The speculation surrounding The Rock’s role at WrestleMania 41 has been ongoing, and while some clarity has emerged, many questions remain. During the January 6 edition of WWE Raw, The Rock made a special appearance, praising the fans for setting a new indoor gate record, congratulating Cody Rhodes for carrying WWE, and acknowledging Roman Reigns as “The Tribal Chief.” These remarks led many to wonder if The Rock would be involved in a high-profile match at the event.
Dave Meltzer, in his latest report for the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, shared insights into WWE’s current plans. He revealed that the idea of The Rock facing Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41 has been officially scrapped. Initially teased following WrestleMania 40, the match was originally planned to headline one of the nights at WrestleMania 41, but those plans have now changed. The current storyline for Cody Rhodes has him defending the Undisputed WWE Championship against John Cena, although Meltzer noted that these plans are still subject to change based on The Rock’s preferences.
While a match between The Rock and Roman Reigns is still on the table, Meltzer suggests that it may not take place at WrestleMania 41, especially considering that The Rock is not expected to compete at the event. The Rock’s potential appearance in a high-profile match could be influenced by lucrative offers from places like Saudi Arabia, where boxing and UFC stars have received substantial paydays. However, Meltzer emphasized that while the exact timing and location are uncertain, the match between Rock and Reigns is still expected to happen at some point in the future.
The Rock himself further fueled speculation during a January 7 appearance on WWE NXT, where he shared that he plans 20 steps ahead of everyone, suggesting that the grand spectacle between him and Reigns could be part of a much larger strategy.
As the road to WrestleMania 41 continues, fans will eagerly await any further updates on The Rock’s involvement in the event, especially as the stakes continue to rise with potential blockbuster matchups.