Tag: Dwayne Johnson

The Rock Is In Talks With WWE For A Match At WrestleMania 43 – Final Match Of Career?

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson may be sitting out WrestleMania 42, but that doesn’t mean WWE is done trying to get him back between the ropes. In fact, a new report suggests the company already has its sights set on a much bigger stage for The Rock’s potential return — and it could come a year later in Saudi Arabia.

According to Andrew Baydala, WWE has reopened discussions with Johnson, though not for this year’s WrestleMania. Instead, the offer on the table is for WrestleMania 43, which is currently planned to take place in Riyadh in 2027. While nothing has been finalized, the belief is that WWE sees this event as a possible capstone to The Rock’s in-ring career. At this point, Johnson is said to be weighing his options and has not committed either way.

The report comes after The Rock’s high-profile return to WWE television earlier in 2025. During that run, he was heavily involved in the angle that led to John Cena’s stunning heel turn at Elimination Chamber in Toronto. That storyline fueled speculation that The Rock would wrestle at WrestleMania, but those plans never materialized, with Johnson stepping away due to a mix of personal priorities and creative considerations.

If an agreement is reached for WrestleMania 43, the Riyadh show could be positioned as a historic moment — potentially the final match of one of the most influential figures the industry has ever seen. For now, WWE appears content to play the long game, hoping the right setting and timing will convince The Rock to lace up his boots one last time on the biggest stage possible.

The Rock’s Next Potential WWE Appearance Revealed

The WWE Universe was stunned at WWE Bad Blood 2024 when Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson made a surprise return during the main event. Jimmy Uso had just assisted Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns in defeating Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu, and in a moment that sent the crowd into a frenzy, The Rock emerged to count the decisive 1-2-3.

But it didn’t end there. After the match, The Rock shared an intense staredown with Cody, Roman, and Jimmy Uso, leaving fans with more questions than answers. The tension teased the possibility of something bigger on the horizon—and the speculation hasn’t stopped since.

WrestleMania 41: The Rock Addresses the Rumors

For months, the wrestling world has been buzzing about a potential showdown between The Rock and Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41. With The Rock’s involvement at Bad Blood, those rumors have only gained momentum.

However, The Rock himself recently attempted to cool the fire. When addressing WrestleMania chatter, he candidly dismissed the growing buzz, saying, “Don’t believe any of that bull***.”* Of course, wrestling fans know better than to take such comments at face value—especially with WWE’s knack for long-term storytelling.

The Rock Teased for WWE RAW’s Netflix Debut

Adding fuel to the speculation, WWE seems to be dropping subtle hints about The Rock’s next appearance. On this week’s episode of Monday Night RAW, General Manager Adam Pearce hyped the highly anticipated Netflix debut of RAW on January 6, 2025, at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.

But eagle-eyed fans noticed something curious during the segment. Behind Pearce, a WWE production truck prominently displayed an image of The Rock—something that certainly didn’t seem accidental.

WrestleVotes, a reliable source for WWE backstage news, reported that these kinds of “easter eggs” are WWE’s way of subtly teasing future storylines or major returns. According to the report:

“If you watched RAW last night… Right over [Pearce’s] shoulder is a semi-truck with a big picture of The Rock. They don’t do that type of thing by accident… There’s a purpose for that. As far as I know, he’s expected to be there [on January 6].”

While WrestleVotes clarified that The Rock’s January 6 appearance doesn’t guarantee he’ll wrestle at WrestleMania 41, it’s clear WWE is keeping him in the mix for its major storylines.

What’s Next for The Final Boss?

The Rock’s connection to WWE remains strong, and it’s clear that his sporadic appearances will continue to be major events. With RAW set to make history as it moves to Netflix, having a Hollywood megastar like The Rock at the inaugural show makes perfect sense.

Whether this all leads to a massive WrestleMania 41 main event involving Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, or even Jimmy Uso remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: The Great One is back, and the road to WrestleMania just got a lot more electrifying.

Fans will want to keep an eye on RAW’s Netflix premiere on January 6 to see what WWE and The Rock have in store. If history has taught us anything, WWE never teases without a payoff.

Stay tuned to WrestlingNewsBlog.com for all the latest updates on The Rock, WWE’s move to Netflix, and the road to WrestleMania 41!

