5 reasons WWE wants The Rock on SmackDown Live's FOX debut

It has been a long while since WWE inked a deal with FOX, for the network to air SmackDown Live starting this October. The debut episode of the blue brand on FOX will air on October 4th. It's evident that WWE is trying its best to turn this move into a big affair, with FOX itself wanting the company to give the blue show an overhaul.

Back during this year's Superstar Shakeup, possibly the biggest WWE Superstar in recent memory, Roman Reigns, was drafted to SmackDown Live. Rumors have floated around regarding Brock Lesnar moving to the blue show when it moves to FOX. Now, another report is stating that WWE is in talks with Dwayne Johnson for an appearance on the debut episode on FOX.

Let's take a look at 5 reasons WWE could be trying to bag The Great One for SmackDown Live's big debut on FOX.

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#5 The Rock's famous catchphrase and the creation of SmackDown

The Rock is a genius on the mic

After failing gloriously as the joyous and always-smiling Rocky Maivia, Dwayne Johnson was given the gimmick of The Rock, an arrogant heel who turned on the fans for not treating him with respect. Soon, he began using a string of catchphrases to get himself over, one of which was "Lay the smackdown".

The catchphrase got incredibly popular and soon, The Rock started calling the blue show "his show", referring to the fact that the name of the brand was taken from Rock's famous catchphrase.

Additionally, The Rock was there on the very first episode of SmackDown, teaming up with Stone Cold to defeat The Corporate Ministry. It would be nothing but poetic to see The Rock being on SmackDown Live's big debut on FOX around 20 years later.

#4 A guaranteed rating boost

The Rock's presence means a rating boost

WWE occasionally brings back legends and Hall of Famers to boost ratings or to earn better PPV revenues. Back in 2012, The Rock faced John Cena in the main event of WrestleMania 28, in a match that was dubbed as "Once in a Lifetime". The dream encounter was being promoted for a year and led to WrestleMania 28 breaking a 5-year record, garnering 1,253,000 buys. Previously, WrestleMania 23 held the record of most number of PPV buys.

The Rock has been brought back on several occasions ever since his WWE return back in 2011, each one getting a huge response from the WWE Universe. One of the biggest reasons WWE wants to have The Rock on SmackDown Live's FOX debut is to make sure the rating meter goes up during the event. The Rock's charisma and his mannerisms in the squared circle have been a hit with the fans in the past, and there's no reason why it wouldn't be the case this time.

#3 Giving the show a big-time feel and conforming to the new direction

The Rock on Raw

As previously discussed, WWE is trying to give the blue brand a big-time feel. The inclusion of Roman Reigns and the rumored brand-switch of Brock Lesnar are two of the biggest indicators of this fact. It was reported a while ago that FOX wants edgier content on WWE TV and it seems like the promotion is on its way to leave the PG Era behind, if recent reports are to be believed.

Amidst all this, someone like The Rock would be an excellent choice to come back and lead the blue brand to a new era. The Rock has proven time and again that he has few equals on the mic. A 5-minute non-PG segment is all that he would need to usher SmackDown Live into a new direction. Also, his presence would give the show a much-needed big-time feel.

#2 The Rock's impact on SmackDown Live

SmackDown is surely The Rock's show

For such a huge show, WWE would certainly want to bring in some of the biggest names from its storied history. More importantly, WWE would want to assemble the cast that was responsible for making SmackDown Live one of the greatest wrestling shows of all time.

When one thinks of Superstars who have contributed towards the rise of SmackDown Live, names like Edge, The Undertaker, Eddie Guerrero, John Cena, and Kurt Angle pop up. But one name that is guaranteed to make this list is none other than The Rock. The Great One was instrumental in turning SmackDown into a legit must-watch wrestling show back in the early 2000s. The Rock's rivalries with the likes of Triple H back in the day were the highlight of the blue brand. SmackDown Live's move to FOX needs The Rock to make it a memorable affair.

#1 A possible tease

We might get this match in the near future

Remember last year's SmackDown 1000 episode? The show saw the reunion of one of the most dominant factions in WWE history, Evolution. It also teased a future match between Triple H and Batista. The bout eventually took place at WrestleMania 35, with Triple H finally managing to defeat Batista in a one-on-one match.

What if WWE wants to do something similar with The Rock? A huge match could be teased on the show, leading to a slow-burn buildup and an eventual match at WrestleMania 36. WWE has previously teased a match between The Rock and Roman Reigns. Reigns and The Rock would be on the same show that night, and a confrontation between the two is a possibility if The Rock manages to take out a few dates for the rivalry. Reigns vs The Rock is a dream match fans would love to see, and the FOX debut of SmackDown Live would be a perfect place to kick off the feud.