid questions, dropping the “F” bomb and just being overall quite condescending.
Dave meltzer is a joke I can’t stand the guy
dave is a clown he hasnt got any clue trust me 😂😂
It would of got 2 stars if it was in the Tokyo Dome.
@@jamesj760😂😂😂
Final Boss - great heel
They have been absolutely blitzing us with media press this week. I’ve been devouring it all freaking day. Every time I open this app, a new interview is out.
Almost like they're getting you ready for something BIG, isn't it?
@@conspiracytheorista8988 yeah but this time they're going the extra mile which makes sense for the 'biggest wrestlemania' ever
@@tanzeebali1885 Oh it's going to be BIG alright... probably not the way people expect though.
the rock looks in great shape.... looking like a professional wrestler. It doesn't seem that he 's been away for 12 years
got leaner and sharper, Well all hail the final boss 🔥🔥🔥
Yeah. Steroids work! Crazy, right?
Best version of the rock I’ve ever seen
He's never looked more "Dwayne" than he does right there
I think that's the point. Good spot on your part.
Obviously you forget the time he toned the roids down and had half a hair line in the start of his hollywood career
@@DigitalTimothyski obviously you'd realise he wasn't on roids in his first run. He was just big with great genetics. Obviously a keen judgemental eye such as yourself could tell the difference between roids weightloss and natural build.
Yes he was on roids in parts of his active career. But he was 270 and bulky then in his late 20’s, now at 51/52 he’s 270 ripped.
@@siriusb22 that’s why he had the gyno issue? Oh wait he was “predisposed” genetically to have it
When he puts those glasses on he instantly turns into “Dwayne” when he takes them off or wears the Sunglasses…He becomes The Rock.
The "F**k that" era... I like it 👍🏻
No u don't
F**k PG era
@@population-_-420Lol who is you?
Final Boss Era
😂🤣
Even back in the 90's everyone knew The Rock was such a gift to the WWE we all knew he would move on to bigger and better things but he always found his way back home eventually and he already paved the way for the generation that came after him and doing it again for the generation after that! What a legendary human being!
The Rock is not Vince McMahon.
When he knows, the fans not reacting what he wants to be..he's not ignoring it, but listening what the fans want, and provide us something better.
Everyone loves "Final Boss" Rock now, and i thing that i loved too..the passion & dedication of him to growing "new era" of WWE right now, along with Triple H.
Final boss in character but always the peoples champ
This is why Rock is the MAN !!!! heal or baby face HE IS THE FINAL BOSSS!!!!
Oh please. He wouldnt boss Stone Cold Steve Austin around.
@@anthonycampos8057 U meat riding Austin on every comment huh😂
@@anthonycampos8057Rock has way more pull now. Stone Cold can stay on his pod cast. Rock has power in the company now. Stone Cold just has a little influence.
@@WHSuperman2005 I'm talking about if Austin worked there.
Rock back with the attitude era again just like old times!
Bring back vince russo the writer in that era
No. Everyone else on the show is still boring and has no charisma.
Cody Rhodes vs. Reigns again. BORING!!
Wrestlemania 40 sucks.
@@tripdefect87 why not the guy wrote during attitude era best era
I really appreciate the fact that the interviewer knows his stuff about wrestling and that makes this interview/dialog so much better. Respect.
*THE GREAT ONE* 🗣🎙
Fears Stone Cold Steve Austin
@@anthonycampos8057 and yet he beat him the last time they faced each other 🤫
@@redcomet0079 it doesn't change the fact that Steve will always give him problems.
@@anthonycampos8057 The rock *retired him*
💀🍺
@@redcomet0079 he got lucky
Glad he is back.. he saved wrestling for us all.. he is the Great 1 for a reason..
Ok he elevated it but it was doing really good before, the last 2 years have been excellent
Rock 10.0 is what pulled me (now 40) back into the ride... And man am I along for the ride like never before. So cool.
I'm 36 and started watching again when Punk came back, little did I know how crazy things were going to get haha, this is the greatest era since ruthless aggression I'm having so much fun each week
I think the "final" in "Final Boss" is intentional and for good reason.
Rock knows he only has a few of these left, between his age and his other ventures and obligations. So for him to do arguably the 2nd best work of his career at 51 years old, having to 180 pivot from what he originally thought would get over with everyone and still noticeably shine brighter than anyone else on the roster speaks VOLUMES.
He's challenging Cody, Seth, and everyone else in the locker room to step their game up. No more Vi...I mean Voldemort to hold anyone back now. Pretty soon WWE will be on Netflix where there will be even more freedom. No more excuses.
A 51-year-old shouldn't be outshining and getting bigger pops with the very same fans that apparently are such big fans of guys like Seth and Cody.
It's the rock bruh lmao
@@JACQUEZJOHNSON23 Okay? Being a legend isn't a fail-safe to a generation that really don't know him. Especially in The Rock's case when his movies have been mid and was freshly coming off of how he handled the Hawaii situation.
