The highly anticipated return of The Rock to WWE will not take place at WrestleMania 42, despite growing rumors surrounding his involvement. WrestleMania 42 The Rock speculation has piqued fan interest, but new details clarify when fans might expect to see Dwayne Johnson in the wrestling ring again.
The Rock’s WWE Future and Retirement Match Discussions
The Rock, who most recently participated at WWE’s Elimination Chamber in February 2025 as part of John Cena’s memorable heel turn, has continued to balance his Hollywood career with occasional WWE appearances. His last official match took place at WrestleMania 40, where he teamed in a tag match to pin Cody Rhodes and subsequently influenced Rhodes’ clash with Roman Reigns the following night, a bout that ultimately saw Cody become the Undisputed WWE Champion by defeating his Bloodline cousin.
Despite the excitement stemming from The Rock’s storyline with John Cena and rapper Travis Scott, those plotlines fizzled and he was noticeably absent from WrestleMania 41. While rumors about his presence at WrestleMania 42 gain momentum every year, recent insights from Andrew Baydala, a professional in WWE ticketing and marketing, have halted such expectations:
“get wild again- The Rock is NOT wrestling at this year’s WrestleMania. The”
Andrew Baydala, Ticketing and Marketing
“under discussion is for next year’s Mania 43 in Saudi Arabia, and there appears to be hesitation about proceeding, given that The Rock knows it would most likely be his last match.”
Andrew Baydala, Ticketing and Marketing
Currently, talks indicate that The Rock might instead make his in-ring return, possibly for a career-ending match, at WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia. As a TKO board member, The Rock has the privilege to appear for WWE at his discretion, yet there is considerable caution about moving forward this year, particularly after the backlash from his previous absence and unresolved storylines with John Cena.
Questioning Gunther as a Potential Opponent
With Roman Reigns or Cody Rhodes presumed to be top contenders for The Rock’s eventual opponent, another name has emerged in wrestling circles: Gunther. Known as “The Ring General,” Gunther has built a reputation by retiring wrestling legends, notably ending Goldberg’s career earlier in the year and forcing John Cena to tap out at Saturday Night’s Main Event in December. This pattern leads some to wonder if WWE might position Gunther as the one to end The Rock’s storied career, adding to his list of legendary retirement victims.
The possibility of Gunther, Brock Lesnar, Chris Jericho, or even AJ Styles facing The Rock is often discussed, particularly since Styles has already announced his own retirement in 2026. Still, some fans and analysts push back against pairing The Rock with Gunther, since, unlike Cena, The Rock has not been a regular WWE on-air figure in recent years, making such a passing-of-the-torch scenario feel forced.
What Lies Ahead for The Rock and WWE?
The debate for The Rock’s final match continues, as WWE could be tempted to book him against a rising star like Gunther rather than finalize his storied feud with a marquee name like Roman Reigns. The feud between Reigns and The Rock is rooted in their family legacy and the ongoing battle for supremacy at “the Head of the Table,” providing a more organic storyline and emotional sendoff for The Rock.
WWE and The Rock must carefully assess how his legacy should be honored in his final bow. A retirement match with Roman Reigns at a major international event like WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia would capture global attention and serve as a fitting finale for one of wrestling’s most iconic figures. As speculation continues and planning proceeds, fans must temper their expectations about seeing The Rock at WrestleMania 42 and look ahead to a potentially historic farewell in 2026.
Before these "rumors" get wild again-
The Rock is NOT wrestling at this year's #WrestleMania. The "big offer" under discussion is for next year's Mania 43 in Saudi Arabia, and there appears to be hesitation about proceeding, given that The Rock knows it would most likely be his… pic.twitter.com/fostjw6pRT
— Andrew Baydala (@AndrewBaydala) January 2, 2026
