In a recent turn of events at the WrestleMania XL Kickoff, WWE superstar The Rock slapped Cody Rhodes during an on-stage segment, sparking speculation that he may have transitioned into a villainous role. However, former on-screen General Manager Eric Bischoff believes that this may only be the beginning of The Rock's story in WWE.

During the chaotic segment in Las Vegas, Rhodes chose Roman Reigns as his opponent for WrestleMania XL and went on to criticize both Reigns and The Rock. The Rock reacted by delivering a resounding slap to Rhodes, seemingly aligning himself with Reigns. Many fans immediately began wondering if this signaled a heel turn for The Great One.

Addressing the speculation on his 83 Weeks YouTube channel, Bischoff dismissed the notion that The Rock has officially turned heel. He believes that this incident is merely the opening chapter of The Rock's ongoing story in WWE.

"Nope. I think this is a step. This is one page of the first chapter in Rock's story in WWE. It's act one. It's the beginning. It's the opening chapter. It's the first chapter," Bischoff commented.

Before the Las Vegas event, The Rock confirmed during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show that he would be returning to the ring at WrestleMania XL. Although the widely anticipated matchup between The Rock and Reigns may not happen in the near future, fans can expect to see more on-screen appearances from The Brahma Bull leading up to the event.

Despite being a Hollywood star and recently becoming a board member of WWE's parent company TKO, it is expected that The Rock will continue to appear on WWE programming as a part-time character. His last portrayal as a "bad guy" occurred in 2003 when he adopted the moniker of Hollywood Rock and boasted about his movie success, showcasing his arrogance towards other wrestlers.

As WrestleMania XL approaches, anticipation is building for what The Rock has in store for fans. The event is set to take place at Lincoln Financial Field on April 6-7 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

While fans eagerly await The Rock's future storylines in WWE, it is uncertain if he will fully embrace the role of a villain. This development adds an intriguing layer to the already high stakes and excitement surrounding WrestleMania XL.

What unfolds next for The Rock and his involvement in WWE remains to be seen, and fans are encouraged to share their expectations and predictions for WrestleMania XL in the comments section below.

Please credit 83 Weeks and give a H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription if you use quotes from this article.