Johnson is a bonafide b /c list movie star , but your point is well taken .

RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: I don't know what list he's on, but I do know that he gets $15 million per movie, his films make money and now he is big enough that his name goes above the title.

Kevin, it seems that the source of most of these rumblings about the Rock could be HHH. At the bottom of it all, he's still in the Rock's shadow and it still makes him insecure, big-time. Not that I'm accusing everyone's favorite whipping boy of being that petty...

Well said. Anyone in the wrestling business who badmouths Dwayne is either (a) jealous of his success, or (b) frustrated at their own inability to get over.

By the way, thank you Dwayne.

The Rock is suffering from the same thing John Cena suffers from with the fans...being too over. If I was the Rock and had the opportunity to work in an industry that didn't grind my body like hamburger and I could still get paid, I would certainly do it. I wrote a reply in the Ric Flair farewell post that cited the difference between wrestlers like Ole Anderson and wrestlers like Ric Flair. Some guys have the charisma and the gift to shine. Others don't, so they spend their time trying to delegitimize those that do. There are still guys in the WWE locker room that remember when the Rock first came in. 10 years later he is a big name star, and they are still in the WWE locker room. Its just jealousy, nothing more.

I only had a chance to see so much since I saw the USA edition. Still, what I saw was pretty funny - in particular what happened to Santino and Chris Jericho. I think that you hit the nail on the head when you said that WWE needs him more than Vice Versa.

"Heat" is a term typically reserved for wrestlers, and that the Dwayne transitioned into an actor years ago. So its kind of absurd when you think about it to describe what happened as him getting heat.

What I don't understand is that he didn't write the speech, so why is he getting the animosity?

At this point, if he decided against returning to the WWE ever again and focusing on his career, I could not blame him.

I think the Rock's tremendously huge ego got in his away once again. Maybe Wrestlemania 25 should be a date he should leave open and come back and let Stone Cold Steve Austin drive him down Know Your Role Blvd. and check his a-- into the Smackdown Hotel, if ya smell what I'm cooking!

The way I see it, it's not as if The Rock's appearance took away from the importance of the night overall, nor did it detract from Ric Flair's emotional induction, by any means.

Let's face it, WWE lured The Rock back as a BUSINESS move, as you pointed out, and they knew fully well what to expect.

I mean, let's see...the microphone was clearly planted beneath the podium so Rock could do his familiar catchphrases. Mick Foley clearly had his sock handy so Rock could call him out. Santino Marella definitely walked right into "It Doesn't Matter" as if it was planned (and even if it wasn't, he sold it brilliantly).

If Rock came across as "Hollywood"...well, how is he SUPPOSED to come across as? Where do people think he's BEEN for the past few years???

At the end of the day, it is what it is, and had Rock not returned, he likely would've been criticized for "thinking he's too good for WWE" and "too good" to induct his family. But then again, perhaps his family may not have even been considered for induction this year, were it not for Rock's appearance.

Therefore, you're right: The Rock can't win. And given how influential he was in WWE's past success and how instrumental he arguably was in the prime of Stone Cold Steve Austin's and Triple H's respective careers, you'd think he'd get a pass for just ONE night for trying to revisit that.

I think too many people were expecting DJ to come on stage and BE THE ROCK! His old character & he isn't that anymore! He made his old rude/great comments that he use to, he spoke to certain wrestlers,he copied some of his old sayings & that was more than I would have expected!

I think this is exactly why DJ has stayed away from the WWE,because they expected him to BE THE ROCKs character.

Jim Ross said this on his blog:

"Word going around the Internet is that Rock was aloof to many, is hard for me to buy into. I did not personally see that."

I think its just typical internet BS about everybody hating the speech.

You could tell by JBL's comments and others that the boys in the business have some sort of jealousy for Johnson...which says a lot more about the mindset in the business than it does about The Rock himself.

His speech was pretty incredible, and WWE is sorely lacking in talents like his these days.

It makes sense...these guys have to eat, sleep, and drink the business...it pays the bills. Dwayne Johnson did so also when he was in WWE. From everything I have read, he was one of the most loyal and hardworking guys in the WWE. He never complained, even when there were times he very easily could have and been justified.

Now that he's moved onto a respectable movie career where he is considered faily 'bankable', his focus and energy rightly goes into making sure he protects that image, the same way he worked to protect his image in WWE. Vince knew that having DJ there would bring even more mainstream coverage to Wrestlemania. DJ knew why he was being used, and yet he did it anyway.

The haters (HHH) need to accept that Rock became 'push' independent because he put in the work and had the charisma to put butts in seats like Steve Austin and Ric Flair. Like Kevin said, I am sure those who advise him probably told him it was a bad idea to even show. But his loyalty to the WWE and the fans meant more to him. How many of those guys in his position would really have come back in the middle of a film production (costing the film company a lot of money)? Give him credit.