Janel Grant Spokesperson Buries Two High Profile WWE Names For Vince McMahon Association

After he resigned from WWE this January, very little regarding the happenings of former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon had emerged. That changed Wednesday, when an NBC news story gave a glimpse at McMahon’s life since his resignation, particularly in how he’s handling Janel Grant’s lawsuit against him, a lawsuit that accused McMahon of sex trafficking and abuse. The story also shined a light into McMahon’s private life, including the revelation that McMahon has remained in contact with two key WWE figures in the form of John Cena and TKO board of directors member Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

Shortly after the story on McMahon emerged, a spokesperson for Grant reached out to Wrestlenomics’ Brandon Thurston with a statement regarding Johnson and Cena maintaining a relationship with McMahon. Posted on X, the statement called Johnson and Cena “shameful” for maintaining a relationship with McMahon despite the allegations against him, and that “behind-the-scenes support is louder than any public statement could ever be.”

https://twitter.com/BrandonThurston/status/1780697405152719142

The statement, as well as the revelation of Cena and Johnson’s continued association with McMahon, comes shortly after both wrestlers played integral parts in WrestleMania 40, an event seen by many as an attempt by WWE to distance itself from McMahon. Appearing as a regular through WrestleMania season, Johnson competed at Night One of WrestleMania 40, teaming with Roman Reigns to defeat Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins, before interfering during Rhodes and Reigns’ match on Night Two. Cena also interfered during the match and even briefly confronted Johnson moments before Rhodes emerged as the victor.

While Johnson hasn’t publicly acknowledged McMahon since the latter’s resignation, Cena has spoken about McMahon’s ongoing situation in both 2023 and 2024, receiving criticism both times for showing McMahon support. Neither Johnson nor Cena have responded to the statement from Grant’s spokesperson at this time.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

The Rock Is Giving One Fan An All-Expenses Paid Trip To WWE WrestleMania 40

Despite playing a convincing villain on WWE TV in recent months, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is still as charitable as ever. Responding to a picture of a fan’s tattoo on social media platform X, Johnson invited the man and his daughter to this weekend’s WWE WrestleMania 40.

After seeing The Rock live last month, the fan had Johnson sign his arm. Before the marker washed away, the fan had the signature made permanent, with Johnson now rewarding his dedication. In addition to covering tickets to the show, transportation, and a hotel, Johnson even offered to cover the cost of food for the pair during their trip.

WrestleMania 40 will be a two-night affair once again, and the lineup for both shows has been announced. The Rock will team with his cousin, Roman Reigns, against Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins on night one. Should Johnson and Reigns win, Sunday’s main event between Reigns and Rhodes will have the Bloodline Rules stipulation. If Rhodes and Rollins win, then The Bloodline will be banned from ringside.

Including the drama involving The Bloodline, WrestleMania 40 is set to feature 13 matches. Rhea Ripley will defend the Women’s World Championship against Becky Lynch, a Six-Pack Ladder Match is scheduled with the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship on the line, and Logan Paul will attempt to hang onto the WWE United States Championship in a Triple Threat with Kevin Owens and Randy Orton. Brothers Jimmy and Jey Uso will face each other in singles action for the first time, and Sami Zayn will attempt to topple GUNTHER to capture the WWE Intercontinental Championship, along with several other matches.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Inducted Into Polynesian Football Hall Of Fame

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was inducted into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.

The Miami Hurricanes announced the news on Twitter, which The Rock retweeted.

The Great One wrote,

“Thank you Fam.

Life’s road is long, wild and unpredictable.

Core values & relentless work ethic principles I learned at @CanesFootball. Honored and grateful to be inducted in the @PolynesianFBHOF.”

The Rock was inducted alongside Domata Peko and Reno Mahe as the Class of 2024.

https://twitter.com/TheRock/status/1748812979909677249

Source: eWn

Video: WWE Alum Dwayne Johnson Surprises 21 Make-A-Wish Kids At Universal Studios

Pro wrestling and the Make-A-Wish Foundation have always been closely connected, with top stars like John Cena having granted over 650 wishes in 21 years. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has also been heavily involved with the organization, including donating over $100,000 to them just last year. Recently, he set out to top that by granting not one, but many wishes all in one day.

“The Today Show” posted on X a 4-minute video detailing Johnson’s meeting with 21 Make-A-Wish kids at Universal Studios Hollywood. Johnson would surprise all the kids, and their families, during the Universal Studios backlot tour, and proceeded to serve as the tour guide. All told Johnson would go well over the one hour he was supposed to spend with the kids and their families, ultimately spending 5 hours interacting with everyone. As Johnson explained to “Today’s” Jacob Soboroff, Make-A-Wish has always been something dear to him, ever since his father, WWE Hall of Famer Rocky Johnson, granted the first New Jersey Make-A-Wish in 1983.

“This little boy, Bobby, I’ll never forget it, his last wish was to meet my dad,” Johnson said. “It puts things into perspective for you right away.” When asked why Johnson had put so much energy into his involvement with Make-A-Wish, when he could realistically work with any charity in the world, an emotional Johnson pointed to how helpful and meaningful moments like this were to those going through something difficult. “These are kids,” Johnson said. “And the cards that they are dealt, they didn’t ask for it, but they’re playing these hands the best they can. These kids are so strong.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Merger between Dwayne Johnson’s XFL and USFL approved for March 2024 launch

A report from Sports Business Journal has indicated that federal regulators have approved the merger of the XFL and the USFL.

