The Rock’s Daughter Ava Says She Has Been Receiving Death Threats From Fans

BY SACNILK

Former WWE Champion Jinder Mahal has revealed that his memorable confrontation with The Rock on WWE Raw generated more messages and phone calls than the night he won the WWE Championship. Mahal discussed the moment during an interview with Denise Salcedo, reflecting on the January 1, 2024 episode of Raw, where he unexpectedly found himself sharing the ring with one of the biggest stars in WWE history. The segment began with Mahal delivering a heated promo in which he complained about being disrespected and criticized the United States. He was then interrupted by The Rock, who returned to WWE and quickly turned the segment into a memorable verbal exchange before taking down Mahal. Looking back at the reaction to the segment, Mahal revealed that the response was surprisingly bigger than what he experienced after becoming WWE Champion. “More people messaged me after that promo with The Rock than when I won the WWE Championship. Yes. Yes. Yes. I guess it was a bigger moment. More people saw it. You’re in the ring with The Rock, like the most recognizable name in all of entertainment—or in anything—in the whole entire world.” Mahal explained that his perspective was somewhat different because, as a professional wrestler, he was simply doing his job. Even though becoming WWE Champion was obviously a major achievement, the reaction to the Rock segment showed him how much mainstream attention can come from sharing a moment with a superstar of The Rock's stature. Mahal also revealed that he did not have much time to prepare for the segment. He said he learned only a couple of days beforehand that The Rock would be involved. “I was just told, ‘Hey, you’re going to go out there and then Rock’s going to crash.’ That’s it. That’s all I was told.” The promo itself was written by former WWE writer Brian Gewirtz. Mahal recalled receiving the material on the morning of the show and initially questioning whether some of the lines could actually be delivered on WWE television. “It was kind of talking trash about the United States and the way things are here. And I thought, ‘We can’t do this on WWE TV.’ I asked him, like, ‘Brian, are you sure?’ He’s like, ‘Yes, I’m sure. This is what we’re doing.’ I was like, ‘Okay, let’s go.’” The segment would ultimately become one of the most talked-about moments of the show, with Mahal playing an important role in The Rock's return. Mahal also recalled meeting The Rock before the segment and being impressed by how prepared the Hollywood star was. According to Mahal, The Rock had already memorized his material while Mahal was still going through his lines with a piece of paper. “At that time, Rock already had the promo memorized. I was still going to talk to Brian about it, but Rock wanted to rehearse. He’s hitting his lines. I’m still reading from a piece of paper.” Despite the pressure of working with The Rock, Mahal believes he delivered one of the strongest promos of his career and showed fans a side of himself that they had not seen before. “I really felt like I held my own and I showed the WWE Universe and WWE management a different side of me, a different promo style.” Mahal admitted that WWE ultimately did not capitalize on the momentum from the segment, but he has no regrets about being part of it. “Unfortunately, we couldn’t capitalize on it, but all good. It was a great moment.” The former WWE Champion also revealed that The Rock later sent him a voice message thanking him for his contribution to the segment.

