WWE legend Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson made a surprise appearance on Friday Night SmackDown to confront Universal Champion Roman Reigns.
The confrontation between Roman and the Rock surely served as the first step towards a highly-anticipated match between the two superstars at this year’s WrestleMania.
Earlier in the day rumors had begun to circulate that The Rock would be featuring on Friday’s show after he was seen working out at gym near the arena.
His appearance was set up by one of WWE’s textbook promo segments that began with Reigns talking negatively about WWE Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins.
He was then confronted by Cody Rhodes in a segment many fans would have predicted as the Royal Rumble winner chose Reigns as his opponent, only to then instead lay the ground for The Rock to make his appearance.
WWE legend Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson made an appearance on Friday Night SmackDown
The Rock confronted Roman Reigns ahead of their potential showdown at WrestleMania
The two superstars came face-to-face for a stare down as the show went off of the air
Rhodes then shook The Rock’s hand before exiting the ring as it appeared the chance for him to avenge last year’s WrestleMania defeat to Reigns was ripped away from him and handed to a much bigger name.
Instead, he is now set to challenge Rollins at WrestleMania – assuming the Heavyweight Champion can return from his torn Meniscus in time for the big show.
As far as the two superstars that remained in the ring were concerned, Reigns and The Rock stared each other down in a face-to-face moment as the show then went off the air.
The Rock last appeared on WWE television back in September and was recently named a member of the board of directors following TKO’s acquisition of the WWE.
That news, however, was largely overshadowed by the dark cloud currently hanging over the organization thanks to the sex trafficking lawsuit brought against former chairman Vince McMahon.