$20 Million Could be Enough to Buy WWE's Creative Direction

Could Dwayne the Rock Johnson be our WWE Universal Champion soon? Photo Courtesy of the WWE. Edited by BODPodcast.

By Matthew Klink (@klinkmatt)

October 1, 2018

(I cant believe I’m ruining this article with this statement…but some of this is satire and I’m having a bit of fun.)

Almost one month ago, Forbes posted an article that discussed the rumor and possibility of the Rock becoming our WWE Universal Champion at WrestleMania 35. A couple of weeks later, after the Crown Jewel was announced, another rumor surfaced, declaring that a Saudi Arabian Official had offered the WWE $20 Million to ensure the Rock did become the Universal Champion for the next show (after the Crown Jewel) in Saudi Arabia.

While we read stuff like this every year, a few thoughts popped in my head. For these thoughts to be legitimate and affect our reality, I am happily playing with the idea that these rumors are all true. And while we do hear rumors like this every year, I am suspicious of these rumors surfacing in the same month on top of the constant teases, by the Rock, that he’ll be coming back soon.

Let’s not forget…the WWE has decidedly pivoted to a “money-first” business strategy over Public Relations, their athletes, their perceived loyalties, or their fans. It only seems to fall in line that after years of complaining about the Rock taking out CM Punk, that he would come back, if the price was right, and become the champ again.

Thought Number One: Why don’t the fans create a Kickstarter?

Again, if this was true, why aren’t the fans immediately starting a Kickstarter, pooling their money together, and then getting Finn Balor the Universal Title (or Kevin Owens, or Sami Zayn, or Seth Rollins, or Nakamura, or whoever…). If the WWE responds to only the almighty dollar, then take advantage of it, and offer them one of your own!

And remember, it won’t take $20 Million to allow the fans to get the superstar of their dreams the pinnacle of Sports Entertainment. Finn Balor is already under contract. All you need to do is dust off that unused talent and pin him back up on the wall. I’d say maybe $5 Million will do the trick.

Are you hoping that the WWE will actually use the Good Brothers, Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows, in the tag team title main event? Heck…that’s gotta cap at $500K.

Maybe you want to see Otis Dozovic get a singles career? Mike (my fellow Brother of Discussion), I’m looking at you! That’s gotta be an easy to swallow $20-30K.

The big pull from this idea (again…if its true) is that the WWE Universe could create their perfect show (or at least the richest among us). WWE Champion: AJ Styles! Women’s Champion: Becky Lynch! Tag Team Champions: Lets branch out and make it a more diverse selection! Wait a minute…

Alright…so maybe SmackDown Live is pretty sweet right now…but there’s only way to go from there! And I don’t know about you, but I’m going to have my wallet ready!

Thought Number Two: How much more could they get?

If I heard this and I was the Rock…man…I would ‘get’ while the ‘gettin’’ is good!

And if I was the WWE and in the negotiating room, the first thing I would do is act like I’ve been there before and provide fabricated data on how much the ‘super-rich’ paid the last time the Rock won a title belt. Obviously, you can accept no less than $100 Million. At no one’s fault, but their own, the team who proposed $20 Million failed…well…when they proposed $20 Million. If you’re willing to pay $20 Million to have the Rock win the title, then you’re willing to $40 Million…maybe even a $100 Million!

These guys are coming from oil-money and there is a lot more than $20 Million dollars coming from big oil. If the WWE was smart, not only are you collecting some big dough from the initial contract, but you better figure out a way to create WWE gas stations. The WWE is already in the film industry and failing miserably…why not big oil?

To get more money…why not make a couple of suggestions? Who do you want the Rock to fight? Which brings me to thought number three!

Thought Number Three: Who else could you cast?

Since we’ve already determined we’re (The WWE) getting more than $20 Million to write the Rock in as the Universal Champion, why not offer a special casting for another $20? Or even offer a discount to make sure Roman Reigns is the guy fighting him. Why the discount? Well…he’s on the roster, he’s also Samoan, he hasn’t made any big movies…yet!

The WWE could do way better than that. Maybe the fans of Saudi Arabia are huge fans of NXT? Why not get sell them on having the best promos of all time as the Rock goes ONE ON ONE with the great one! I’m referring to, of course, the Greatest Sports Entertainer of All Time! Tommaso Ciampa!

Bring in the old Blackheart of Pro Wrestling. After he’s done with Johnny Gargano’s corpse, he’ll have the most electrifying man to take care of next. I can’t even IMAGINE how over-matched the Rock is going to feel on the mic in that feud…

Can I get your thoughts?

This is all fun and games and if Forbes wasn’t already reporting that the WWE was thinking about bringing back the Rock and giving him the title, I never would’ve posted this. But…alas…the world we live in, is one where this all happened!

That being said:

Who would you spend your $20 Million on? How much do you think you could get out of this team of “entrepreneurs”? Who would you have the Rock fight?

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