Dave Meltzer has provided an update on speculation surrounding Dwayne “The Rock” potentially being revealed as Randy Orton’s mystery caller, reporting in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that while Johnson would be the biggest possible addition for a SmackDown that is behind on ticket sales, those within the company have denied the name to him.
The mystery caller storyline has been building since the March 16 episode of Raw, with Orton shown speaking on the phone with an unidentified individual whom he credits with reminding him that he is a killer again following his brutal heel turn on Cody Rhodes. The caller’s identity is set to be revealed on tonight’s SmackDown. Meltzer outlined what he knows about the situation while acknowledging the layers of secrecy involved in such a reveal.
“Orton has a mentor who has been teased for weeks and was to be announced on the 4/3 SmackDown show,” Meltzer wrote. “As noted, while Dwayne Johnson fits the bill and would be the biggest addition for a show that is behind on ticket sales, those in the company have denied the name to us.
If it was Johnson, it’s likely to be kept a secret from everyone but Nick Khan, Paul Levesque, and maybe Rhodes and Orton. But my impression is they have a name that at least those in the inner circle are aware of. They could still be working them, but they are not of that impression.”
WWE itself acknowledged The Rock as a candidate in a WWE.com article published after Orton’s first phone call, with writer Mark Kaboly noting that Johnson fits the description of someone from another wrestling royal family who had a significant role in Cody Rhodes’ last two WrestleMania appearances.
“The Final Boss had a main role in John Cena’s bad guy turn last year,” Kaboly wrote. “Could he be involved in turning another well-loved legend? It makes complete sense and maybe the most sense of all.”
The Rock and Orton have limited shared history on WWE television, but both are third-generation superstars with deep connections to Rhodes. Johnson played a role in the build to WrestleMania 41, where he convinced John Cena to turn heel after Rhodes rejected Rock’s offer to be his champion. Once Elimination Chamber was over, The Rock dipped out and disappeared from WWE TV.
