Wrestling icons John Cena and Dwayne Johnson have seemingly buried the hatchet after meeting backstage during a broadcast of WWE SmackDown.
On Friday, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson made a surprise appearance at Denver’s Ball Arena during a SmackDown segment that featured Austin Theory and Pat McAfee.
After entering the ring to ‘If You Smell’, Johnson led the WWE crowd to call out Theory before dropping him with a signature spinebuster and delivering The People’s Elbow.
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The Rock then proceeded to leave Theory lying helpless on the ring floor before heading backstage with McAfee to chat.
After making his return to WWE, a video was posted on X showing the 51-year-old coming face-to-face with none other than old foe John Cena.
The backstage clip opened with Johnson and ESPN sports analyst McAfee shaking hands before the latter pointed off-camera.
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“Hey, there’s a guy who can’t see you,” joked McAfee.
After making the reference to the 46-year-old’s iconic catchphrase, the camera then panned to the wrestler himself.
Standing to The Rock’s left with his hands behind his back, Cena’s presence in the video sent wrestling fans wild.
The duo initially sized each other up and squared off. However, their determined composure didn’t last too long as the Peacemaker star began to break out into a grin.
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In an attempt to goad his former rival, the Black Adam actor pointed to Cena and said: “I see you trying to smile!”
Nodding his head, the entertainer replied: “I am. Welcome home”.
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The old rivals then proceeded to shake hands and embrace backstage before The Rock pulled away and said into the camera: ‘Thank you, good to be here’.
Since the clip was posted online, social media users have been going crazy over the unlikely reunion.
One wrestling fan wrote: “I’ve waited my whole life for this moment.”
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A second said: “Classic. Man these two stars alone sold out arenas. Just two great (sic) men, worked their a**** off and became the face of wrestling to their own right.
“Some of the best matches and eras came from these two. Hope to see them wrestle again. They deserve to get those cheers once again.”
Another commented: “Welcome home @TheRock and love this segment with @JohnCena this is amazing. Made my night and week and month.”
The Rock’s return to WWE comes two years after Cena himself told Entertainment Tonight that he hoped his old rival would be back in the ring soon.
At the time, the Barbie actor said: "He's earned the right not to be pressured into that choice. I can say he is a fan of the WWE. He is the most electrifying man in sports entertainment.
"So as a fan, do I want to see one of the greatest performers of all time step back in the WWE ring?
“Yeah. But in no way am I gonna call him and if I'm gonna talk to him about something, it's not gonna try to be to get him back in the WWE ring.”
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Topics: Dwayne Johnson, John Cena, The Rock, WWE, WWE Smackdown, Wrestling, Fan Reactions
Ella Scott