28 Days of 'Mania: Is It Hatred or Jealousy We Saw on the Rock's Face on Raw?

Disclaimer: This will be an ongoing series for the next 28 days leading up to the biggest event in sports entertainment, WrestleMania 28. The idea behind the piece is to build more momentum for the event and give you, the Bleacher Report fan, a chance to read, comment and weigh in with opinions about the WWE, the business and the event. It is my hope this becomes something positive and we all enjoy the ride for the next four weeks to Miami and the biggest event of the wrestling year. Enjoy.

I know I am going to upset people when I say this, but The Rock got bested again.

After what really was the best verbal assault between the two wrestlers (it had to be) right before WrestleMania 28, The Rock showed more of what he was made of. He seemed more at ease and more comfortable. But in the end, John Cena brought it home again, and showed he is better at this “verbal battle.”

While WrestleMania 28 has always been about The Rock vs. John Cena in the main event, the road to the big match has not always been as big as the problems that seem to exist between the superstars outside the ring.

I will agree with fellow columnist Drake Oz and say The Rock “really” doesn’t like John Cena, and the look on his face last night proved it more and more and it looked like his head would explode or he would attack the calmer, more in-tune Cena in front of a mixed crowd last night.

There have been rumors about Cena and The Rock bringing real heat backstage and in the public eye, but it was more evident last night. Maybe it is the culmination of everything coming together and the need to get this damn match over with. Maybe it was even more than that.

I think I can shed some light on it.

The Rock has been away from the spotlight in the WWE for seven years. He has grown into this iconic movie star (most of his movies have been awful) and his fame is much greater. And while the WWE is a cult following in itself, there are reasons I can think of that would make fans tune “Dwayne Johnson” out.

He is not as sharp as Cena on the mic and seems to have lost a step or two in his delivery.

Also, the fans that loved him almost a decade ago may not follow him anymore. John Cena, of the “Tim Tebow” kind of celebrity, has passed him.

Remember: “Let’s Go Cena, Cena Sucks” goes a long way toward ratings.

When you look at the way Cena carries himself in the ring and Rock fights to regain that image, it could be jealousy that fuels The Rock’s animosity toward Cena. He is larger-than-life, loves the fans, does well in charity events and is the face of the WWE.

And it isn’t even close.

The Rock was part of the “Attitude Era” where he competed with Steve Austin, HHH, Shawn Michaels and the Undertaker for supremacy.

Cena stands out by himself. The Rock may have been his own show on SmackDown, but he needed those competitors.

And while Cena needs CM Punk, The Miz and Dolph Ziggler, they are not the quality of the past wrestlers in the WWE, so Cena stands taller.

It’s not that Cena doesn’t deserve the accolades, but his “vanilla” exterior and his will is “weak” in “Dwayne’s” eyes and he still gets as much attention as any wrestler ever.

And here is the difference, which “Dwayne” knows: Dwayne does not have to win, just sell himself in a “Rock” loss to the reigning king of the WWE.

For Cena, this is everything because after the show, Dwayne sees family and friends and goes back to Hollywood. Cena goes back to his playground to earn more money for he company.

It is sad to look at it that way, but it’s true.

Jealousy in this match will either take it to another level or it will sink it even further than it can go because the build-up will either hurt it or not allow the match to live up the hype.

We all loved last night because it was real. It was emotional. And for the first time, we really saw raw emotion.

It’s ok for “Dwayne” to dislike John Cena. It’s OK for “Dwayne” to feel something other than hate. But it is not okay for “The Rock” to come into the WWE, be a part-time wrestler and expect to get the same reaction from the crowds. It just cannot work that way.