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| The Rock and Roman Reigns face-off on Friday Night SmackDown (Image via WWE) |
Words: Mimi aka #TheWrestlingChic
Few matches have the potential to captivate, stir emotions, and shatter records like the main event of WrestleMania XL like The Rock vs. Roman Reigns. Let’s face it: since SmackDown, the topic has had timeline mutuals at each other's throats! An epic generational tug and pull, intertwined with ancestral legacies, personal grievances, and the essence of what it means to dominate the squared circle, this is not just a match; it's cinema. In the grand theatre of WWE, where narratives intertwine and characters evolve amidst the roars of an impassioned fanbase, the prospect of Cody Rhodes concluding his “saga” with Reigns at WrestleMania XL presents a fascinating subplot (but is it a saga?...). Yet, when we peel back the layers of spectacle and sentiment, the essence of what makes for truly compelling storytelling begins to crystallize, revealing why this particular culmination might not hold the pivotal significance some fans envision. Allow me to unpack some of my thoughts.
The Rock: From the Ring to the Red Carpet
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is more than just a WWE icon; he's a global phenomenon whose roots are deeply entrenched in the world of professional wrestling. Born into a legendary wrestling family, with his father, Rocky Johnson, and grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, both Hall of Famers, The Rock was destined for greatness. Making his WWE debut in 1996 under the name Rocky Maivia—a homage to his father and grandfather—it was his charismatic evolution into "The Rock" that catapulted him into superstardom. Known for his electrifying persona, unparalleled mic skills, and catchphrases, he quickly became one of the most entertaining and dynamic superstars in WWE history.
But The Rock’s ambitions stretch far beyond the wrestling ring. He successfully transitioned to Hollywood, becoming one of the highest-grossing and most bankable actors globally. His roles in the Hobbs & Shaw as well as the Fast & Furious franchise, Jumanji and Moana showcases his versatility as an actor. Despite his Hollywood success, The Rock never forgot his wrestling roots. He's made several returns to WWE, including memorable matches and moments at past WrestleManias and other significant events, always receiving a hero's welcome from the WWE Universe. Let’s not forget his Young Rock, a self-narrated life story TV show; a homage to his pro wrestling upbringing. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is a multifaceted icon whose impact on WWE and entertainment at large is immeasurable. His journey from a promising young talent in WWE to a global superstar is a testament to his undeniable connection with fans worldwide. This year's WrestleMania is not just about The Rock's return home; it's also about bridging wrestling with Hollywood, attracting audiences from both businesses.
Roman Reigns: The Resilient Tribal Chief
The Big Dog, the Head of the Table, the Tribal Chief! A formidable figure in the WWE, both literally and metaphorically. Like Rocky, Reigns comes from the same storied wrestling lineage, which boasts legends like The Wild Samoans, Yokozuna, Rikishi, and The Rock. He kicked off his WWE main roster journey in 2012 as part of The Shield, a trio of dark-clad renegades that included Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins, becoming instant hits. After The Shield disbanded, Reigns embarked on a solo career that would change his life and see him as one of WWE's top faces.
That path hasn't been without its bumps. Initially pushed as the next “corporate pick,” Reigns faced resistance from fans, who weren't thrilled with what they saw as his forced ascension to the top. However, Reigns' sheer in-ring capabilities and, eventually, his compelling character work—especially his turn to a more psycho-villainous "Tribal Chief" persona—won many over. He’s headlined seven WrestleManias and ranks among WWE’s Triple Crown champions. In addition to presenting at various mainstream awards shows, he's also appeared in a few Hollywood roles. His ability to maintain a three-year storyline, particularly his alliance-turned-feud with his real-life cousins, has been some of WWE's most engaging narratives. His journey reflects not just the evolution of a character, but the growth of a performer who's become an integral part of WWE's fabric.
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| The Rock arrives (Image via WWE) |
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| An understanding (Image via WWE) |
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| Finally... (Image via WWE) |
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Mimi, aka #TheWrestlingChic is a co-host of #TheBuckle aka #TurnbuckleTalk every Tuesday at 6:35PM ET and every Thursday at 8:35PM ET on The Black Rasslin' Podcast.
Black Pod Connect (The A Show RNC, the Black Announce Table, and the Black Rasslin' Podcast) are back with a special holiday giveaway trivia night to win prizes for their respective Patreon supporters, hosted by the amazing Stat Guy Greg!
Before this went down, the BRP squad briefly chopped it up ahead of Matth unexpectedly touching down to tease future changes to Predictions at the Black Rasslin' Podcast.
You know the routine: you can stream and download this week's episode via SoundCloud, and subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Spotify! We stream live every Thursday at 8:35PM ET on YouTube. We also encourage you to become a member of the BRPatreon, where you can get even MORE exclusive content (and merch discounts)! We'll catch you next week; tell a friend to tell their homies to LIKE, rate, comment, subscribe, and share!
