The Rock Returns: 'Wrestlemania XXVII' Comeback

The People's Champion is back.

The Rock, a nine-time WWF/WWE champion and fan-favorite legend, is returning to host "Wrestlemania XXVII." He announced his return on WWE Raw on Monday night in a short video that electrified the pro wrestling world.

"The most electrifying man of all of entertainment is hosting the most electrifying event of all of entertainment!" he exclaimed in a behind-the-scenes video. He brings back his self-important persona, third person references, self-proclaimed "People's Champion" title and, of course, The People's Elbow.

The Rock, of course, is the wrestling persona of Dwayne Johnson, the one-time college football player and now movie star. Since leaving wrestling, he's been a consistent action movie performer, drawing big box offices for "The Mummy Returns," "The Scorpion King," "Doom," and comedies such as "The Game Plan," "Tooth Fairy," and "The Other Guys."

Can you smell it?

WATCH:

Comments

[AllowMeToObserve]

02:53 PM on 02/16/2011

As of now, only 162 comments on this story in more than 24 hours. Pretty much says it all.

[Mark 1bx]

02:23 PM on 02/16/2011

Rock!, you've got rocks in your head. Don't make the same mistakes many others have. Quit while your ahead.

[hifiguy]

02:47 PM on 02/16/2011

It's just a guest shot hosting 'mania. I wouldn't be surprised to see him wrestle a few times in major PPVs over the next year or two though.

[Jeremy Danials]

02:07 PM on 02/16/2011

I have evolved away from sports entertainment into a much more vicious arena (politics), but even as a liberal, I always found the attacks against Linda McMahon unfair when they crossed into the WWE. If any soap opera star ran for office, would we attack them for their "character" sleeping with a married man/woman? WWE is just that: a soap opera, albeit one with steel chairs and First Blood parking lot brawls. Besides, I was a huge fan of the Rock when he was in the circut, and his "return," should he make a real go of it, may be one of the best moves in his career, which is already awesome. (Although getting beaten on-screen by Steve Carell in Get Smart couldn't have helped his tough guy image)

Some people watch wrestling as a guilty pleasure. Some play video games. Some, internet xXx vids. Nothing wrong with any of them. So if you are going to bag on someone for their guilty pleasure, remember, YOU have one too. Go Rock, glad to see you back.

[robjh1]

12:38 PM on 02/16/2011

The Rock returns. Dude has a great set of teeth.

[Sara Brooke Johnson]

10:53 AM on 02/16/2011

The Rock being on there made we watch WWe for the first time in years.

[pjlowry]

09:13 AM on 02/16/2011

Dwayne Johnson is a 3rd generation wrestler, and one of the best in the business. It was never a matter of if but when...

That crowd in Anaheim when beserk when the Rock came out on Raw... and listening to the Rock speak in the right that night reminded many what is missing from wrestling today.

[Cakey4814]

11:08 AM on 02/16/2011

I was only thinking of The Rocks dad (Rocky Johnson) and forgot all about the Samoans which included The Rocks grandfather I think.. They were a wrestling family and very very nice on the eyes..lol..

[hifiguy]

12:54 PM on 02/16/2011

The Rock's maternal granddad was High Chief Peter Maivia, one of the first Samoan wrestlers in the pro game.

[Dominick Roffo]

02:24 PM on 02/16/2011

I remember when Rocky Johnson and Tony Atlas won the tag team titles against the Samoans on saturday afternoon tv. Before the WWE got huge.

[bwright85]

08:39 AM on 02/16/2011

I would gladly let this man pin me ANY day. :)

[gfs5541]

08:10 AM on 02/16/2011

FINALLY, The Rock has come back to WWE!

[RageCage]

07:24 AM on 02/16/2011

I love how they censored out his first two curse words and then just said, "F@#k it! Let him curse."

Only the Rock (and Stone Cold) could get away with cursing on a PG rated show. I love it.

[Markus Schmid]

06:12 AM on 02/16/2011

Hell yeah. This Wrestlemania is going to be awesome.

[Guy Incognito]

01:47 AM on 02/16/2011

Know your role, and shut your mouth!!

[JScott]

01:46 AM on 02/16/2011

Arnold sez he's back to making movies too and like that

So what.

Kinda cool tho how he can raise one eyebrow

[PresidentRobertBooth]

12:56 AM on 02/16/2011

It was a great moment. I marked out. Amazing promo. Nobody beats the Rock on the mic.
 
If WWE can convince him to wrestle Cena at WrestleMania, PPV buyrates will be huge.
 
 
 

[firelord5000]

12:28 AM on 02/16/2011

The most electrifying man in all of sports entertainment! I haven't seen WWF since The Great One, the People's Champion left, today was the first time in 7 years I have seen something new (sadly missed this on live Raw last night)!

Last night just proved how truly amazing he was in the business, its like watching A list showman when the best his competitors can manage is C list.

Do YOU smell what the Rock is COOKINGGGGGGGG?

[rchsod]

12:00 AM on 02/16/2011

he was the last really good showman the wwf has had. there`s no one in this current crew that can compare to the rock.