In a shocking twist, The Rock, a renowned WWE icon, unexpectedly graced the stage during the first Monday Night Raw of the year, suggesting that one of the most anticipated wrestling showdowns may be in the works.

Despite building anticipation for the comeback of a previous WWE titleholder, which led numerous fans to anticipate the appearance of Andrade, an AEW wrestler and former WWE figure, following the expiration of his contract on December 31, the audience was disappointed when Jinder Mahal, a longstanding underdog with a challenging mid-2010s stint with the World Heavyweight Title, made an unexpected entrance.

However, as is customary in classic professional wrestling fashion, this turned out to be a surprising twist, with The Rock promptly interrupting Mahal to a thunderous applause.

Following the delivery of his iconic catchphrases and delivering a beating to Mahal, The Rock shifted his focus to the true reason behind his return, coinciding with the pinnacle of the WWE calendar—the journey to WrestleMania, which encompasses the January Royal Rumble.

“I’m gonna go get something to eat,” he explained.

“Should The Rock sit in a booth?

“Or should The Rock sit at the bar?

“Or should The Rock sit... at the head of the table?”

It unmistakably hinted at an eagerly anticipated showdown with the enduring Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, Roman Reigns—a figure the company has been endeavoring to establish as one of the all-time greats through an exceptionally prolonged championship reign.

He has maintained control of the Universal Championship, consolidated with the WWE title at WrestleMania 38, for more than 1200 days, approaching the impressive 1474-day reign of Hulk Hogan from 1984 to 1988.

While surpassing the all-time leader Bruno Sammartino, who held the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship for nearly eight years (unless something extraordinary happens), may be out of reach for Reigns, exceeding Hogan's record and matching Bob Backlund's 1470-day reign (WWE excludes Antonio Inoki's time with the title and subsequent vacancies, crediting Backlund at 2135 days) is within the realm of possibility.

The challenge lies in the fact that a prolonged championship reign made sense in the territorial era of professional wrestling, where the top draw retained the title. However, in contemporary pro wrestling, where titles may exchange hands multiple times in a single night, Reigns' enduring tenure stands out as a remarkable anomaly.

In response to the situation, WWE introduced a new World Heavyweight Championship, secured by Seth Rollins in May, providing other wrestlers with a title they could theoretically contend for. The credibility of this championship as a genuine world title is challenging due to the Reigns factor, as he undeniably holds the top position in the company.

The lingering query remains: who will ultimately bring an end to Reigns' remarkable reign? After all, the fundamental purpose of elevating someone to such heights is for another individual to triumph over them, seizing their momentum, or in wrestling jargon, to "get the rub."

Who will ultimately bring an end to Reigns' unprecedented championship run? The essence of such a formidable buildup is typically for someone to defeat the reigning champion, seizing their momentum and, in wrestling terms, gaining the coveted "rub."

Despite the logical alignment of factors favoring Rhodes, Reigns opted for interference to preserve his title, yielding a surprising and somewhat perplexing outcome. As Reigns transitions into a part-time wrestling role, evident by his limited appearances with only four televised matches throughout 2023, including two tag team matches, the accessibility of the company's top title is now in question.

Bestowing the title upon Rhodes would have been the logical choice, allowing him to 1ly defend it, while Reigns' narrative could persist concerning the titles of 'Head of the Table' and 'Tribal Chief,' as the character's primary pursuit is respect. The character resorts to dishonest means to maintain his position, portraying him as a villain engaged in stolen valor—although the story's clarity is compromised by the positive fan response to Reigns and the commentators consistently portraying him as a dominant force.

Reigns could have experienced a virtually identical 2023 without the world title, yet he continues to retain it, entering the WrestleMania season without a clearly defined opponent.

The Rock's entry into the picture is significant. WWE has long sought to arrange a match between the legendary figure and Reigns, given that The Rock is the most prominent name in the Samoan wrestling lineage. Reigns couldn't claim to be the head of the table until he unseated The Rock from his throne.

However, The Rock's thriving career in the film industry poses a challenge. Securing the necessary time off to attain peak wrestling condition has proven difficult, and committing to a few months of wrestling instead of a film would mean forgoing substantial income.

Moreover, his last proper match at WrestleMania 29 in 2013 resulted in significant injuries, including torn abdominal and adductor tendons from his pelvis. This setback caused delays in the production of the Hercules movie and incurred substantial financial losses for Paramount Studios. Consequently, securing approval from studios for his return to wrestling has become a formidable task.

It appears that the moment for this match has arrived. The Rock wouldn't have openly hinted at facing Reigns in the wrestling ring unless the showdown was genuinely on the horizon. Such a blatant tease would be an unusual misdirection and a show of disrespect towards the fans.

The most logical setting for this anticipated match would be WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia in April, which serves as the grand stage for monumental encounters. While Reigns-Rock wouldn't necessarily drive ticket sales for the already nearly sold-out event, the allure of WrestleMania is inherently compelling.

Two alternative options include the upcoming mega-show in Saudi Arabia, where WWE often presents major matches due to the substantial financial incentives, or the Elimination Chamber event scheduled for February 24 in Perth. Although the latter would be favored by Australian fans, the logistical challenge of the early start time for American viewers might pose a hurdle. Nevertheless, given Western Australia's significant investment, the possibility remains. Recent reports also indicated that tourism officials in Western Australia inquired about the potential inclusion of The Rock in the Elimination Chamber show.

In the current landscape of WWE, the alliance with UFC under the TKO brand marks a new era, emphasizing the promotion of significant events globally, such as Elimination Chamber: Perth, to bolster profits and consequently enhance stock value. With the shift away from selling subscriptions or traditional pay-per-views in the U.S., where Peacock has secured rights to premium live events, WWE's focus is on expanding its reach and financial success.

WWE has shifted from the conventional approach of enticing fans to pay for specific events as the primary revenue source. Instead, the focus lies in brand-building strategies aimed at securing more lucrative deals in upcoming negotiations for TV and PLE (platform licensing and exploitation) rights. A case in point is the current priority placed on elevating Raw ratings, considering that the rights to Monday Night Raw are currently in contention in the U.S.

Opting not to feature Reigns-Rock at WrestleMania could allow Reigns to face another opponent at the event, such as Cody Rhodes, who needs a victory over Reigns to conclude their narrative. The Rock, at 51 and potentially wrestling for the first time in a decade, may not require the WWE Championship, particularly considering he would then have to compete again to relinquish the title, and he certainly doesn't need the added prestige.

Navigating this situation presents challenges. If Reigns-Rock occurs before WrestleMania, Reigns can lose the title at WM40, but he won't break the modern record by surpassing the length of Hogan's reign. If the match happens at WM40, Reigns could retain the title for another year, surpassing Hogan, but WWE would have to prolong the storyline for an additional year, risking fan fatigue.

Furthermore, the discussion hasn't touched on CM Punk, who has proven to be a genuine ratings and ticket draw since returning to WWE at Survivor Series. As another part-timer, he could finally headline a WrestleMania by appearing on the Saturday show while Reigns-Rock headlines on Sunday. However, if he emerges as the biggest star on the show, which recent numbers suggest, he may be compelled to vie for the top belt.

Nevertheless, the long-awaited match appears to be on the horizon, representing one of the most significant bookings WWE could make at this juncture.

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