He was given so much credit as a "sports entertainer" that Rock not being a good worker by proxy became the thing to say amongst the hardcore wrestling male demographic. If the WWF/E homegrown guy managed to become All Time level in one area, they have to detract from him in another. The reality is Rock worked smart and for all the criticism he got, I don't ever remember him having a dud on PPV once he got firmly established as a headlining main event draw in '98. There are so many people who are considered better "workers" that ended up having multiple high profile stinkers on PPV whereas with The Rock, when he was called upon, almost always delivered, "limited moveset" and all. I don't remember the arena ever being flat or recall any "boring" chants.
He was a great wrestler to me for the simple fact he understood the main goal of a scripted wrestling match -- especially on PPV -- was to first entertain and second to further or conclude a story. He could work with anyone. He had classics with HHH. He put over a novice Lesnar as a unstoppable force of nature better than anyone, past or present. He and Austin brawled for 70% of their matches and still had more fan engagement than better acclaimed workers did in theirs.
There were guys during his ascension and in his era that I would argue were objectively as good or better in the ring than he was like Eddie, Kurt, & HitGOAT. I think that goes without saying and if he was as great as they were, it wouldn't even be fair. Even so, he was a much better wrestler than given credit for at the time and I'd take him from '99 - '03 over a lot of talent guys consider supreme wrestlers today. Rock understood the art of fan engagement and story telling. That'll always go further with me than superkicks and Canadian destroyers that get a 2 count.
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