Watch: The Rock returns to SmackDown, drops the People’s Elbow on Austin Theory

The Rock also bumped into John Cena backstage at SmackDown.

The rumors turned out to be true. Finally, The Rock did come back to SmackDown.

After appearing on “The Pat McAfee Show” earlier in the day in Boulder, a report circulated from Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp that a staffer had stated that McAfee and The Rock would appear on SmackDown in Denver. Sapp noted he couldn’t confirm that appearance, but as it turns out, the staffer was telling the truth.

When McAfee came to the ring to start the show, he was soon joined by Austin Theory. As antagonistic as always, Theory bragged it was his show, but McAfee begged to differ, saying it was “the people’s show.”

And that means …

The crowd at Ball Arena exploded as soon as The Rock’s music hit, bringing him to the ring to join McAfee and Theory. A lengthy exchange of pleasantries included Theory hijacking some of The Rock’s catchphrases and then hearing The Rock and McAfee leading a chant that had to be bleeped out numerous times.

In the end, Theory tried to attack the People’s Champ, which turned out to be a tactical error. Both The Rock and McAfee hit him with their own versions of the People’s Elbow, which turned out to be very popular.

Later, The Rock ran into John Cena backstage, and the longtime rivals turned friends shared a smile and a hug.

Considering that The Rock spent some of his time on McAfee’s show talking up the possibility of having a match with Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40, expect that the speculation will only intensify. But even if he was only back for one night, what a night it was.