BY SACNILK

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has revealed that he is exploring the possibility of pursuing music more seriously, with the WWE legend and Hollywood superstar specifically expressing an interest in traditional country music. Johnson discussed the possibility during a new interview with Rolling Stone's Brian Hiatt, following the debut of the music video for his song “Your Dad.” Rather than announcing a full-time transition into music, Johnson explained that he is currently exploring where his passion for music could take him. “I’m exploring that now, and I appreciate you asking that,” Johnson said. “As you roll along in life, I’ve been real fortunate to be part of some really cool projects, and love it. But music has always been such an anchor for me, and very specifically in genres that I love, like country music, traditional country music, and we’re exploring that now.” The comments are significant because Johnson has already shown that music is more than a one-off experiment for him. His career has included musical performances during his WWE run, his work as Maui in Moana, and collaborations outside of his acting career. The 54-year-old explained that his priorities have evolved as he has progressed through his career. After years of working on major Hollywood productions and other high-profile projects, Johnson said he wants the things he pursues to genuinely excite him. “I’ve reached this point in my life and in my career where, honestly, Brian, when I wake up in the morning, I swing my legs out of bed, and whatever the thing is that I’m doing, I wanna feel like I’m just running towards it,” Johnson explained. He also described the difference between working on projects designed for a large commercial audience and creating something simply because it has personal meaning. “And the most gratifying things we do are when it’s for us, because we have enough pressure to deliver for so many other entities,” Johnson said. That distinction is particularly important when it comes to “Your Dad.” While Johnson understands the commercial expectations attached to major movies and entertainment projects, he said the song was created without those same pressures. “The things we do, we must do them for ourselves, and then we must feel it in here, behind our ribcage,” Johnson said. “But they’re also always connected to some sort of commerce.” Johnson then explained why “Your Dad” is different from the films and other major projects associated with his career. “You make films, especially the big four-quadrant movies, you want them to do well,” he said. “But this song, for me, is just a song to my daughters.” For Johnson, the song is therefore not about proving himself as a recording artist or chasing commercial success. He specifically emphasized that he doesn't want the song to be judged by the usual measurements attached to entertainment. “Where there’s no pressure of an expectation to deliver something that, ‘Well, how are the sales, and how’s the box office? How’s the streams?’ It’s just from me to them,” he said. Music has already appeared at several points throughout Johnson's career. During his WWE days, he performed “It Doesn't Matter” with Wyclef Jean, while he later appeared on Tech N9ne's “Face Off.” His performance as Maui in Moana also introduced his singing to a much wider mainstream audience. The actor is also continuing his connection with Moana, with the live-action adaptation keeping him in the role of Maui. But his latest comments suggest that his musical ambitions could extend beyond the character that first brought his singing to a massive audience.

BY SACNILK

The Rock's recent stint on WWE has caused a shift in on-screen language policies, particularly for top wrestlers.## Dave Meltzer, wrestling journalist, reports in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the previously enforced PG-rated language restrictions seem to be loosening up. This change appears to be at least partly due to The Rock's freedom to speak his mind. ## Meltzer notes, "Rock says what he wants when he wants," and this leniency seems to be extending to other top stars. Examples include Paul Heyman's (bleeped-out) profanity during his Hall of Fame speech and Cody Rhodes and C.M. Punk using language that wouldn't have been tolerated just a few months ago.## Interestingly, this coincides with a reported decline in viewership among older demographics and a rise in younger viewers. This suggests a potential return to the "Attitude Era" style of programming, known for its edgier content, might be a strategic move to capture a younger audience.## However, WWE seems to be taking a cautious approach. While there's a push for edgier content, there's also a concern about alienating sponsors with excessive profanity. It appears they're aiming for a balance.## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

The Rock's WWE departure is confirmed, following his "go away for a little while" comment on the Raw after WrestleMania. He did assure fans he'd return, specifically for a showdown with Cody Rhodes.## Earlier reports suggested a potential WrestleMania 41 clash (in 2025) between The Rock and Rhodes. Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter now sheds more light on The Rock's plans.## Meltzer indicates this is a long-term absence, with no confirmed return date for a match, though WrestleMania next year is a possibility. The Rock initially envisioned a match with Roman Reigns, but due to recent events, a singles match with Rhodes is considered the bigger draw.## Current plans suggest The Rock might work a match later in 2024, but it's not guaranteed. His ideal scenario is a main event clash with Rhodes at next year's WrestleMania, and The Rock often gets what he wants. This could translate to a one-year title reign for Rhodes, though not a certainty as of yet.## Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's busy film schedule likely factors into his WWE hiatus. He has two movies in post-production and a third slated for 2025 release. These include the action-comedy "Red One" (with Chris Evans) in November 2024, "Moana 2" (reprising his role as Maui) also in November 2024, and a live-action "Moana" movie in 2025. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

