What’s Behind The Rock’s New Japan Shirt? Fans Search for Clues
A simple photo of The Rock trying to solve a Rubik's Cube has sent wrestling fans into a frenzy, and for good reason.
In the seemingly innocent Instagram post, The Rock is seen focused on the puzzle, but eagle-eyed fans quickly noticed the shirt he was wearing: a t-shirt featuring the unmistakable lion mark logo of New Japan Pro Wrestling. It didn't take long for speculation to take off. Why was The Rock, a member of the board of directors at TKO Group Holdings (the parent company of WWE), wearing a New Japan shirt? Was this an intentional tease?
Adding fuel to the fire, New Japan's official social media accounts quickly reposted the image, only to delete it a few hours later, further stoking curiosity. Was this the work of a social media manager with sticky fingers or something management wants to create intrigue about?
The timing of this post is also raising eyebrows, as it follows weeks of silence from The Rock, who has been notably absent from any WrestleMania build ever since his dramatic return at Elimination Chamber during the closing angle where John Cena turned heel.
Since then, Cena and Cody Rhodes have only briefly mentioned The Rock, despite the magnitude of his return. Many fans have been left wondering: Where has The Rock been? Why drop a cryptic post now? And why wear a New Japan shirt of all things?
Coincidentally, earlier today, it was reported that New Japan talent Jeff Cobb is leaving the promotion. Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer reported that sources within WWE believe Cobb is heading to WWE, and that a deal came together very quickly. Meltzer also speculated that the timing of The Rock's post and Cobb's departure might not be unrelated. While there's no official confirmation tying the two events together, it's hard to ignore the sequence of events.
If The Rock is involved in Cobb's move to WWE, it could signal big things ahead for the powerhouse wrestler. As Meltzer pointed out, New Japan still had their tag titles on Cobb, and under normal circumstances, they likely would have booked a title change before news of his departure broke. Instead, the news leaked in a way that suggests WWE made him an offer he couldn't refuse, requiring an immediate decision.
All of this adds up to an intriguing mystery, one that has fans buzzing about what moves The Rock and WWE might be orchestrating behind the scenes. At the very least, it has the wrestling world glued to their screens, waiting for the next clue.