A jam packed edition of Friday Night SmackDown got underway with the WWE returns of Pat McAfee and The People’s Champion, The Rock!
In front of a sold out crowd at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, WWE Friday Night SmackDown, the first blue brand show officially under the TKO banner, got kick started with a bang. Not only were the crowd treated to an appearance from former commentator, and sometimes in-ring competitor, Pat McAfee but also an even rarer appearance by former eight time WWE Champion, The Rock.
After McAfee was interrupted by Austin Theory, with whom he has history. Pat McAfee took part in WrestleMania 38 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, fulfilling a boyhood fantasy. Austin Theory lost to the former Indianapolis Colts punter and ESPN presenter. When McAfee squashed Theory’s claims that SmackDown was to be known as Austin Theory Live, the man who’s catchphrase actually named the show back in 1999, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson shocked the WWE Universe with his first WWE appearance in around four years. The Rock last graced WWE screens in October 2019, when he was in attendance to celebrate the SmackDown’s 20th Anniversary.
Both The Rock and Pat McAfee were in town to promote tomorrow night’s college football rivalry game between Colorado State and the hottest team in all of sports, Deion Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes. While McAfee’s appearance was part of the ESPN College Gameday crew, as well as his own live podcast, The Pat McAfee Show, The Rock’s involvement served as promotion for his spring football league, the XFL, which will enter its second season under Rock’s purview in 2024.
After putting Austin Theory in his place on the microphone, leading the raucous Denver crowd in a “You are an asshole” chant that FOX were forced to mute, The Rock delivered a People’s Elbow to the former WWE United States Champion, before encouraging McAfee to do the same and celebrating on the top rope.
Speculation will, once again, run rife that The Rock’s appearance in a WWE ring could lead to an eventual WrestleMania match with his cousin, the current reigning Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, Roman Reigns. We, however, remain sceptical and will enjoy this moment for what it was… Electrifying.
Did you enjoy The Rock’s appearance on SmackDown? Is there a chance he comes back again to dethrone Roman Reigns? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below, or on social media @JEZSports.
