WWE's Top 5 Stories of 2011, No. 2: The Rock Returns to the WWE

Big Nasty will be counting down the five biggest stories of 2011 as we prepare to ring in yet another new year in the world of professional wrestling. Five stories transcended the pro wrestling industry in 2011 for better or for worse, and as a result, this comprehensive discussion is being constructed in their honor.

No. 2: The Rock Returns to the WWE, Accepts Challenge for WrestleMania XXVIII

Dwayne Johnson is one of the rare post-wrestling success stories given the level of the success he has achieved outside of taking arduous bumps in a different city every other night. 

Hanging up well into his prime, the Rock left the WWE in 2003 to pursue a promising acting career that paid dividends in unprecedented fashion for a wrestler. 

The Rock has since become a borderline A-list Hollywood star, punctuated with a huge bounce-back year in 2011 highlighted by the summer Blockbuster Fast Five that amassed record-setting figures at the box office and in piracy. 

With a Hall-of-Fame wrestling career behind him and a bright future in Hollywood ahead, nobody had less to prove in sports entertainment than the Rock. 

So, it was more than a pleasant Valentine's Day surprise on Monday Night RAW when the WWE kicked off its WrestleMania hype with the memorable return of the People's Champion. 

The Rock wasted little time directing his attention at the WWE's biggest and most polarizing star in John Cena, cutting down the former 12-time WWE Champion with biting acerbity while putting on display his signature timing and delivery as if he had never left. 

The most memorable insult of the entertaining 15-minute promo came when the Rock compared Cena's multitude of colored t-shirts to Fruity Pebbles, giving the Ce-Haters a whole new arsenal of ammunition to express their disapproval of the WWE's poster boy, as if they needed it. 

The Rock was slated to become the special guest host of WrerstleMania XXVII, and despite mixed reactions for his involvement in the pay-per-view, Rocky's return would go on to do big business for the WWE. WrestleMania XXVII saw a significant increase in buys from the previous year, becoming the first WrestleMania in three years to amass one million buyrates. 

The big news surrounding the Rock's return didn't end at WrestleMania, as the following night, the Rock would accept a challenge from John Cena for a match at WrestleMania XXVIII. 

The Rock recently teamed with John Cena for a tune-up match of sorts at Survivor Series at Madison Square Garden against the Miz and R-Truth. The Rock looked to be in tip top form, not showing a hint of ring rust despite being away from in-ring competition for over seven years. 

With a Cena-Rock showdown in Miami sure to do record-setting numbers come WrestleMania XXVIII, not all were jumping for joy for the Rock's comeback. 

Randy Orton and CM Punk have been vocal detractors of the Rock behind the scenes, using the Rock's now infamous quote of "never leaving the WWE again" against him. 

Many may have a legitimate gripe against the Rock, as this crop of WWE Superstars and Divas will have worked themselves to the core for an entire year, yet will have no chance of main eventing WrestleMania in favor of the Rock, who makes only part-time appearances with the WWE. 

One point that cannot be argued is the significant impact in which the Rock headlining a WrestleMania will have on WWE's business, as the company has become its own worst enemy in its continual struggles to promote new stars.

With the Rock's return being one of the bigger stories of 2011, it is highly likely that a return match in will be a story in and of itself come 2012. 

Top Five of 2011

5. Matt Hardy's Career Descent

4. Rise of Ryder

3. CM Punk "Leaves" with the WWE Championship

2. The Rock Returns to the WWE

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