WWE Survivor Series 2011: 11 Reasons They're Bringing Back the Rock

In just 10 days, The Rock returns to the ring for a tag team match at Survivor Series. The People's Champ tags with John Cena, his opponent at WrestleMania, to take on Awesome Truth, composed of The Miz and R-Truth. The Rock is familiar with both The Miz and John Cena, so this isn't too random of a match. Months of speculation as to what The Rock's match at the event would be was answered with this tag team match being suggested.

Many fans have been questioning the decision of The Rock wrestling at Survivor Series. Why bother having a big draw like The Rock wrestle prior to the big payoff of WrestleMania against Cena? Doesn't this spoil how special April 1, 2012 will be for The Rock?

WWE's central thoughts aren't about WrestleMania, as even the company can notice that the fast build toward the big event in Miami begins with Survivor Series. Here are 11 reasons why The Rock will be brought back 19 weeks earlier than thought.

The 25th Survivor Series

This is the silver anniversary of the Survivor Series, the second-longest running pay-per-view in WWE behind WrestleMania. Multiple stars have been built at this event and countless important moments have happened at Survivor Series.

One of the "big four" events for WWE, the 25th edition of the event needed to be big. That's why it was brought to Madison Square Garden and why big names, including The Rock, have been talked about being on the card.

Prepping Rocky in the Ring

The Rock has been filming a G.I. Joe movie. While that has kept him in peak condition in recent months, The Rock is not in a position to be ready for his WrestleMania match if it was tomorrow.

This Survivor Series match gives him some time to get some ring rust off while he gets back into the groove of being a superstar once again.

Rock Comes Full Circle

This is a homecoming for The Rock.

It was 15 years ago, back at 1996's Survivor Series, that The Rock debuted in WWE. As Rocky Maivia, The Rock was involved in a traditional Survivor Series match, being the sole survivor in the match. Maivia used the great showing at Madison Square Garden to become a rising star.

Maivia would win the Intercontinental Championship three months later. It has been one of the prime examples of how to make a star in one night at a big venue on a big stage.

Getting Awesome Truth Over

Sure, we know about The Miz and R-Truth. Both have had WWE Championship matches and headlined pay-per-views in 2011. Both have fought close to John Cena and both share a fondness of complaining about conspiracies. They both don't like the attention that The Rock is getting, so they are good foes for The Rock to face in his return match. However, this tag team isn't taken too seriously by some fans. They look more like an alliance than anything else. Combined entrance themes doesn't make you a tag team.

The main goal of this match is to get Awesome Truth over as a working team.

Cena and The Rock are set with their plans for WreslteMania, but these two are not. The Miz was in the main event a year ago, while R-Truth is in the best position for his character in the past few months. This match can be vital to the next few months and what position they have in WWE's plans going forward. Failure in this match could be a disaster for Awesome Truth.

Yet Another MSG Moment

There have been so many moments to happen at Madison Square Garden. In fact, a wrestling fan can expect greatness to happen any time an event takes place at The World's Most Famous Arena. Even house shows there are epic.

Need another big MSG moment? Bring in The Rock, who has had multiple moments in this place. He debuted here, as stated before. He won the 2000 Royal Rumble in MSG. His last match was also in MSG, when he teamed with Mick Foley to take on Evolution at WrestleMania XX.

The Media Exposure

Survivor Series can pretty much sell itself, but The Rock returning gives a notable name and face to be able to do the rounds with the media to promote an event.

John Cena may make it throughout ESPN and The Miz can go on G4, but only The Rock can go on The Tonight Show and The Today Show if necessary. His star power is bigger than anyone on the current roster and he has access to appear in places that nobody else can go.

Selling WWE '12

Did you forget that The Rock is a playable character if you pre-own WWE '12, which comes out two days after Survivor Series and sponsors the event?

WWE is re-branding their video game series, which initially began with the Smackdown! series. The Rock defined that series and appeared throughout the second series, the Smackdown vs. RAW series. Now that WWE '12 starts a new series, you knew The Rock was bound to turn up somewhere.

Another Chapter in the Cena/Rock Story

Let's not kid ourselves for a minute. Most signs can point to a Cena/Rock victory at Survivor Series. It almost doesn't make sense not to. The only way that it would make sense for Awesome Truth to win is if something occurred, which likely will happen regardless.

One of these two men will turn on the other. They aren't exactly friends and neither works too well with others. Smart money is put on one of these two walking out or even attacking the other. You could even see someone walk out and leave their partner to rot in the ring and lose the match on purpose. WWE has given us odder things to see...

Satisfying Team Bring It

The millions and millions of Rock's fans are getting tired of seeing John Cena and only hearing from The Rock. If they want The Rock to be taken seriously at WrestleMania, he needs to appear soon.

Next Monday's three-hour RAW satisfies that. It would also help to see the shape The Rock is in and sell WrestleMania accordingly. That's what Survivor Series is for with regard to The Rock's fanbase.

Grounding

John Cena can defeat Awesome Truth alone and can dispose of them with Zack Ryder as his partner. So why exactly does The Rock need to be with Cena at Survivor Series?

Something bad is going to happen to Cena, as he will lose his stereotypical superpowers and resort back to nearly a human being. "Super Cena" is catching a lot of heat lately and having The Rock means that Cena can be more realistic.

Pay-Per-View Buy Rates

It's all about money. Duh.

Buy rates for events aren't exactly impressive. WWE lost money in certain aspects that are disappointing to the wide variety of things that the company is involved in.

The main thing the company is involved in: putting on pay-per-views.

The Rock will give a jolt to these buy rates and rake in some money with his name alone. The bigger the names and hype, the more promise there is for large buy rates to the event, meaning more dough for the company. It's all business, people.