Fact check: Did Rikishi really do it for the Rock?

1. Summary of the results

1. Summary of the results:

While Rikishi did publicly claim he ran over Stone Cold Steve Austin "for The Rock" on October 9th, 2000, this was a scripted wrestling storyline rather than a genuine motivation. The storyline served as a pivotal moment in Rikishi's career, elevating him from a mid-card performer to main event status.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints:

• According to WWE executive Bruce Prichard, the storyline was hastily constructed and "made no sense" narratively
• The revelation was primarily designed to create a career opportunity for Rikishi rather than serve a logical story progression
• The "for The Rock" motivation was a creative device to connect Rikishi's actions to a major star, leveraging their real-life Samoan family connection
• The storyline was part of WWE's larger narrative strategy of using family ties to create compelling wrestling storylines

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement:

The question "Did Rikishi really do it for The Rock?" implies this was a genuine motivation rather than acknowledging professional wrestling's scripted nature. This creates potential confusion between kayfabe (wrestling's fictional storylines) and reality. The statement benefits WWE's business model, which historically has tried to maintain the illusion of wrestling events being genuine athletic competition rather than entertainment. Wrestling promoters like Vince McMahon have long benefited financially from audiences believing storylines are real, though this practice has diminished in modern times.