The Rock will work WrestleMania 40, but the latest WWE update indicates he might miss a good chunk of 2024.
It took forever, and there was lots of doubt, yet The Rock is back in WWE. He was going to wrestle Roman Reigns, before the crowd flipped-out. Therefore, WWE changed their plans dramatically. The Rock turned heel and teams with Reigns against Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes on night one of WrestleMania 40. Yes, that match is huge and the outcome has implications for Rhodes and Reigns.
Read More: 10 Worst WrestleMania Matches, including Michael Cole vs Jerry Lawler
We will have to see what transpires in about three weeks. That tag match and presumably night two, will somehow involve The Rock. There was talk of him working the next Saudi Arabia show, but it seems unlikely. According to Dave Meltzer in The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, The Rock’s schedule looks full as he films “The Smashing Machine,” meaning he could return in late summer.
“Johnson starts filming The Smashing Machine on 5/1,” said Meltzer. “This rules him out of the May Saudi Arabia show and makes SummerSlam tough, depending on the schedule. It could mean the earliest he could do another match would be the second Saudi Arabia show. And, I could see him waiting for WrestleMania.”
WWE might still want The Rock vs Roman Reigns. It seems like both parties prefer the bout as well. Basically, the original match was tossed after fan backlash about how Cody was treated. We could see The Rock wrestle Rhodes or Reigns later in the year. Rollins could be added, but there are plenty of options.
If The Rock does wrestle from Saudi Arabia, it might not be his call on the opponent. It is possible the country decides who he wrestles and the outcome. This \ happens when you take blood money.
