Auston Theory somewhat takes credit for The Rock‘s WWE comeback.
The Rock made a surprise appearance on the September 15 episode of WWE SmackDown and squared off with Austin Theory. He electrified the fans and left Theory lying with a People’s Elbow. The Rock then appeared at WWE RAW: Day One before his comeback fully began on the February 2 episode of WWE SmackDown. Since then, The Rock has become a key player on the road to WrestleMania 40.
Speaking with The West Sport, Austin Theory looked back on his showdown with The Rock and noted that he inspired “The Great One”. (H/t Skylar Russell of Fightful for the transcription)
“I guess you really have to ask the Rock what that felt like,” Austin Theory said. “He went out there with Austin Theory, and I was out there with Pat McAfee doing my own thing, but The Rock came out because The Rock wants to be popular again. He got 150 million views with Austin Theory, at the time. It’s probably like 200, 300 million now.
“For me, it was just another day at work but for The Rock, look what it’s done for him. I mean, it promoted him to being with the board of directors at TKO. He’s really inspired by me. He’s done a lot of things and look at him now. There’s a whole bunch of controversy that he stole Cody’s story. Am I responsible for that? I mean, I did inspire The Rock. Austin Theory inspired The Rock. You hear that? We all know it, we all know it.”
Austin Theory: I Put The Rock In His Place
Austin Theory continued by noting that he was nervous that The Rock would feel overshadowed by him. He stated that he made the former world champion feel like somebody, and that’s why he wanted to come back.
“I was just nervous that Dwayne would feel like he was just so overshadowed by me,” Austin Theory said. “I was thinking he would feel that. But, I went out there and made him feel like somebody, I made him feel special and I think that’s what got his feet under him again and now he wants to come back and play WWE superstar.
“That’s the thing, he wants to play WWE Superstar, Austin Theory lives being a WWE superstar. There was no room for nerves. Rock got to come be a part of Austin Theory Live, on my show, SmackDown — and I put him in his place. I told the whole world, it doesn’t matter what the Rock says. It doesn’t.”
The Rock is set to appear on the March 1 episode of WWE SmackDown.
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