The echoes of WrestleMania 40 have barely faded, but a new storm is brewing on the horizon of WWE. On the latest episode of Monday Night Raw, The Rock made a shocking return, not to celebrate Cody Rhodes' victory as the new Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, but to challenge him. ## Many believe that The Rock vs. Cody Rhodes is on the horizon somewhere along the line. However, there is no certainty on when it will happen. Per the latest from Dave Meltzer, the planned singles match between The Rock and Cody Rhodes will take place at 'next year's WrestleMania'. Their history goes back to Rhodes' independent wrestling days, where The Rock, already a megastar, crossed paths with a young and hungry Rhodes. The Rock, ever the showman, dismissed Rhodes, a moment that fueled the latter's determination. ## Fast forward to the present, and Rhodes, the underdog who clawed his way to the top, stands on the pinnacle. The Rock, a legend with a Hollywood career, clearly hasn't forgotten their past. His backhanded congratulations and subtle jabs, all delivered with his signature charisma, were a declaration of war. ## The Rock claims to have "made Rhodes bleed" and promises to "whoop him like a dog." This isn't just about competition; it's about personal redemption. The Rock wants to prove that despite his Hollywood hiatus, he's still The Great One, and Rhodes is just another stepping stone. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

The night after WrestleMania XL delivered a jam-packed show, filled with championship celebrations, surprise returns, brutal brawls, and a shocking main event twist. While it might not have reached the epic heights of WrestleMania itself, Raw provided a solid foundation for the upcoming storylines and left fans with plenty to discuss. ## Here are the top 5 moments from the night: ## 1. A New Era Dawns with Cody Rhodes (and The Rock Appears): ## The show kicked off with a heartwarming celebration for the new Undisputed WWE Champion, Cody Rhodes. Triple H introduced Rhodes, who received an ovation from the Philadelphia crowd. A touching video package chronicled Rhodes' journey to the top, culminating in his emotional victory over Roman Reigns.## However, the celebration took a surprising turn with the arrival of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. The crowd's initial excitement quickly turned to boos as The Rock acknowledged Rhodes' victory but then challenged him for the title, hinting at a future showdown between the two legends. While the segment went on for nearly 45 minutes, it effectively planted the seeds for a potential blockbuster match and added intrigue to Rhodes' reign. ## 2. John Cena Makes a Surprise Return: ## One of the biggest pops of the night came when John Cena's music hit during a six-man tag team match. R-Truth, in a hilarious moment, claimed Cena as his invisible partner to even the odds against Judgment Day. The surprise return of the legendary Cena added a layer of excitement to the match and his signature moves alongside Truth and Miz resulted in a feel-good victory for the makeshift trio. This unexpected appearance not only added star power to the show but also left fans wondering if a more permanent return for Cena might be in the cards. ## 3. NXT Makes its Presence Felt: ## The night showcased the future of WWE with call-ups from NXT. Ilja Dragunov, the new NXT Champion, opened the show with an impressive victory over Shinsuke Nakamura. This dominant performance served as a strong introduction to the hard-hitting European wrestler. Additionally, Roxanne Perez, the newly crowned NXT Women's Champion, defeated Indi Hartwell. These victories not only established the dominance of NXT champions but also hinted at a potential future crossover and integration with the main roster. ## 4. Sami Zayn's Intercontinental Title Win and its Aftermath: ## Sami Zayn's emotional victory over Gunther to win the Intercontinental Championship was a feel-good moment for the underdog. His heartfelt speech acknowledging his supporters and even thanking Kevin Owens resonated with the audience. However, the celebration was short-lived as Imperium's Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser confronted Zayn. The tension escalated with the arrival of Chad Gable, setting the stage for a potential tag team partnership between Zayn and Gable. Later, Zayn announced a title defense against Gable next week on Raw in Montreal, adding another layer of intrigue to the burgeoning Intercontinental Championship storyline.## 5. CM Punk's Shocking Interference in the No. 1 Contender's Match: ## The main event of the night, a Fatal Four-Way match to determine the number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship, delivered a chaotic and entertaining encounter. Drew McIntyre, Ricochet, Bronson Reed, and Jey Uso battled it out, showcasing their athleticism and signature moves. The closing moments saw Jey Uso emerge victorious, setting him up for a title shot against Damian Priest. However, the biggest story came after the match.## As McIntyre appeared poised to challenge Punk for his actions at WrestleMania, Punk shockingly emerged from under the ring and tripped McIntyre, allowing Jey Uso to secure the win. This devious act by Punk left fans with a major cliffhanger and hinted at a potentially brutal rivalry between him and McIntyre in the coming weeks. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

