Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is officially “The Final Boss”. For the first time in WWE, it has a corporate executive heel character bigger than the company. He answers to nobody.
Johnson is a Director of TKO Holdings which owns WWE. This means he can step into a WWE ring as both the third-generation former WWE Champion and the outsider meddling executive.
He’s already made the well-trod action of meddling with the main event of WrestleMania. “The Final Boss” helped break hearts worldwide when he corrupted the soul of John Cena. He will be essential to the build toward Cody Rhodes defending the Undisputed WWE Champion at WrestleMania 41 against the man whose soul The Rock now owns Cena.
This leaves “The Final Boss” poised to ascend to new heights as the finest heel in the business. But how does he reach this height? If you’ve followed The Rock’s advice and paid attention, you’ll see he’s well on his way.
Don’t Question “The Final Boss”
Both Paul “Triple H” Levesque and The Rock have encouraged fans to expect the unexpected and enjoy the ride towards Las Vegas and WrestleMania 41. The other thing the global movie star and tequila salesman wants us to know is that everything matters. In the WWE Elimination Chamber post-show event, Johnson said fans were wrong to question whether his Bad Blood cut-throat gesture had no meaning.
The Rock won’t accept WWE superstars not behaving how he wants. He certainly won’t accept the fans questioning him. Very heel behaviour, Rock.
Avoiding competition is an easy way for “The Final Boss” to boost resentment fans might have that could turn to nuclear heat. There are five WrestleMania dream matches that The Rock could veto.
Cody Rhodes Might Have Another Chance
The cut-throat gesture can be interpreted in many ways. At WWE Bad Blood, The Rock counted three fingers before making the gesture. Many believed this was a sign that three people had drawn the ire of “The Final Boss”.
At WWE Elimination Chamber, he counted two fingers. This could mean that the two occasions have marked two strikes against Cody Rhodes.
Perhaps, The Rock will offer Rhodes one last chance to be his corporate champion before he rids him of his final strike. “The Final Boss” refusing to give up on corrupting Rhodes’ soul is another play that will help him become more of a bad guy.
Some now think that “The Final Boss’s” fingers represent people joining him. We’ve even written an article on who could be a third man to join The Rock and Cena. To steal a phrase from The Miz. When The Rock’s hand goes up … pay attention.
Not So Humble Brags
The Rock has kept us all guessing during 2025. His promos seem disjointed and slightly awkward. But this is all part of the character.
One minute he is ‘fiiiiinally’ giving an audience the hits – ‘if you smelllllllllllll?’ The next, he is dropping not-so-humble brags about how many social media followers he has – a lot – and how many people watched Moana 2 – even more.
Expect The Rock to give us more comedic and arrogant brags over the next 50 days. This is all part of solidifying that “The Final Boss” is bigger than everyone and answers to nobody.
Alienating himself above everyone else on the planet is part of his effective heel character work.
The Rock Has A Big Social Profile
It seemed random that Travis Scott stood alongside The Rock as Cena sold his soul. But it was done to show that The Rock knows everyone and is bigger than anyone else.
Even the biggest rap act on the planet. Even the other biggest WWE star, Cena, can be controlled by “The Final Boss”.
The Rock’s social media could also show us where to look for hints. Cena added his picture to the post The Rock shared of him and Scott just moments before the Elimination Chamber. The clue was there.
Moments before The Rock’s WWE SmackDown appearance, he shared a picture of the watch Rhodes gifted to him. He then shared a post about his father, Rocky “Soulman” Johnson.
The Rock then asked Rhodes for his soul. The hints were there to follow. The brags about Instagram followers draw our attention to exactly where “The Great One” might be dropping some clues for his next move.
Everyone Answers To The Final Boss
A few weeks ago, Nick Aldis told Rhodes his WWE SmackDown match had been pulled because of “The Final Boss”. If Johnson really wants to upset the fans, he will pull this move again.
Fans take to social media in their millions (and millions) to complain that The Rock is stealing TV time from matches they want to see. It is a very easy way to boost the hate for “The Final Boss”.
We can expect to see people continue to reflect the power of “The Final Boss” on WWE TV, even when Johnson isn’t on. Announcements that decisions have come from “The Final Boss” help hype up his presence.
“The Final Boss” has been nice to those who work below him. But the reaction to him has always been fear. This indicates there’s a mean side we aren’t shown.
“The Final Boss” Is Bigger Than The Previous Boss
Many have made a connection between The Rock’s boss character and Vince McMahon’s boss role. But the two are very different. Mr. McMahon huffed and puffed and screamed in plain sight.
“The Final Boss” is charming, charismatic, and friendly. That makes him all the more menacing when he beats Rhodes senselessly in a parking lot or demands his soul.
The above perfectly places “The Final Boss” to be the most hated executive character WWE has experienced. Albeit one we will love to hate.
He is in control of the whole company, the people who work within it, and how its TV shows are run. Rhodes and Cena answer to The Rock.
What chance do fans have? WWE fans like to believe they can impact the product they watch. Daniel Bryan’s Yes Movement, Free Otis and #WeWantCody prove this.
If “The Final Boss” can squash the hope of these fans in the same way he does the goosebumps on his arm he’ll become the most hated man on WWE TV.
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