Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson Returns to WWE's 'SmackDown': 'There's No Place Like Home'

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnsonis returning to the ring!

The People’s Champion wrestler-turned-actor announced Monday that he will be heading “back home” to the “WWE universe” for the relaunch and 20th anniversary ofSmackDown Live, premiering Friday.

“Superstar” Johnson, 47, left the sport in 2004 after winning eightWWE Championships, according to the franchise, with the exception of a few returns such as his 2013 Wrestlemania fight withJohn Cena.

“FINALLY…”wrotetheBallersstar, announcing the news on Twitter.

But, the Rock isn’t the only WWE Hall of Famer joiningSmackDown‘s premiere.

ChampionsKurt Angle,Lita,Mick Foley,Booker T,Hulk Hogan,Trish Stratus,Goldberg,Jerry “The King” Lawler,Mark Henry,Ric FlairandStingwill all make appearances in the ring for Friday’s anniversary show, according to aWWE press release.

“Since we announced our five-year agreement last June, we have been eagerly counting down the days to the launch of SmackDown LIVE on FOX Sports,” said Eric Shanks, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Producer of FOX Sports. “We couldn’t be more excited and are pulling out all of the stops to commemorate SmackDown’s 20th anniversary celebration.”

The cable show — which has been on the air since 1999 — also helped jumpstart the wrestling careers of Cena, Triple H, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin andTotal Diva‘s Bella Twins, Brie and Nikki.

WWE’sSmackDown Livewill premiere from the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles on Friday at 8 p.m. ET on Fox.

source: people.com