Dwayne Johnson, known as The Rock, made a fiery appearance on WWE SmackDown in Memphis, treating fans to an in-character concert filled with his trademark verbal jabs. During the performance, Johnson aimed his comedic roasts primarily at rivals Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins, but Memphis Grizzlies’ star player Ja Morant found himself caught in the crossfire.
The concert, reminiscent of Johnson’s popular 2003 skit, included a joke referencing Morant’s suspension from the NBA. Morant had received a 25-game suspension for an incident where he waved a gun on Instagram Live, marking the second time he faced such consequences. The first suspension came after a similar incident on March 4, where Morant was intoxicated during a live stream.
“You're simply an embarrassment, son. Just like Ja Morant, when he’s waving a gun.”
The Rock took shots at Grizzlies star Ja Morant and Seth Rollins at WWE Smackdown's show in Memphis 😬pic.twitter.com/dz2XfNn0Ai
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 16, 2024
Such jabs at local sports teams are common tactics used by wrestling villains, or heels, to rile up the audience. Currently, The Rock and his cousin, Roman Reigns, are embroiled in a heated feud with Rhodes and Rollins, setting the stage for a headline tag team match at WrestleMania 40 on April 6.
Despite the entertainment value of Johnson’s performance, his jab at Morant underscores the blurred lines between scripted wrestling storylines and real-life events.
