The Rock shocks Birmingham crowd with ‘SmackDown’ appearance, teases WrestleMania showdown

Finally. The Rock has come back to Birmingham.

World Wrestling Entertainment’s “Friday Night SmackDown” rolled through Alabama tonight, and a legend shocked the packed Legacy Arena crowd in the final moments.

The Rock — yes, Dwayne Johnson himself — made a surprise appearance during the final segment of WWE’s weekly nationally televised showcase, coming face to face with Universal Champion Roman Reigns ahead of a potential WrestleMania showdown.

Reigns, known to fans as “The Tribal Chief,” first entered the venue with his obligatory, extended entrance before addressing the crowd. “Birmingham…acknowledge me,” he said, drawing cheers.

Then Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes arrived to announce which WWE champ he would face at WrestleMania, as is the privilege of the Rumble winner. He told Reigns he was “coming for” him and intended to take “everything” he had, alluding to his shiny title. But he deferred to his own special counsel, who Rhodes said knew Reigns very well.

Then came the big moment. The booming “IF YOU SMELL…!!!!!” intro to The Rock’s music hit, and the place went bananas. He showed off the very-real goosebumps on his massive forearm to the camera for fans to see at home, as he sauntered to the ring for his own standard lengthy entrance.

“This is awesome!” chants rained down on the squared-circle, as Johnson faced off with Reigns. Neither said a word. Neither had to. The stage is now set for what would undoubtedly be the main event at WrestleMania XL, taking place on April 6 and 7, 2024, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Penn.

WWE has not confirmed it yet, not failing to deliver these goods would be like giving the fans a little Sweet Chin Music through a barbershop glass window.

Rhodes declined to wrestle Reigns at Wrestlemania, setting up the strong possibility for The Rock’s first match in WWE since an impromptu, six-second match against Eric Rowan during Wrestlemania 32 in 2016. Before that, The Rock’s last full match was against John Cena during Wrestlemania 29 in 2013.

The Rock-Reigns standoff in Birmingham isn’t the only big pro wrestling moment slated in Alabama early this year. Pro wrestling icon Sting will deliver his final televised matches on TNT during an AEW Dynamite/Collison show on Feb. 28, at the Propst Arena at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville. Sting’s final match ever will be broadcast via pay per view on March 3 during AEW Revolution in Greensboro, N.C.

Reigns’ run of 1,252 days as Universal Champion is the fourth-longest world title reign in WWE history and the longest championship reign since 1988. Born Leati Anoa`i, Reigns played football for three years at Pensacola Catholic High School and one year at Escambia High School. He then played for Georgia Tech, where he started for three years and earned All-ACC honors. He went undrafted in 2007 but signed with the Minnesota Vikings and then the Jacksonville Jaguars, both of whom released him. He gave it a shot in the Canadian Football League before retiring in 2010.

Reigns’ star rose in WWE as part of the popular stable The Shield alongside Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose. After a polarizing singles run following their disbanding, Reigns has emerged as one of the most popular figures in pro wrestling history.

Before he entered the squared-circle, Johnson also played college football for the University of Miami, winning a national championship on the 1991 Hurricanes football team. He’d later play for the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League but was cut two months into the 1995 season.

Johnson then enjoyed one of the greatest pro wrestling careers of all time, a multi-time world champion during one of the most successful runs in WWE history, the famed Attitude Era, opposite “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and other stars. He parlayed that into a film career, becoming one of the biggest movie stars in the world thanks to hits like “Jumanji,” “The Rundown” and the “Fast & Furious” franchise.

Johnson’s appearance comes just one week after Vince McMahon, named in a lawsuit alleging he abused and sexually exploited former World Wrestling Entertainment staffer Janel Grant when he was CEO of the wrestling company, resigned as executive chairman of WWE’s parent company TKO Group. The report says McMahon, 78, has denied the allegations and is prepared to defend himself in court, but he released a statement Friday announcing the move.

Just a few days prior to that news breaking, Johnson was appointed to the board of directors of TKO Group. ESPN reported Johnson was granted full ownership of “The Rock” trademark, which had been owned by WWE. He also signed a new services and merchandising agreement with WWE “that provides for his promotional, licensing, and other services.” Read the full report.

John Sharp contributed to this story.