PHILADELPHIA — For dedicated pro-wrestling enthusiasts, this weekend’s WrestleMania XL revolves around Cody Rhodes completing his narrative.
But as the WWE’s largest event nears on Saturday and Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field, for the general public, The Rock's return could be equally captivating.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, 47, snaps a photo in the mirror during his workout, displaying his impressive leg muscles while sporting his new Under Armour sneakers. “I created these shoes for my tough workouts. Now they’re ready for yours. And now I’m ready to leave the gym because my legs are like jelly.”
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who transitioned from WWE to become one of Hollywood’s top action stars, will double down on Saturday with his first real match in over a decade, teaming up with his cousin, Roman Reigns, against Rhodes and Seth Rollins.
The following night, Reigns will defend his Universal championship against Rhodes in the latest installment of a long-standing family drama.
Orlando plays a significant role in WrestleMania's history because many of today’s top stars were trained at the WWE Performance Center in East Orlando and competed in NXT, the promotion’s minor league that airs a live cable show weekly from the facility.
When WrestleMania took place in the City Beautiful in 2017, with a large championship belt displayed above Lake Eola, the major event drew an estimated 75,000 fans to Camping World Stadium and added over $100 million to the local economy.
So, even if you are not a follower of the sport or the spectacle, it’s a significant occasion.
Johnson — OK, this is WWE, call him The Rock — has led an all-out media campaign to promote the show in recent weeks. Given his movie-star status, one might expect wrestling fans to welcome him back as a returning hero. But since being pitted against Rhodes this winter, Johnson has had no option but to turn villainous.
This is because WWE enthusiasts are emotionally invested in Rhodes' story. Since rejoining the company two years ago, he has been pursuing the dominant Reigns and his championship. Cody, the son of wrestling legend Dusty Rhodes and, in an interesting twist, a co-founder of All Elite Wrestling, now WWE’s main competitor. Rhodes challenged Reigns at WrestleMania 39 last year and lost, which made him an even more sympathetic figure. Fans are eager to see him “finish the story,” in their own words.
Rhodes’ matches are just two of 13 scheduled for the Lincoln Financial Field extravaganza. Rollins will defend his WWE world championship against Drew McIntyre. Rollins’ wife, newly acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Becky Lynch, will compete against Rhea Ripley for the women’s world championship. Bayley, a beloved fan favorite in the early days of NXT, will challenge Iyo Sky for another WWE women’s title.
In addition to dozens more independent events in the vicinity, it truly is the family reunion of professional wrestling.
NXT has its own showcase on Saturday afternoon — Stand and Deliver at the Wells Fargo Center. In the main event, rising star Trick Williams will face his former mentor, Carmelo Hayes. Both men have spent a relatively short time on the NXT roster, but fans who attend or tune in every week can witness their growing popularity. Shawn Michaels, who coaches NXT and oversees its storylines, stated that their development is a direct result of their increasing confidence.
“They are both talented, they both have charisma, and they have that appealing quality,” Michaels stated. “However, they have embraced the narrative, displaying the emotion and vulnerability. When you combine it all, that's what has made this story so extraordinary.”
Extraordinary — that’s a fitting word for this week as a whole.
WrestleMania XL will be shown on the Peacock streaming service at 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday nights. NXT Stand and Deliver is scheduled for Saturday at noon.
