Earlier this year, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson revealed that he'd been in talks for a match with Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39.
For reasons which still aren't entirely clear, it didn't happen, though the Brahma Bull has left the door open to the bout happening at WrestleMania 40 instead. Surprisingly, fans haven't responded particularly positively to the news because the hope among them is that Cody Rhodes will get his rematch and "end the story" by finally dethroning the Tribal Chief.
There's a very real risk The Rock would be booed if he takes Rhodes' place and, during a recent interview on Busted Open Radio, the American Nightmare shared his thoughts on the speculation and seems confident The Great One won't be taking his place at the Show of Shows.
"I'll say this about The Rock coming on Pat's show...The Rock did for sports entertainment so much and continues to do so much by being the biggest star in Hollywood that I'm able to be at the level I'm at because I can stand on shoulders like those of The Rock. He could have come on there and run me down and I still would have the highest respect for the great one. He's honestly a model Superstar for anybody who wants to supersede all expectations."
"With that said though, no matter what he said, anyone who did ask me, anyone who did confront me on it, I said I'm not flinching. I feel like if The Rock and I were in the same room, he would expect nothing less from me. If you think it's somebody else, I'm gonna do everything I can to make sure you know it's me and that's the same attitude that The Rock had when he was climbing the ladder. I don't care who it is."
"If that happens to be The Rock or anybody who comes into this fray [such as] a wonderful Superstar like LA Knight [or] an absolutely stellar performer like Sami Zayn, who him and I went toe to toe in a way last year. Line em up and I'm just gonna do everything I can to outrun them. I mean that with the utmost respect to them. I wasn't shook at all by Rock's big day out. What I would say is I'm not flinching. If Rock's part of Wrestlemania 40, that would be outstanding. He should be, it's The Rock but I don't think he'll be in my spot."
There are likely ways for Reigns vs. The Rock and Reigns vs. Rhodes II to happen, but now the Hollywood strikes are over, it's even less likely that Johnson will step back into a WWE ring at WrestleMania.
Despite him claiming that his decision had nothing to do with his ability to wrestle at a level he'd like, The Rock's current physique doesn't lend itself to the sort of hard-hitting lengthy bouts the Head of the Table has become known for during his run as a main eventer. With that in mind, we're not banking on the match happening.
Do you think we'll see Reigns vs. Rhodes II at the Showcase of the Immortals or should The Rock take the American Nightmare's place?