From what I read, the Hall of Fame on USA at 11:00PM did a 2.1 rating. A 2.1 rating at 11 o'clock at night is pretty impressive, and I don’t think it had everything to do with Ric Flair. I’m sure Ric Flair was a major factor with the high rating, but I’ll bet a lot of people wanted to see the Rock just as much. I know I did.

Besides, I don’t believe everything I read on the internet regarding backstage politics and other gossip. I’m sure there could be an element of truth to the story, but at the same time I think it could be exaggerated. Either way, I don’t expect to see the Rock on WWE television anytime soon.

When I heard all gossip about the heat between Dwayne and several WWE workers, I just felt confused.
With reactions like that, WWE will make Johnson turn his back on them and feel more and more secure of how good was to left wrestling and move on.
I really miss The Rock. As a fan I always felt the gap he left like something irreparable, but I never dared to say The Rock turned his back on his fans, or that he has never loved the business.
WWE is acting like a crazy ex-girlfriend that just can't feel satisfied until HE comes back. But as long as they keep acting like that, they will never get anything. Not even one electrifying moment.

Kev , I don't know if I struck a nerve with you with earlier post or what . But I was n't meaning to disrespect the Rocks acting . To me bonafide stars are DeNiro , Nicholson ,etc . "Walking Tall" is not "Casablana". Making movies that go straight to dvd to me does not make one a "star . The fact he makes 15 mil per film, so does Jaylo and shes no Bacall. I'm just sayin'.... Lets get back to important stuff like TNA . Thanks Kev !

RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: No, you didn't strike a nerve at all. I just thought you were a little inaccurate as far as Rock's standing n Hollywood. While he isn't making classics (yet), he isn't making direct to DVD movies either. Every one of his movies has had a big opening week in theaters.Let's not confuse anything Rock has made with The Condemned, The Marine and Seen No Evil.
TNA interviews are coming soon.

RESPONSE TO KEV : fair enough .

Your remarks are spot-on, Kevin. The Rock equals ratings. No doubt about it, the man is an A-lister.

DJ came and left on his own terms. He understood the situation with WM24. Has the respect of the fans and history of the game as a 3rd generation star. Still young, relatively healthy and with career options (return to ring, movies, etc), some wrestlers are probably upset because they were/are not as fortunate. DO you DJ!!!

I love how the peoploe who defend the Rock and cheer for him are the same people who boo John Cena for not being a great wrestler. Cena does as many moves as The Rock ever did. They are both entertainers more than pure wretlers, yet everyone loves the Rock and feels he can do no wrong, and that others are simply haters. To compare the wrestling knowledge and ability of HHH and the Rock is laughable at best.

I was at the ceremony, and I do like the Rock, however he did make it more about him for the first hald hour than anything having to do with the ceremony. While the fans were terrible at the event, I felt that the Rock was not professional either, or he would have done a couple catch phrases and then done the introductions.

Sorry, but the Rock went way too long, and is not the savior of the WWE. A lot of people had to really make him look good in the ring most of the time for his matches to be even half-way good. No one will look back on a Rock match and say it was one of the best ever and a lesson in professional wrestling.

Spot on again Kev. I have always been a Rock man. So unlikely to criticise him at all. It is just jealousy - he has done what no one else has managed to do, and equally gets a better reaction from the fans than Cena, Triple H et al can ever get at the moment. Time they grew up and let the Rock, sorry Dwayne Johnson, do what he wants. Kev, if the Rock was to come back for 1 match only - who would you want him to wrestle?

RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: Either John Cena or Shawn Michaels. Because of the politics involved, I'd love to see him wrestle Triple H, but that would never happen.

First of all, I completely disagree with that comment that people had to make the Rock look good in the ring. If you go back and look at Rock's matches, his reaction times to moves were spot on. I have said it time and time again that the Rock sold moves better than most.

Just an example...Who made the Stone Cold Stunner look more vicious? The Rock did. Granted there were others who sold the move well, like Shane O' Mac, Kurt Angle, Triple H, Scott Hall, X-Pac, etc. The Rock's reaction to the stunner was used as a model on all of the Smackdown games. Point out specifics where it looked like Rock needed help.

There were numerous times that I thought to myself, man, I'm surprised that The Rock didn't break his neck, but he knew what he was doing...he was extremely athletic for his size too. Watch how the Rock sells moves and you then tell me that people need to help him. The Rock is one of the greatest in-ring performers and could keep a fast paced match all of the way until the end.

Unlike Cena, The Rock did try his best to incorporate new moves as often as he could into his repitoire.

I imagine what people speak of as being "aloof" backstage may have more to do with getting comfortable and used to Dwayne's new role from both sides of the story. Dwayne comes across as appreciative from his humble beginnings all the way to his new life as an actor. I can see only a good heart and soul when he speaks and acts. That is all that matters is what is inside of the man not what appears as present on the outside. I started a tribute to him to show appreciation: http://www.squidoo.com/therockdwaynejohnsonvideoshowcase

Keep doing what you do Dwayne! You have earned alot of respect.