There have been conflicting reports about Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's status for WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas next April. However, it's been reported this week that WWE is currently moving forward with creative plans on the assumption he won't compete at the Show of Shows.
Things can always change in pro wrestling, of course, and it sounds like WWE will work around the Final Boss if he decides to step back into the ring.
So far, it's looked like The Rock vs. Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes was where things were originally heading. Now, many fans believe WWE might pivot to The Rock vs. Roman Reigns, revealing that the Brahma Bull is pulling the strings of Solo Sikoa's heel Bloodline.
According to a recent Fightful Select report, "The Rock’s Bad Blood appearance was to get him on screen and didn’t have a major direction or plot point they were furthering."
His appearance at that PLE has never been addressed and its apparent lack of importance has now become something of a joke among fans. However, WWE might be planning to right the ship as it's said that Rhodes and The Rock "filmed something" at the Moana 2 premiere. Whether it sees the light of day is another matter, of course.
The Rock defeating Rhodes at WrestleMania isn't a particularly appealing prospect, especially if it means he's a part-time champion who then drops the belt to Reigns at WrestleMania 42 as a means of giving their match the importance he feels it deserves.
Keeping the momentum going that long will not be easy and The Rock isn't getting any younger. Hopefully, WWE has a plan in mind because if #WeWantCody proved anything, it's that Johnson probably isn't the right person to lead the charge from a creative standpoint.
For what it's worth, Rhodes recently said, "Well, I mean this, and I don’t mean this in a smart-aleck-type way, but Rock is the director of the board, the man that is the final boss. Dwayne Johnson is different from the final boss. His outside-the-box thinking with Nick Khan and Triple H is part of WWE’s record era, part of this WWE Netflix era."
"So whether he’s in the ring or not, he is very much still involved with what happens at 41. I know when he comes back, I know who he’ll come looking for, I know what to expect," the American Nightmare added. "But what I can say about WrestleMania 41 is: keep the rumors going, keep them churning, enjoy the discourse, but I think what you will get will surprise you all."
As always, keep checking back here for the latest on WrestleMania as we have it.