You know the routine: you can stream and download this week's episode via SoundCloud, and subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Spotify! We stream live every Thursday at 8:35PM ET on YouTube. We also encourage you to become a member of the BRPatreon, where you can get even MORE exclusive content (and merch discounts)! We'll catch you next week; tell a friend to tell their homies to LIKE, rate, comment, subscribe, and share!
BRP WrestleMania 38 Preview
BRP CHANNEL LIVE! WWE WrestleMania 38 Night One #NoCapRecap
BRP CHANNEL LIVE! WWE WrestleMania 38 Night Two #NoCapRecap
The Black Rasslin' Podcast is back hitting you with that WrestleMania 37 #NoCapRecap. illfam7, MatthDamon, Drip, and khal survived Mania Week, and dive into everything from Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley's Mania moments, Omos' in-ring debut, that Nigerian Drum Fight, Braun Strowman, Roman Reigns being the best professional wrestler out right now, and much more.
Before that, though, the squad had to discuss Samoa Joe, Peyton Royce, Bo Dallas, and others getting their WWE releases, the Young Bucks allegedly rocking fugazi Dior 1s, and a LOT more. Don't sleep!
You know the routine: you can stream and download this week's episode via SoundCloud, and subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Spotify! We are even on YouTube. We'll catch you next week; tell a friend to tell their homies to LIKE, rate, comment, subscribe, and share!
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The Black Rasslin' Podcast is back with a preview of the biggest night(s) in pro wresttling. illfam7, MatthDamon, Drip, and khal are here to talk WrestleMania 37, which is being held on April 10-11 this year. Not only do they give the latest updates on everything from Big E's ring entrance to the card as of Thursday night, but they look at some of their favorite 'Mania memories, NXT's Stand & Deliver TakeOver shows, the end of the Wednesday Night Wars, and much more.
You know the routine: you can stream and download this week's episode via SoundCloud, and subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Spotify! We are even on YouTube. Keep it locked to our Big Cartel page as well! We'll catch you next week; tell a friend to tell their homies to LIKE, rate, comment, subscribe, and share!
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The Black Rasslin' Podcast returns to break down the week in professional wrestling. illfam7, MatthDamon, Drip, and khal are all on hand to discuss NBC removing racist content from their WWE Hub on Peacock—like Roddy Piper cutting promos and wrestling Bad News Brown in (half)blackface at WrestleMania VI, which just turned 31. As promised, they give Trish Stratus a "dope or nope" check before discussing MVP and Bobby Lashley removing Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin from The Hurt Business, and much more.
You know the routine: you can stream and download this week's episode via SoundCloud, and subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Spotify! We are even on YouTube. Keep it locked to our Big Cartel page as well! We'll catch you next week; tell a friend to tell their homies to LIKE, rate, comment, subscribe, and share!
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The Black Rasslin' Podcast returns for another LIVE episode, this time celebrating Famvember! The honoree illfam79 is joined by MatthDamon, Drip, and khal to talk everything from WWE's first Peacock pay-per-view, Fastlane (and its fallout) to Charlotte Flair's situation, Edge's legitimacy, Nights 1 and 2 of WrestleMania 37 (so far), and much, much more.
You know the routine: you can stream and download this week's episode via SoundCloud, and subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Spotify! We are even on YouTube. Keep it locked to our Big Cartel page as well! We'll catch you next week; tell a friend to tell their homies to LIKE, rate, comment, subscribe, and share!
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The Black Rasslin' Podcast is BACK with some extremely special guest. This week, Emilio Sparks and Vin Forte of Wrassle Rap join illfam79, MatthDamon, and khal to discuss AEW's Revolution pay-per-view, Christian going to AEW, Inner Circle turning face, Jon Moxley's Rapper Equivalent, and Impact's Sacrifice pay-per-view this weekend, featuring an interesting discussion on what could come of the Rich Swann/Mooth main event.
You know the routine: you can stream and download this week's episode via SoundCloud, and subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Spotify! We are even on YouTube. Keep it locked to our Big Cartel page as well! We'll catch you next week; tell a friend to tell their homies to LIKE, rate, comment, subscribe, and
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Oddly enough, I've not even seen the induction of Ron Simmons yet - guess I'll be glued to that Wrestlemania 28 DVD. Recently, JBL spoke with Busted Open Radio about inducting Ron into the Hall of Fame. I'm glad he actually thought about the importance of this moment: "All of the speech came from the heart. As far as the structure of it, I thought 'I'm just telling the truth about my best friend.' I thought this was going to be very easy, but then I started realizing how important the situation was. This was the first black heavyweight champion. This is a guy who was probably the best nose tackle of all-time in college football. I'm inducting a real legend, which sometimes I lose fact of because he is my very best friend. I had to take a step back and think 'I've got a place in history here, doing something for somebody who's done something really phenomenal.' The first guy to break through that color barrier in professional wrestling; this is an incredible individual. There was a little bit of planning because when I first thought about it, I thought I could do this off-the-cuff. And a lot of it did come off-the-cuff, but a lot of it was a bit of planning to make sure I represented Ron in the best way". Think of how odd it would've been if Layfield didn't take any of that into consideration before the event?! Congrats again to Ron Simmons.
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