Backstage Update on The Rock & Cody Rhodes’ Promo Segment on 2/21 WWE SmackDown Show

As noted before, Friday’s WWE SmackDown show in New Orleans, Louisiana featured a promo segment involving Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson asking current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes to be his personal champion and also wanting to own his soul.

Fightful Select reported that their sources stated that The Rock’s appearance for the show was something that WWE’s creative team was informed of just a few days ahead of the show. It was reported that The Rock’s appearance plans was stated to have been a “shock” to many within the company.

It was reported that the late nature of The Rock’s inclusion into the show lead to WWE officials changing their original plans for the show and Rhodes. This included Rhodes being pulled from a previously scheduled Six-Man Tag Team match with Brawn Strowman and Damian Priest against Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, & Tama Tonga.

Those spoken to within WWE reportedly stated that this change in plans came together “very late” and they have not been told what the next direction things are going to take after The Rock’s return.

It was reported that writer Cristian Scovell was listed as the writer for The Rock and Rhodes’ promo segment on the show and Michael Hayes was the producer for it. Scovell reportedly is the person who typically writes Rhodes’ segments for shows. It was also reported that The Rock does not have to follow scripts given to him in the company due to his high-level status.

It was also reported that WWE’s creative plans and direction going forward for The Rock are currently not known nor how his return will impact WWE’s current plans for WrestleMania 41.