The combined league is now set for its debut on March 30, 2024 to play a combined season, with terms being finalized of the definitive agreement per a statement from both parties.

The USFL, owned by Fox Sports, re-launched in 2021, while the XFL was purchased by RedBird Capital Partners, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and Dany Garcia before playing a full season in 2022, following a shortened season in 2020.

Source: NBCSports via eWn

Dwayne The Rock Johnson’s Production Company Working On Docuseries About Fall Of WCW

In addition to his status as a major movie star, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has his own production company, known as Seven Bucks Productions. In addition to producing movies he stars in, Johnson has endeavored to finance other projects, such as the recent “Tales from the Territories,” the documentary “Stuntman,” and the film “Fighting With My Family.” A new report from Deadline indicates that another wrestling project is on the horizon for Johnson. This time, it’s a docu-series focused on the history of World Championship Wrestling, the once-dominant Turner promotion that folded in the early 2000s and was bought out by WWE. Deadline stated that Seven Bucks is partnering with Vice Media for the series, though it’s not known when it’s planned for release.

The report referred to the end of WCW as “mysterious,” hinting that the upcoming series will focus on the reasons behind the company’s downfall. WCW got its start in 1988 when Ted Turner purchased the assets of Jim Crockett Promotions, turning them into a new brand that would air on his TV networks. Though the company eventually rose to challenge and even briefly surpassed WWE, it wouldn’t last. The last real WCW match took place in March 2001, and the company was bought out several months later.

Appearing on the latest “Wrestling Observer Radio,” co-hosts Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez poked fun at the idea of labeling WCW’s downfall as “mysterious.” Additionally, the two men pointed out that Johnson was likely too busy at the time to be watching WCW’s programming, and if he had watched the company’s shows, the reasons behind WCW’s demise wouldn’t be a mystery. Meltzer also believes he has an idea of how the finished product will come across.

“I presume that they’ll have Bischoff all over it, and once you have Bischoff all over it, you’re just going to have the total ‘full of st’ story,” Meltzer said. “‘All those people [were] out to get us’ as opposed to — you know, you just f*ed up. You drove all your fanbase away. … I don’t want to say it’s just him, but he was part of that deal.”

Meltzer stated that the reasons behind the end of WCW were the falling ratings and loss of profits, making it relatively straightforward to determine why the company went out of business when it did.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

The Rock makes huge donation to SAG-AFTRA Foundation Relief Fund

The Rock has donated to help those currently striking in Hollywood.

According to report from Variety, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson contributed a “seven-figure donation” for the SAG-AFTRA Emergency Financial Assistance Program, which will go to help the actors that are currently on strike.

The SAG-AFTRA union has been on strike since July 13, after they joined the Writer’s Guild of America, which has been on strike since May 2.

The report also notes that SAG-AFTRA Foundation President Courtney B. Vance and the Foundations Executive Director Cyd Wilson drafted a letter to 2,700 of the union’s highest-earning actors, detailing the financial need for actors while they continue to strike.

According to Vance, shortly after the letter was sent, Johnson’s team reached out saying they wanted to help. Variety did not have any specifics on the total amount that Johnson actually donated.

Wilson told Variety – “It was a love fest. It’s like, ‘Man, you’re stepping up in a way that is allowing others to know the dire necessity of it,’” Vance told Variety. “This is him saying, ‘In such a time as this, I’m here and I’m not going anywhere, whatever you need me to do.’ And that sends a huge message to other folks to do the same thing.”

Wilson also stated that there are 160,000 SAG-AFTRA performers that are going to need help.” He further added that the donation is the kickstart needed in the first week of what he thinks will be a “long haul.”

It has been previously reported that Dwayne Johnson is set to make $50 million with his new Christmas movie “Red One” from Amazon Studios, which will release exclusively on Prime Video later this year.

Source: WrestleView

The Rock Responds To The XFL’s $60 Million Loss In The First Season

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is focusing on the long-term amid reports that the XFL lost $60 million in its first season.

The former WWE Champion purchased the league in 2020 from Vince McMahon’s Alpha Entertainment and hosted its first season from February to May this year.

It was reported by Forbes this month that the league lost $60 million in its first season which resulted in some layoffs being made.

Taking to Twitter, Johnson made it clear that he is optimistic about the league’s future.

https://twitter.com/TheRock/status/1668043939264475137

Officials who spoke to Forbes stated that the league has already been costed for the first four years of its existence.

Source: eWn