FINALLY, The Rock has come back … to WWE! After a lengthy absence from the company where he made his name, the iconic Hollywood star made his triumphant return on “WWE SmackDown” to assist Pat McAfee and confront former United States Champion Austin Theory while receiving a raucous ovation in Denver, Colorado.

McAfee would make his own comeback to WWE to kickoff the program and welcome the crowd to “SmackDown,” earning his own massive pop in the process, before being interrupted by Theory, who cut one of the better promos of his career opposite the former NFL punter. The pair had history from an impromptu match earlier this year at WrestleMania 39, and their interaction showed plenty of promise for a second official encounter (while also tying up a loose-end). However, the segment truly picked up when McAfee began to mention “the people,” leading to a jaw-dropping entrance from The Rock. After some cute back-and-forth and the returning hero getting in his trademark verbal jabs and cheap pops, Theory would cop a Rock-induced chant of “you are an a**hole'”from the amped-up Denver crowd, before things got physical and the up-and-comer found himself looking up at the lights.

This was a magical moment for the fans in attendance, and it also gave Theory yet another spotlight against two genuine mainstream personalities — he looked more than capable across from them on the mic, even if he got laid out to end the segment with a couple of People’s Elbows. The return of The Rock will undoubtedly lead to plenty of speculation about his in-ring future in WWE, but even if he was only back for one night, it was awesome.