ANAHEIM, Calif. – Dec. 8, 2003 – Although The Rock didn’t use these exact words, it seems like the more movies he makes, the more he realizes he can never completely leave WWE behind. There is simply no other platform in the world for a gifted entertainer like The Rock to get that live, passionate, adrenaline-inducing response like he gets at WWE events.

When he appeared on the “Late Show with David Letterman” a few months ago to promote “The Rundown,” The Rock said he couldn’t envision a scenario in which he’d return to WWE. But then a few months passed. “And here I am,” The Rock said with a chuckle.

Currently traveling back and forth between his home in Florida and Los Angeles, where he’s doing preproduction work on “Be Cool,” the sequel to “Get Shorty,” The Rock just happened to be in the area tonight, and he agreed to make a surprise appearance on RAW.

“Be Cool” will be the most star-studded film in which The Rock has appeared. According to the “Great One,” the movie will feature John Travolta, James Gandolfini and Danny DeVito, who were in the original, as well as Uma Thurman and Cedric the Entertainer.

The Rock looked as fit as ever tonight, and the tattoo on his left shoulder has expanded. Recently the People’s Champion returned to Hawaii to add a few new details to his life-story tattoo (which was discussed in detail in the pages of GQ). Near his collarbone, he has a Samoan coconut leaf braid – when braided together, coconut leafs are unbreakable – which represents the bond of his family. Just under that is a Tiki face, which exemplifies fighting spirit. And on the back of his neck, just above the sun is a female spirit, which represents his daughter “and women in general because all the women over me stand strong.”

The Rock said there is still a bit more work to be done on the tattoo. But before he could return to the islands, he sat with WWE.com to discuss his schedule in early 2004, and much more.

WWE.com: How’d you end up here today?

The Rock: Just looking at my calendar, I knew that I had this week open. I was out here anyway, doing preproduction stuff for “Be Cool,” which is my next movie. I knew that I was coming back sometime in January, and I just wanted to get the ball rolling now and have fun.

WWE.com: So your schedule at the moment is …

The Rock: To come back in January. I’m going to be off in the month of February. They restructured the shooting schedule for me so I can shoot everything I need to shoot all the way through February. Then come back (to WWE) again, and build up for WrestleMania. After WrestleMania, I go into full-fledged press for “Walking Tall” (which will be released in April). After “Walking Tall,” I’ll go into full-fledged preproduction for “Spy Hunter.” WWE.com: So you’re confirming that you will be at WrestleMania.

The Rock: Absolutely. I just look forward to coming back and helping out where I can, and having fun in the process. Selfishly speaking, between the energy and the electricity – no pun intended – that I love giving and I love getting from crowds when they’re hot, I can’t get that anywhere else. That’s why I love coming back. Plus, I love the business.

WWE.com: What can fans expect from “Walking Tall”?

The Rock: It’s a movie inspired by a true story and actual events that took place in Buford Pusser’s life. We changed the name – instead of Buford Pusser, Chris Vaughn. It’s a dramatic movie with real action. What I mean by that is, there are no high-tech explosions or anything like that. It’s reality based – the story, as well as the characters. The action is real action. When it’s time to whoop ass, Chris Vaughn is whoopin’ ass. It’s that old-school violent action that’s missing. Plus, again, because it’s a true story, there’s not a lot of latitude that we took, and frankly, we didn’t want to take it because it’s an amazing story about a human being who decided to take justice outside the law. The whole Pusser family had come up to Vancouver. They helped a ton with all of our research. His daughter -- who played an integral part in his life and was the one who pulled him from his Corvette when he died -- she was there, and she was blown away.

WWE.com: Getting in the ring tonight with Mick Foley has got to bring back fond memories for you.

Rock: I love Mick, and I love working with Mick. Tonight is reminiscent of all the great stuff we used to do. Like Mick, it’s nice to give back to the business. It’s been really, really good to me, and him too.

WWE.com: What’s it like knowing that you’re going to walk through the curtain and the people are going to go absolutely crazy?

Rock: I’ve been geeked for days now just thinking about it. It’s a privilege. Again, regardless of whatever I do, film-wise, whatever I do, I will always need this.

Not only because it’s in my blood, but as an entertainer and as a performer, the opportunity to go out there and get a live reaction and a response, and generate that type of energy, I can’t do that anywhere else. And the character that I’m able to play in The Rock is so broad that I’m able to do and say anything. It’s not like Beck from “The Rundown” or Chris Vaughn is about to say, “How’s your lips? I’m gonna slap ‘em right off your face!”