Tommy Dreamer said his top guess for who was on the other end of Randy Orton’s mysterious phone call on Monday Night Raw is The Rock, with Shane McMahon as his second choice, while co-host Dave LaGreca pushed back and said if The Rock was going to return for WrestleMania, it would be for Roman Reigns and CM Punk, not Cody Rhodes.
Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Dreamer and LaGreca broke down the via satellite segment from Raw where Orton took a phone call on camera and ended the segment by saying “wrestling has more than one royal family.” The identity of the caller has become one of the central mysteries heading into WrestleMania 42.
“When I heard it, I’m like, he’s talking to Rock,” Dreamer said. “There’s no doubt he’s talking to The Rock. Rock has unfinished business with Cody.”
Dreamer said his second choice came to him after scrolling through social media. “Then I’m like, man, there’s no way. But in WWE you can never say no way. Then I’m like, it’s Shane McMahon. Shane McMahon showing up at WrestleMania would be massive.”
LaGreca’s Case Against The Rock
LaGreca said he initially considered The Rock as well but talked himself out of it. He argued that if The Rock was going to be involved in WrestleMania season, it would make more sense for him to appear in the CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns story on Night 2 rather than the Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton match on Night 1.
“If the Rock was going to be involved in anything that’s going on on the road to WrestleMania, it would be with Roman and Punk,” LaGreca said. “The whole reason that he has the story with Cody was because of the family tree. He presented that family tree before WrestleMania 40, the tribal tree, the tribal chief, the whole story.”
LaGreca pointed out that CM Punk recently insulted the Anoa’i family and the late Sika on Raw, which would be a natural entry point for The Rock to return. He said it would be a “disconnect” for The Rock to come back for Orton instead.
“Now CM Punk insults the family, insults Sika, and Rock’s coming back, but he’s not coming back for that? He’s only coming back because Randy gave him a call and asked him to come back?” LaGreca said. “I don’t buy it.”
The Pop Factor
The two hosts debated which reveal would generate the biggest reaction at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas. LaGreca raised the question of whether WWE wants Cody Rhodes to be cheered or booed at WrestleMania, noting that Rhodes was booed against John Cena at WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas last year.
“You are running the risk of having that happen again in Vegas,” LaGreca said. “Maybe whoever this is needs to be hated by the WWE Universe. Shane McMahon is going to get a pop. Ric Flair is going to get a pop. The Rock may not.”
Dreamer disagreed with the idea that The Rock would not receive a pop. “You’re insane. You’re taking crazy pills this morning. How are you saying that The Rock’s not going to get a pop?” Dreamer said.
LaGreca clarified that he meant storyline-wise, The Rock carries negative stigma from the decisions made around WrestleMania 40, and that a return would open up scrutiny about his backstage role within TKO.
The Shane McMahon Angle
Dreamer made a case for Shane McMahon as a practical choice. He said if Shane gets involved and costs Cody the match, it sets up a future Cody vs. Shane program because Shane can still wrestle. If it is The Rock, Dreamer said, you are starting a brand new story that requires The Rock’s continued involvement, which is not guaranteed given his schedule.
“If Shane McMahon gets involved and costs him, because then you go Cody-Shane, because Shane could still go in the ring,” Dreamer said. “And Randy could go wherever he wants.”
Other names mentioned during the discussion included Ric Flair and Arn Anderson, both of whom have history with Orton and Rhodes. Dreamer acknowledged that Ric Flair coming out with Orton would make the crowd “go insane” but said the storyline needs someone who can appear weekly going forward.
Cody Rhodes defends the WWE Championship against Randy Orton in the main event of Night 1 of WrestleMania 42 on April 18 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
If you use quotes from this article, please credit the source and include a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
