The Rock Returns to WWE… Will It Lead to Main Event at WrestleMania?
If The Rock ever wants to headline another WrestleMania, the time to do so is now.
Due to the ongoing Writers Guild strike, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is currently not working on any movie projects. There are no films to promote, appearances to make, or new roles to start. This set of circumstances caused an extremely rare opening in Johnson’s schedule, leading to a thrilling return on SmackDown this past Friday.
Seeing The Rock appear on SmackDown was a genuine surprise for the live crowd in Denver and viewers at home. The segment was extremely well done, with Rock backing up his friend Pat McAfee against his former WrestleMania opponent Austin Theory. We were treated to all the greatest hits, including, of course, The People’s Elbow.
Earlier on Friday, Johnson made an appearance on McAfee’s new ESPN show, where he discussed the possibility of returning at this past year’s WrestleMania in a match against Roman Reigns. Multiple sources have confirmed with Sports Illustrated that those discussions never advanced beyond the preliminary stages, but the fact that it was discussed on The Pat McAfee Show is significant. McAfee asked questions that Johnson was anticipating, meaning that he knew exactly what was coming–so it was telling that he also hinted at a return for WrestleMania 40.
If the grandeur of WrestleMania 30 serves as any indication, the upcoming WrestleMania in Philadelphia is bound to be special. Not only will it be a major moment with the event hitting the four-decade mark, but Johnson also had his first WrestleMania main event in Philly (to be fair, it is also where Johnson was booed during the 2015 Royal Rumble after Roman Reigns won). That maiden WrestleMania main event was WrestleMania XV, which was headlined by The Rock against “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, and that moment celebrates its 25-year anniversary next spring.
Clearly, WrestleMania 40 would be an ideal time for Johnson to return to the ring. Perhaps only his physical capabilities present an obstacle at this point. He suffered a full abdomen tear a decade ago when he headlined WrestleMania 29 against John Cena, as well as a tear of the top of his quad and abductor muscle from his pelvis, which he told McAfee necessitated three hernia surgeries. At 51 years old, and having been away from the craft for so long, the risk of injury remains high. But the current situation in Hollywood opens an unforeseen avenue–even if Johnson does require time off to recover, it is unlikely he will be rushing off to a movie set because of the strike.
There are so many elements at play with a potential return from The Rock. But above all is the impact of the strike. Neither Vince McMahon nor Paul “Triple H” Levesque has made a real attempt to bring The Rock back to the wrestling ring since that Cena match because his schedule was simply too demanding. But this is a unique spot. Look at this past week’s SmackDown–it included both The Rock and Cena, even including a backstage segment between the two Hollywood stars. This was not a long-standing plan. The current strike allowed it, and it is effectively changing plans for WrestleMania 40, allowing a window for a Rock return.
No match in wrestling would be bigger than Reigns against The Rock. A rematch for Reigns against Cena or Brock Lesnar–or even a match with CM Punk–would not compare. It belongs in a WrestleMania main event, and the fortieth anniversary of the industry’s signature show would make a perfect setting.
That dream match would throw a complicating factor in Cody Rhodes’ plans to win the title at WrestleMania. For those who have not been watching since WrestleMania 39, Rhodes has been outright masterful. His series of matches with Lesnar, especially the trilogy conclusion at SummerSlam, were exceptional. Rhodes is adding excitement to Raw with every appearance, and he will not be hurt whatsoever by a return from The Rock. If he handles it correctly, which he likely will, Rhodes’ journey to the WWE championship will be even more compelling because of it–and could perhaps build to next year’s SummerSlam.
The Rock’s return is a political quagmire. Not everyone backstage will appreciate the fact that Johnson is taking a prime spot on the card, but he will also bring the type of attention to the product that no one else on the roster can (in only 24 hours, The Rock’s return on WWE’s YouTube page generated over three million views). On a more personal level, Johnson would also have the chance to work more closely with his daughter Simone, who is currently part of the NXT roster as Ava Raine.
Courtesy WWE
Although The Rock defeated Erick Rowan in six seconds at WrestleMania 32, that was more spectacle than substance. There was more action in his encounter this past Friday with Theory than he had in that showing against Rowan. A match at WrestleMania 40 would mark his first since 2013, which is an extremely tall task now that he is on the other side of 50. But he would wrestle Reigns, who is one of the best in the world. The circumstances were different, but Reigns led Logan Paul–a tremendous athlete and athletic specimen–to an outstanding bout in what was only the second singles match of his career. Reigns will have no issues bringing the best out of The Rock, particularly considering the crowd in Philly will be extremely invested in every single moment of what they do.
During his appearance on McAfee’s show, Johnson stressed that he would only return if it can create an unprecedented shift in the wrestling industry. That is precisely what would happen if he wrestles Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40.
