The Rock Invented the People’s Elbow to Make The Undertaker Laugh

Over the years, The Rock has been one of the most prominent superstar wrestlers in WWE history. Dwayne Johnson helped create and personify the “Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment,” who remains a fan favorite today.

A part of his image involved his finishing moves, including one called the “People’s Elbow.” This move epitomized the tremendous atmosphere and connection wrestling fans had toward him. With that, Triple H recently shared that he believes he knows why the Undertaker started using the People’s Elbow, which involved The Undertaker.

The Rock’s wrestling career before the People’s Elbow

When The Rock first arrived at the WWE, his character was in honor of his father, Rocky Johnson, under the name Rocky Maivia.

It was a combination between his father’s first name and his mother’s last name that he held for the first couple of years of his career. That saw him transition to “The Rock” persona that saw him become a brash and confident character that often referred to himself in the third person.

The Rock began his rise to the top as one of the most beloved wrestlers in the business, which his first finishing move was the Running Shoulder Breaker as it was a move that a history of breaking shoulders of opponents. He had become a main attraction in the business despite being a heel as his phrases “If ya smell what the Rock is Cookin!” and “Know your role and shut your mouth!” became mainstays in the business.

At the time of his ascension to the top, it also saw him embrace the use of a new finishing move.

The Rock created the People’s Elbow to humor The Undertaker

The Rock’s transition to one of the WWE’s faces also saw him adopt a new finisher dubbed “The People’s Elbow.”

Although he stated a few years ago, Triple H recently rehashed the story during an interview with TMZ Sports, voicing that The Rock may have introduced the move during a six-man tag match in an attempt to make The Undertaker break character.

“I believe the first The Rock did the first People’s Elbow was in a match where were trying to make Taker crack. It absolutely [started as a joke], but everybody went with it. We would do whatever you could do silly spots or using the claw to just try to make him laugh and whatever it took to try and get to him.”

It was well-known that the Undertaker never broke character. He was quite stern in staying within that persona while he was in the ring or during a show. He was so in tune with the character that even Booker T couldn’t get him to do the spinaroonie after Raw went off-air one night.

It shouldn’t be surprising that The Rock went to that extent to get The Undertaker to laugh. It wound up creating a career-changing move.

The People’s Elbow is part of The Rock’s legacy

Regardless of how the move started, The People’s Elbow is a part of the persona that The Rock created.

It is not viewed as a devastating move, but he created a significant amount of buzz and excitement each time. As soon he kicked his opponent’s shoulder on the ground, followed by him throwing one of his elbow pads into the crowd, the energy level in the arena went to the next level.

There will never be another move like it. The Rock has made it into one of the most iconic finishes in WWE history.