If he was still at the level of over that he used to be, he'd be able to take Cody Rhodes' spot in the main event. The fans didn't let it happen and by every objective metric, Cody (by his own merit) doesn't have the star power of The Rock. But because the fans respect what he's done up to this point, they ain't let it slide.
Rock earned his respect with THIS audience being able to change everything on a moment's notice and do arguably the best work of his career as a heel.
@@TheOuttaPocketVarietyShow like I said it's the rock
@@TheOuttaPocketVarietyShowYou're playing fantasy manager just interchanging people into positions at your own candor. That's very fun, but it doesn't take into account real life 👍 Nobody can do some of the things The Rock can do. If people aren't getting over like he did it's not because they're failing to do stuff or not getting the chance, it's because The Rock was and is a once in a lifetime act. He doesn't need to step back... No one could ever replace him.
Performers get over themselves, not because there are spots allotted for it.
@@TheOuttaPocketVarietyShowhe couldn’t take Cody’s spot in the main event is testament to Cody’s star power. Stop being a nostalgia merchant, though to the rock’s credit he is going toe to toe with the most over wrestler right now.
this interviewer was great, dude knows his stuff :0
I'm amazed at how Dwayne's enormous ego and influence can be used to do what's best for business. This the best version of Dwayne Johnson AND The Rock we have ever seen 🔥🔥🔥
You say enormous ego like every top star doesn’t have that lol
The best version of the rock? 😂 did you see him back in the attitude era
He clearly doesn't have an enormous ego
@resColts looks somebody hasn't watched his awful sitcom and hasn't seen his involvement in how Black Adam was made
@@mrmaclovin255 looks like somebody's biased
I sense a new boom period for wwe on the way. The last time I felt this way was in 1997 when Steve Austin gave Vince the stunner for the first time.
How old are you?
I havent watched WWE in 10 years but started catching up again about a month ago and like what I see so far
Dear Mr Johnson, if you’re reading this which I know you ABSOLUTELY ARE NOT 😂 Please interview like this EVERY SINGLE TIME! this is your most GENUINE INTERVIEW I’ve ever seen! No media training sounding politically correct answers….. not trying to sell me some bs….. just direct clearly constructed answer to great questions……. Your BEST…….. and the interviewer is AWESOME TOO
Yes The Great One
I really love how they respect each other.
Even though it was a pivot, they had the foresight to change it in time and create what I consider to be the greatest storyline in pro wrestling in decades. That press conference was iconic. It really felt like they called the fans bluff and it's added more layers to the story, elevating the product to unimaginable heights. Pumped for tonight. Massive respect to The Rock, still killing it after all these years.
WWE on fire 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Soo much fun!! Being throwing around. Bothg sides.
Such a great interview!
Hearing the words “pro wrestling” is music to my ears ❤
What an interview i have so much respect for the rock and what’s he’s done with the pivot. It has been magical and i feel like we’ve all been blessed
The fact that he appears more shows that he's way more passionate about wwe than Hollywood and honestly he and Roman are killing it together and once this run is done, I will miss it. Enjoy the Final boss while you still can cuz he may never make appearances like this again ❤🐐🐃
He always Listens to the Fans The Rock sensed it and also mention about The Attitude Era which the Fans are Saying.He is Truly a Legend ❤
Awesome interview.
Well-versed interviewer + The Final Boss
Rock gotta stay in boss mode
They could stretch out his run and have Cody vs Rock in a future PLE
@mr.perksy at mitb in front of Toronto! (I might be a bit biased of the location since I'm from there lol)
@@AndrewDaniele87. Could very well be. Or Summerslam in Cleveland browns stadium
I knew it. I doubted that it was storyline from the beginning. They pivoted into the storyline we have today. At least they listen to the fans once
ur getting worked
I knew it as soon as the rock slapped cody and turned heel lol
@@trewic8678lol , these marks always get worked 😂😂😂they don't realise that the WWE only shows us what they want us to see now people think they got it all figured out 😂
@MrLove717 I stopped trying to figure out what's real and what's not real, brings me back to before people told me wrestling was fake when I was 7 haha
Muscles!!! Rolls around the Energy!!!
The Renaissance Era
I'm digging this
Cringe
@@TheMagno619How
Im a 39 year old I have never bought a PPV this is going to be a exeption the way it is going.
Cody Rhodes is 38. 39 is considered prime age in Wrestling.
You don’t need to buy a ppv. It’s on peacock or the network for like $6-$10 a month. just have to hope when the deal runs TKO doesn’t go back to the old model where we had to $60+ for a ppv.
@@mr.perksy I live in the UK just subed to wwe network.
Enjoy!
Wrestlemania 40 will be TRASH.
Cody Rhodes vs. Reigns again. BORING.
Haven't watched wrestling regularly for many many years but I'm going to a watching party for wrestlemania tonight and am fully gassed. WWE has been great recently
great questions
This guy is amazing man. Great performer, like him or not. He’s fully invested in putting Cody over as the new face of the company.
I appreciate his honesty. Good interview.
