It wouldn’t make sense to do a debut episode of WWE Smackdown without the WWE Superstar who threatened to, “lay the smack down,” in the first place, would it? Now, it won’t have to.
Per an announcement made on the Twitter account of somewhat famous and popular actor Dwayne Johnson, 10-time World Champion The Rock will return to WWE television for Friday night’s debut of Friday Night Smackdown on Fox. Word of WWE wanting Rock on the show has been going around since back in August, but why wouldn’t they, you know?
FINALLY…I come back home to my @WWE universe.
This FRIDAY NIGHT, I’ll return for our debut of SMACKDOWN!
LIVE on @FOXTV.
There’s no greater title than #thepeopleschamp.
And there’s no place like home.
Tequila on me after the show 😈🥃#IfYaSmell🎤 #Smackdown#RocksShow #FOX pic.twitter.com/V5i4cxqIqH— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) September 30, 2019
No word yet on what Rock’s role on the show will be. His most recent in-canon WWE appearance was at WrestleMania 32, where he quickly defeated Erick Rowan in an impromptu match and fought off the Wyatt Family with help from his Twice In A Lifetime rival John Cena. He made a non-televised appearance after the February 20, 2017, edition of Raw to help promote Fighting With My Family.
Smackdown’s set to be a major show for WWE, as the Rock’s appearance will join Kofi Kingston vs. Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship, a Four Horsewomen tag team match, Roman Reigns vs. Erick Rowan, and a Shane McMahon vs. Kevin Owens ladder match.
