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CALDWELL'S BLOG: The Rock returning to WWE TV tells Hollywood "it's okay" to associate with WWE Sep 30, 2009 - 1:05:01 PM
Torch editor Wade Keller has detailed analysis of The Rock Dwayne Johnson's return to WWE TV in the VIP-exclusive Daily Keller Hotline yesterday. The story within the story is that Johnson appearing on WWE TV again is a major endorsement from the entertainment industry.
Remember, Johnson distanced himself from WWE when he became a full-time actor. He was advised he couldn't be a wrestler and an actor because Hollywood would not take him seriously. It's understandable, too, even though John Cena publicly questioned Johnson's decision-making. Johnson has bags of cash waiting for him in the movie industry, so it made sense to take the advice, drop "The Rock," and be his own man.
Johnson returning to WWE as a movie actor for the video message on Smackdown and a future Raw guest hosting appearance tells the story of WWE being somewhat accepted as part of pop culture. Yes, it's okay to get involved. No one is going to bite. You're not going to get cooties. Johnson's advisers would have vetoed any links to WWE if they thought it would damage his career.
WWE consistently grabbing guest hosts with name value has shown Hollywood that it's okay to be associated with WWE. A major Hollywood media publication like Variety has featured several stories on the WWE brand this year, including full-page spreads on WrestleMania 25.
Johnson will be an actor, not a wrestler, when he returns to WWE TV on Friday and on a future episode of Raw. It's a good endorsement for WWE. It's also a sign that there is a pay-off to WWE creating the guest-hosting concept, even if storylines on the individual shows have suffered to some degree on a weekly basis.
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