This was a great interview
I'll never forget the WWE restaurant in NYC. I was a young mother and my son was about 12 and wanted to go. I was reluctant to see Santa thrown through a table. It was hilarious and i was transformed to a fan. My son will be at WrestleMania 40 and has been an avid fan from 10 years old. Professional wrestling has been and continues to be phenomenal entertainment!
The Rock turned heel & turned into Rock 10.0!!! Yesuah & we LOVE IT!!! 💙❤️❤️👍💯🔥🔥💪💪
Good to see the Rock back
Gutted it’s over he done an unbelievable job and his in ring performance was phenomenal I hope he returns one day
Rock is just taking a break because of his Hollywood schedule. He'll be back sometime around this year.
He will at summerslam
crazy to think how much the times have changed… back in the attitude era (when i grew up watching WWF) you’d never see all these types of interviews around wrestlemania time
Tessitore killing it!
Love Rocky man my all time favorites
My favorite wrestler ever! I've loved the direction of WWE since HHH took over creative, and having the Rock back now is icing on the cake!
"He is The Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he" (Deuteronomy 32:4).
This is what all of us wanted these last decades.
To a fantastic memorable Wrestlemania.
Glad he came back. What a great ride it was.
The GREAT ONE
fears Stone Cold Steve Austin
@@anthonycampos8057 y tf would he fear him😂
@@Frank-mt2hf because he's his greatest rival
@@anthonycampos8057 💀
Hhh also said didn't want rock to get booed as babyface also. He also saw it as his chance to be creative heel again
I absolutely loved Rock 10.0, the FinalBoss. The one thing we needed to bring back the excitement in wwe
Final Boss is an incredible new version for The Rock
Its Like Beating.... The Royal Rumble!!!! Fight the Champ!!!
Hearing him acknowledge Cody and Seth as top athletes in the world is ease to my ears. Now I can go to sleep without worrying about the final boss being real. Dwayne is insane 🙏
It's crazy how believable his hate toward them has seemed as the final boss character lol
‘Final Boss’ version of The Rock is some of the best work he has ever done in his career.
Roman Reigns and Tha Rock ❤️✊️ Love from Nepal 🇳🇵
The f* #k that era .... I Love it 😂❤
I love ❤the Rock my favorite wrestler I can hear him all day
Pause 🖐🏽
The Rock has made this so good that I no longer care if Cody finishes his story or not.
What a reinvention - absolutely love it; drawing 90s/00s fans (like me) back into the ring!! 😄
I think the plan all along was to do the Rock and Roman Reigns thing, then circle back to Cody vs Roman. Great writing though.
The average fan does not realise how good this man is at what he does
I like the fact that he showed in this interview that this is a work for those who were threatened his daughter
How was this for an interview? Absolute top draw. Substance and execution!
I love how much WWE has been on ESPN lately
Congrats Rocky!! Giant Champion Francis!! Most Powerful Thing!! Got Tech'ed!!!!
2 Technical Punches!! Properly KO!! TKO!!
And still ❤❤❤❤❤
This is the Attitude Adjustment Era
Thank you for giving your true fans BLACK ADAM. Truly wish there was a sequel that involved Henry cavill superman.
You can see his transformation from January to this point . Lean defined Rock .
He's looks great physically without question. However he's carrying around more mass than he did during his 2013 championship run. At that time he clearly prepped his body for in ring work for months ahead of time and even slimmed down enough to be as quick and agile as possible. He looked great. Now at 51 with his size now, I doubt he'll be as agile. But my concern is his movement and cardio. I wanna see how he looks come night 1. He not gonna move as well as 2013 and that's fine. He's in a tag match which will help take the load off him and he can take his time. I just hope he doesn't burn himself out during the match. I'm sure he's ready to handle the match though.
Legendary
Excellent 💯 Rock is the GOAT
A magician doesn't reveal his secrets, I hate that we are seeing this interview right now. We needed this 2 to 5 years from now... God willing. Regardless tho, it is what it is.
Love how rock is only one who isn't afraid to say vince mccmahan
Yea... But basically to bury him. He's basically blaming Vince for things not working out.
Talking crap @@Cyrribrae
Lest go Wrestlemania 40!❤
I have a feeling the final boss is just who he is
Tessitore for the win
Love the interview, just wish this was a post-mania pulling of the curtain
I love the Rock.❤❤❤❤
The rock has really saved wwe bringing back the attitude era of him and the goat stone cold no crap pg stuff that even kid's dont want
Thank you ROCK for saying Wrestling is REAL! All respect Rock!OVW🌐
The rock rules 😎💯
I am the Final Boss the rock btw he's on 🔥 right now never thought I would be so invested in wwe again.
He’s right
Like LA Knight and AJ Styles skit involving police
Like it looked real haha
The Scorpion KiiNG!!!!
Lemmeh talk to yah ! YEAH !
I can’t help The Rock good luck you match no matter wins or lose .
Let’s go Nightmare!🇺🇸💀💥🫡🐐
old school, rock is the man in a environment full kids,he kills every personality, charisma,natural star power, 🤩🤩🤩
Yeeah!! 10 Table Smashing!!!!!
Who is this interviewer and what show is this?