The Rock and Pat McAfee Appear on Smackdown

Earlier in the day, The Rock was on the Pat McAfee Show from Boulder, Colorado. There, The Rock discussed plans for Wrestlemania 39 with Roman Reigns and teased a potential Wrestlemania 40 match with the Head of the Table as well.

Well, later that night Pat McAfee opened WWE Smackdown and was soon after interrupted by Austin Theory. The two had an exchange before the man whom the show Smackdown was created for, the most electrifying fan, the People’s Champ… The Rock.

The Rock has returned.#WWE #WWESmackdown #FPC pic.twitter.com/VM7BFWmZ3e

— Full Press Wrestling (@FPC_Wrestling) September 16, 2023

The pop for The Rock was tremendous. Only guys like Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock get these types of pops. Who knew when fans bought tickets months ago they would see not only John Cena but The Rock?

Remember The Rock stated earlier in the day he was open to fighting Roman Reigns at Wrestlemania 40. However, he and Roman wanted to give the people something memorable. But he did drop little hints calling Smackdown “his show” still.

Earlier in the day, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com had reported The Rock and Pat McAfee were going to be on the show. But could not confirm it with those inside WWE.

A Pat McAfee Show employee outright told a Fightful Select source that The Rock and Pat McAfee would be at tonight’s Smackdown.

It is important to note, Fightful has not confirmed this. pic.twitter.com/qEOG5bavh8

— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) September 15, 2023

This was not a coincidence. ESPN is out in Boulder, Colorado for Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffalos. So it made sense McAfee and The Rock came to Smackdown in Denver. Both men were on First Take on Friday and will be on Gameday tomorrow.

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It was a moment nobody was expecting. The Rock and Austin Theory go back and forth on the mic before The Rock hit the most electrifying move in all of Entertainment the People’s Elbow. For good measure McAfee hit his own People’s Elbow as well.

Later in the night, backstage after an exchange, The Rock and John Cena hugged it out after Cena told The Rock Welcome Home.

“Welcome home”

What a moment between @TheRock and @JohnCena 🙌#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/sZbeHJZ5Ki

— WWE (@WWE) September 16, 2023

It was interesting to see these two men who were once enemies share a friendly exchange.

We will see if this is a one-time thing or the start of something for the future. We will see as Roman Reigns has yet to be on TV after competing at Summerslam.

But what an unreal moment to see The Rock on Smackdown.