This WrestleMania is historic for being the first held after the wrestling company merged with Endeavor, owner of rival MMA promotion UFC. The combined entity, TKO Group Holdings, now takes the reins. This marks a shift, as the McMahon family is no longer in control. ## This year's WrestleMania ushers in a new era with Triple H at the helm of creative. The WWE Universe applauds his strategic genius for crafting an impressive match card for both nights of the Grandest Stage of them All. ## At the WWE WrestleMania 40 Post-Show Press Conference, The Rock praised Triple H's influence over the company and stated that he has done a tremendous job as the chief creative officer. ## "I think the Triple H has done a tremendous job as our chief creative officer I think that's his title he has earned. He has a few and earned every single one of them, I like ushering in new things and new times and new eras and it feels like and our world here and professional wrestling. It is a new era that we're ushering in. ## I talked to Paul Lovak Triple H earlier as we were kicking off and kicking off the show tonight and without giving any detail on what we talked about, like it was a special night for him. This was the beginning of something and marking the beginning of something new for him under his creative. And I think from a company standpoint, this is an exciting time for the company for WWE. It's an exciting time for TKO. You felt the convergence towards the end of the year when the acquisition happened. ## You felt the convergence in the first quarter of the year, as I was fortunate enough to come back, and as we kind of traverse our way through what the storylines could look like. And so it's an exciting time, and I think we capped off day one of WrestleMania this Wrestlemania that we have stated was going to be the biggest of all time, which is really saying a lot obviously considering given the givens and how many great WrestleMania there has been in the past so I thought that we collectively as a company and as a team put out a really good show tonight. And the best part about putting on a great show tonight is you get to do it all over again tomorrow." ## If you use these quotes, please credit the original source and link back to Sacnilk with an h/t for the transcription. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

Reigns and The Rock teamed up to beat Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins in a wild main event at WrestleMania 40. There was a lot of bad blood between everyone involved, and things got heated early on. Both teams gave fans a preview of their upcoming one-on-one matches at WrestleMania 41.## The fight wasn't just in the ring. The Rock even threatened a ref to stop a possible count-out. Rollins fought hard despite a hurt knee, and Rhodes had a good strategy, but they still lost. It looked like Rhodes had it won after a big move on Reigns, but The Rock pulled the ref out of the ring just in time.## The ending was crazy with moves going back and forth. The Rock tried to hit Rhodes with his finishing move, but Rhodes stopped him. Reigns tried to spear Rhodes, but accidentally hit The Rock instead. Rhodes took advantage by putting The Rock through a table with another wrestler's move, and Reigns speared Rollins through the barricade at the same time.## In the end, The Rock hit Rhodes with two big moves to win the match. Because of this win, the main event of WrestleMania 41 will be a Bloodline Rules match, which means it will be extra bloody and violent. This adds even more hype to the already big championship match between Reigns and Rhodes.## During WrestleMania XL Saturday Press Conference, The Rock was asked about how he's feeling right now coming off of that main event. ## "I feel great. body feels great. I just had the time in my life. And I put in a lot of work. We had a hell of a training camp, which lasted probably about 10 to 12 weeks and I wanted to make sure that I was as prepared as I possibly could be. These guys who I've wrestled with tonight, I know they're the best in the world and on the planet and I wanted to make sure that I came in game ready and ring ready as best I can. As you guys know. ## It's impossible to simulate what happens in the ring. You can run your training camps. I had a ring set up and flown to Hawaii where we were at where I spend a lot of my time with my family where we live a ring in California too as well. There was a ring in Georgia to make sure that around every corner and everywhere that I went the first quarter of this year there was a ring flew in a lot of wrestlers who were really amazing and willing to work their asses off to just make sure that I was prepared. So we went out there I enjoyed every second of that. and I've been a lucky guy over the years to have participated in some pretty cool things that have been very gratifying. There's nothing like performing at WrestleMania in front of 1000s of 1000s of people. And there's nothing like performing with your fellow pro wrestlers. "## If you use these quotes, please credit the original source and link back to Sacnilk with an h/t for the transcription. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

