Do I really need to explain this? WWE has made millions on promoting the match beyond. Rivalries we all talked about, drooled over and imitated it on video games, possibly on podcasts.
When there was a discussion about the next greatest thing – The Rock and John Cena with the WWE World Title on the line - there was no need to worry whether it would sell. Just the mention of such a possibility sold itself. Someone was smiling, most likely Vince McMahon, all the way to the bank.
Trending
As a wrestling fan, I love the possibility of the “dream match,” the forbidden fruit. We saw it with Ric Flair and Shawn Michaels. We are seeing it now with John Cena and AJ Styles. Cena said it himself that the current program with the WWE World Champion was just like his feud with the Great One.
It might be the best compliment Cena could pay Styles, who has been with the company since January.
What makes Cena-Rock the best that’s ever been or better than most? It’s subjective. It’s rational. It can be salacious. But most of all, it wins fans over even years after it happened. Here are five reasons why this rivalry was better than all the others.
Sibling Rivalry
Who was better? Who was more popular? Who believed in who and when it came down to it, how would Cena live with the fact The Rock is the single most popular wrestler to get in a WWE ring? When the original hype of these two meeting in a match started, it was like two guys who hated playing second fiddle to each other.
It was Triple H and Shawn Michaels all over again. It was Kane and Undertaker. Two men who meant everything to this business finally settled things in a wrestling ring. We wouldn’t have to question it anymore, regarding who was better.
A year in the making
Wrestling has gotten away from the idea of feuds that span the test of time. Usually, there are three matches at various pay-per-view events and then each would move on. The greatest thing about this rivalry is it took a year to build, it remained fresh and each time either wrestler was on television to discuss the match, the crowds lit up with excitement.
This was the single best build-up WWE has had since Hulk Hogan finally meeting Ric Flair. The only difference is Hogan-Flair did not deliver. This one delivered in every way possible. In sport’s terms, it was the ultimate tennis match. No one gained a clear advantage.
Real dislike for each other
The Rock didn’t like Cena and Cena did not like The Rock. When you can take a situation and build on it – especially when neither man was afraid to voice their opinion, it makes for great theatre. Their comments spilt over onto social media and the talk show circuit.
All the while, The Rock kept his Hollywood schedule and Cena continued to fight the good fight in the ring. The fact it also got personal when these two were face to face in an arena added to the drama. It also carried over to the second WrestleMania match, which went to Cena.
Rock/Austin
The matches that make history are the ones we still discuss today. Ricky Steamboat and Ric Flair. Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart. The Rock and Steve Austin. Rock-Austin was the quintessential rivalry of passing the torch to the next guy.
A three-match series that titillated all of us with great promos, exciting moves in the ring and the give-and-take needed to make this kind of event special. I love watching two wrestlers making a rivalry look like ballet. That’s what made Flair-Steamboat special.
The same goes for Rock-Austin. The wrestling may not have been as good, but everything leading up to it was just as good, if not better at times.
Part Two
WWE loved the matchup so much, it took the “once in a lifetime” match and made it a two-part performance. John Cena had told everyone (I assume this was kayfabe) that he never thought he would lose the first match to the man who had not been in a ring on a full-time basis since he left the company.
Realistically, would WWE have allowed The Rock to lose the match in his hometown of Miami? This may be professional wrestling, but it is also reality. In order for the wrestling world to align correctly, The Rock needed to put Cena over and that’s exactly how the feud ended with Cena defeating the Rock at Wrestlemania 29.
For latest WWE News, spoilers and rumours visit our Sportskeeda WWE section.
