>>14022138The biggest problem with Rock and his kinda of Legend+ status guys is that they are too over to be seen anything but returning megastars initially regardless of the role they are assigned - you gotta understand that each city the Rock goes to is one he hasn't made an appearance in for what a decade or so, so the crowds get excited to see guys they've seen in their screens, via video clips, old shows, vidya and now experience it live maybe the first time or with nostalgia glasses on.
Best example of audience disjointed reactions is Stone Cold, the character is essentially a redneck bully, on regular moral compass, on your own daily life you'd shoot a guy if he came up on the way he does but Stone Cold gets face pops even if he'd beat a woman in the ring in the shows universe - this is hyperbole and exaggeration that I wouldn't try but you get the point, they are so over they can't do no wrong and just seeing them do shit is enough.
BUT someone on the top level has to play the bad guy every once in a while or the form gets stale and doesn't put the new guys over.
Also note how Randy O is also too over now for his own viper gimmick and having way too much fun signing autographs that it would be pointless to do any psycho-Randy stories with him right now, so he's basically become the new Brock.
Brock had the same problem for the longest time with his returns and it's in retrospect pretty impressive that he managed to go over as a true heel against Cody in his last matches.
AJ is now doing a heel run but as he hasn't been away recently and only lukewarm as a face with the OC it goes over lot better even if he could be considered a legend.
