Right now, Dwayne "The Rock"
Johnson returned to
WWE on "WWE SmackDown," bringing up quite the discussion with Bully Ray saying that WWE should stop putting its past legends to work. His co-host Tommy Dreamer, however, went for the positive side, saying The Rock's drawing power could increase WrestleMania 41; Ray stated that the WWE doesn't need him to have a successful show. He made the point that the roster today really could carry the show on its own and that bringing back legends just eats into our screen time that should be used for the full-time WWE Superstars who are trying to build their legacies.
According to Bully Ray, WWE should not rely on the past legends any longer.
Bully Ray further emphasized that without
The Rock as a massive draw, the company would not have any piece of a WrestleMania at all on that day. While his co-host Tommy Dreamer attempted to draw a rebuttal by stating how it would be much larger than the millions, Ray held firm that WWE does not need The Rock to make WrestleMania 41 a success.
“Do you want The Rock to come? Of course, you want The Rock to come, but with all those people there, do you need The Rock to come? You don't need him," said Bully Ray about requiring The Rock for WrestleMania. He stressed how the current talent pool at WWE is decent enough to build interest and hence does not require the involvement of any past superstars. He also pointed out that The Rock's return takes a lot of screen time that could otherwise be used for part-time wrestlers in building their legacies.
Bully Ray Interviews WWE NXT Superstar Ricky Saints | Busted Open
It was further explained by Ray that, indeed, while the evocation of the old legendary names like Rock, "Stone Cold"
Steve Austin, and
the Undertaker tends to generate immediate interest, it benefits WWE little in the long run. In other words, WWE needs to learn how to wind down the past and write fresh stories with its present roster, as really, these names are tied to the past.
The Rock must return only if his presence were to prove beneficial to the storyline of Cody Rhodes.
Bully Ray is not oppressing the idea of The Rock being at WrestleMania 41. He also contended that it should not be for wasting time because he thinks it should mean something. For him, The Rock should come into play only if it advances Cody Rhodes' tale, or else it should not take the attention away from the full-time WWE Superstars working hard for their places and legacies.
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'I will never retire’: Bully Ray Claims to Stay in Professional Wrestling as Long as He CanWhile it is true that The Rock is a star in his own right, WWE should strategize his usage. WrestleMania 41 must be dedicated to today's stars without resorting to nostalgia. If the return can significantly amp up Cody Rhodes' journey, great but if it merely amuses the crowd, WWE better let the new generation carry the company's future while continuing to make history.