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SmackDown kicks off Endeavor ownership with an unforgettable show

By Raphael Garcia

Dwayne Johnson, aka The Rock, enters the ring to talk smack about his upcoming opponent John Cena during the WWE Raw event at Rose Garden arena in Portland, Ore., Monday February 27th, 2012. (Photo by Chris Ryan/Corbis via Getty Images)
Dwayne Johnson, aka The Rock, enters the ring to talk smack about his upcoming opponent John Cena during the WWE Raw event at Rose Garden arena in Portland, Ore., Monday February 27th, 2012. (Photo by Chris Ryan/Corbis via Getty Images) /
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The Rock and John Cena were both the central figures in a SmackDown episode that kicked off the WWE’s run under new ownership. 

WWE was the focal point of many news headlines this week thanks to the completion of the merger with the UFC to form the TKO Group Holdings. The massive combat sports and entertainment entity is poised to push the MMA and wrestling industries forward, all the while making a few at the top richer. That legacy kicked off with the September 15 edition of WWE SmackDown, which was unforgettable.

The show kicked off with Pat McAfee and Austin Theory in the ring, only to be joined by The Rock moments later. The reaction both in the arena and on social media shows that the 51-year-old is still an icon in the eyes of wrestling. The Rock picked up right where he left off, pushing the censors into overtime, embarrassing Theory, and hitting his patented moves.

That was coupled with John Cena’s extended return to the WWE. He was at the focal point of the main event, that led to him and AJ Styles standing tall. There was a dark match where the two teamed, giving the fans in attendance something to see. But Cena’s going to be around for a while as the writers’ and actors’ strike continues. Seeing WWE leverage him on screen is going to be an important step for the company to keep this sudden surge of momentum going.

The first WWE main roster show under new ownership was a perfect vessel to build excitement for what is to come. This week alone saw the return of Nia Jax and the growing rumor that former AEW TBS Champion, Jade Cargill is expected to make her way to the company. If Endeavor’s ownership continues to find new ways to infuse more energy into the product, there is an opportunity to continue the current boom that is going on across the entire wrestling industry.

Momentum in professional wrestling continues to ebb and flow. With companies gaining and losing momentum almost weekly. This week, it was WWE at the forefront of conversations. If SmackDown was an indication of what is to come, then fans should be excited for what is to come.

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