The Rock has been focused on Hollywood following his short WWE storyline with Cody Rhodes earlier this year, but Rikishi recently expressed his hope to see a major WrestleMania match featuring The Final Boss. Although WrestleMania is still months away, rumors suggest that Stone Cold Steve Austin might return to the ring for one last battle, sparking discussions about potential opponents, including CM Punk. Despite this, Rikishi envisions renewing the legendary rivalry between Austin and The Rock on the sport’s biggest stage.
During a recent episode of the Rikishi Fatu Off The Top podcast, the WWE Hall of Famer shared his enthusiasm for a Stone Cold versus The Rock matchup. He highlighted the significance of the pairing, comparing their battles to famous boxing rivalries and emphasizing the chemistry between the two wrestling icons.
“Hmm, why don’t we just book the GOAT vs. the GOAT? You know, they had Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier back in the day, and we talk about wrestling, then let’s talk about Stone Cold coming back, and let’s book him against The Rock. You know what, number three or number four? because every match these two cats, when they bring it and they got together, man, it was always, always poetry in motion. You always got engaged to, you know, a lot of the, you know, the footage that’s been put out there, and here’s a beautiful thing, man, they enjoy working with each other, right? They help build each other’s career.”
—Rikishi, WWE Hall of Famer
Rikishi expressed that this anticipated feud would attract substantial attention and revenue across multiple platforms.
“For TKO, and I would think Netflix. I would think everybody be happy as hell, because these two jokers gonna sell tickets, you know, what’s good for business.” (From 34:00 to 34:59)
—Rikishi, WWE Hall of Famer
The Legacy of The Rock and Stone Cold’s WrestleMania Battles
The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin’s trilogy of matches at WrestleMania remains one of the most memorable rivalries in sports entertainment history. Their last encounter took place in 2003, where The People’s Champ finally secured a victory over The Texas Rattlesnake, solidifying their legacies and captivating fans worldwide.
The prospect of revisiting this rivalry after more than two decades excites wrestling enthusiasts who have followed both stars since their Attitude Era heydays. Their combined star power and in-ring chemistry have created moments that are still celebrated today.
Will The Rock Make a WWE Comeback Soon?
The Rock has not appeared in WWE since the Elimination Chamber event earlier this year, where he and Travis Scott played major roles in John Cena‘s heel turn in a storyline involving Cody Rhodes. Fans had hoped to see The Rock at WrestleMania 41, but he did not make an appearance.
Despite stepping away from the wrestling spotlight, The Rock’s unresolved storyline with Cody Rhodes, also known as The American Nightmare, suggests potential for a future rivalry. Whether WWE will pursue this or opt for the rumored Stone Cold rematch remains uncertain, but anticipation continues to build around these possibilities as WrestleMania draws closer.
What This Could Mean for WWE and Fans
A WrestleMania showdown between The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin would be a significant event for WWE, capturing both long-time fans and newer audiences. Rikishi’s suggestion underlines not only the potential for a high-profile match but also the business value of bringing two legends back to face off once more. With ongoing speculation about Stone Cold’s return and The Rock’s potential comeback, this rumored rematch remains one of the most talked-about possibilities for next year’s WrestleMania.
As WWE’s biggest event approaches, fans eagerly await official announcements that could confirm whether these wrestling icons will step back into the ring together, rekindling a rivalry that defined an era.