The Rock shed light on the motivations behind his return to WWE at the WrestleMania 40 press conference.## While initial plans for a Rock vs. Roman Reigns clash fell through, Ari Emanuel's acquisition of WWE proved to be a turning point. Discussions regarding a WrestleMania 39 return in Los Angeles didn't materialize, leading The Rock to prioritize a substantial role upon his return.## "Yes, there was. When Ari Emanuel called and said, 'I'm going to buy the company.' 'Okay, what does that strategy look like.' We discussed that. There was talks almost two years ago about me returning to WrestleMania 39 in Los Angeles. We thought everything was going to dovetail nicely into that, great story. That didn't shake out in the way we had anticipated, and that's okay. I had said back then to the people we were negotiating with, 'Maybe it's time to put the pencils down and we'll revisit when it feels right.' Between putting the pencils down a year and a half, two years ago, regarding WrestleMania 39, the actuality of the selling of the company, that became impetus to look holistically at doing WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia. ## A lot of things had to come together. The agreement, the deal, I'm not worried about that, especially when the negotiations are between myself, Ari Emanuel, and Nick Khan. I wasn't concerned about the agreement. My number one priority was, can I comeback and have real value this time around and not coming back for hot shots or one night. It's fun, it's fun for the fans, but I wanted something a lot more substantial, but something we could really build upon. These past two or three months, we've been laying ground work nicely and not only building for WrestleMania this weekend, but I think beyond that and the future," he said. ## He expressed satisfaction with the groundwork laid over the past few months, hinting at a future beyond WrestleMania. ## The Rock's return coincided with the WWE's sale to Endeavor, spearheaded by Emanuel. This deal seemingly paved the way for The Rock's full-time return, kicking off in January with his addition to the TKO Board of Directors. ## Transcript Via Fightful ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

CM Punk offered his thoughts on The Rock's return match at WrestleMania 40 during the ESPN post-show.## The Rock teamed with Roman Reigns to defeat Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes in the night one main event. This marked The Rock's first advertised match in eleven years.## Having faced The Rock himself twice in 2013, Punk acknowledged the scrutiny surrounding The Rock's return: "Everyone wanted to know what he was going to look like, how his wind was going to be."## However, Punk was impressed: "I thought he looked great... I thought he did well tonight. I thought he looked really good. He won the match, what really can I say?"## Punk's praise highlights The Rock's successful return to the ring after a lengthy absence. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

The Rock's WWE future remains up in the air after his triumphant return at WrestleMania 40. Partnering with Roman Reigns, The Rock defeated Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins in the night one main event. ## The Rock detailed his rigorous training regimen for the match, setting up rings in Hawaii, California, and Georgia to ensure constant preparation. When questioned about potential future matches, The Rock remained coy:## "There might be," he said. "I can't elaborate more on that, but there might be. We'll see."## This ambiguity follows a potential storyline tease during the match. After an inadvertent spear from Reigns, tension simmered between The Rock and The Tribal Chief.## Meanwhile, Triple H confirmed WrestleMania 40 shattered box office records. He emphasized a new era for WWE: "This is a launching point, this is the start. This is the beginning."## The Rock's comments, coupled with Triple H's emphasis on a new era, leave fans speculating about future Rock appearances and potential showdowns within the company.## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is poised to achieve a monumental feat at WrestleMania 40, joining The Undertaker in an elite club. The People's Champion will be part of the main event on Night One, headlining WrestleMania in a fourth different decade. ## The Rock will team up with Roman Reigns to take on the formidable duo of Cody Rhodes and another Roman Reigns, the World Heavyweight Champion. The outcome of this epic clash will determine the stipulations for the Undisputed Universal Championship match on Night Two.## A victory for Rhodes and his partner will banish The Bloodline from ringside during Rhodes' championship challenge. However, if The Rock and Reigns emerge victorious, the championship match will be contested under the enigmatic "Bloodline Rules."## This WrestleMania encounter marks a significant milestone for The Rock. Following Night One, he will become only the second wrestler in history, alongside The Undertaker, to headline WrestleMania in four distinct decades. The Rock's previous WrestleMania main events include WrestleMania 15 in the 1990s, WrestleManias 16 and 17 in the 2000s, and WrestleManias 28 and 29 in the 2010s.## WrestleMania 40 will also see The Rock return for his first full match since WrestleMania 29 in 2013, where he defeated John Cena. While he did make a brief appearance at WrestleMania 32 in 2016, his match against Erick Rowan was a mere six seconds.## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...