The Rock Tops WWE's Most-Viewed Video of 2023

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In a year filled with dramatic highlights, including Sami Zayn's bold chair assault on Roman Reigns, the spectacular match between Rhea Ripley and Charlotte Flair, and even the unexpected sight of Snoop Dogg executing the People's Elbow on The Miz, the WWE universe has had much to discuss.

Yet, amidst this sea of gripping spectacles, The Rock's recent appearance on "WWE SmackDown" stood out as the most defining moment.

Rock's Record-Breaking Return

WWE's internal analytics reveal that the clip showcasing The Rock's electrifying return has amassed over 103 million views across platforms like YouTube and various social media channels, crowning it the "most socially viewed video of 2023." While the exact video it overtook in popularity remains unspecified by WWE, it's intriguing to note that Solo Sikoa's surprise assault on Jimmy Uso during a June episode of "WWE SmackDown" had captivated audiences, racking up over 40 million views.

This had been previously termed the "most socially watched SmackDown segment" of the year. The shift in viewership patterns is evident. A growing number of fans are gravitating towards YouTube and social media to satiate their wrestling cravings.

Tubular Labs' recent research offers insights into this phenomenon: in July, the 13 to 24 age demographic in the U.S. consumed WWE content on YouTube and Facebook for an impressive 147.1 million minutes. This staggering number eclipsed the viewership of all other sports teams and leagues for that month.

To put things in perspective, WWE's YouTube traction surpasses its closest sports competitor by a staggering 70%. While wrestling aficionados are abuzz with speculation, as of now, there's no clarity on whether The Rock is slated for more WWE appearances.

However, wrestling's "Brahma Bull" did drop hints about a potential face-off with Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. On "The Pat McAfee Show", he shared that this dream bout was initially planned for WrestleMania 39 but got shelved due to unforeseen circumstances.