The Rock’s return to WWE was solidified during the February 2nd edition of Friday Night SmackDown, indicating that the iconic superstar will be making regular appearances on WWE television leading up to WrestleMania 40. His presence promises an electrifying feud against Cody Rhodes as the anticipation for their showdown continues to build.
As we approach WrestleMania 40, Jimmy Kimmel recently pointed out The Rock’s missed opportunity with John Cena at the Oscars that fans would have loved.
Fans are excited for a potential showdown between The Rock and Roman Reigns, but there’s a collective desire to ensure Cody Rhodes’ storyline isn’t overshadowed. A balanced approach has prevailed, leading to Cody Rhodes facing Roman Reigns in the main event of WrestleMania 40, allowing both storylines to shine.
The Rock Missed Out On A Big Opportunity With John Cena at The Oscars
With WrestleMania 40 just around the corner, anticipation for the Premium Live Event is at an all-time high, especially with The Rock set to make an appearance. Recently, The Rock shed light on why he didn’t attack John Cena at the Oscars to promote the event.
During the Oscars on March 10, John Cena made headlines with a seemingly nude appearance, covered only by the envelope he was holding. This caught the attention of The Rock, who shared a moment with Cena while presenting an award alongside Bad Bunny.
During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Rock discussed his encounter with the partially naked John Cena at the Oscars. Jimmy Kimmel asked The Rock why he didn’t attack John Cena to promote WrestleMania 40.
“I had a crazy moment with you last night, actually. It was kind of weird. Coming off the stage with a partially naked John Cena, and we’re going through this little alley, and then there’s you and John Cena. I’m like, I feel like I might be wrestling here in a second. I feel like you guys, I thought afterwards, you really missed an opportunity to promote WrestleMania by attacking each other in that moment. A folding chair, a smash, something like that.”
The Rock humorously explained that he didn’t want to attack a half-naked John Cena and preferred him to be fully nude for the attack to happen.
“Right, a half-naked John Cena isn’t the guy who I want to attack. I need him fully naked before I attack him [laughs]. That was his joke, by the way.”
Fans are eagerly anticipating John Cena’s potential appearance at WrestleMania 40 after he confirmed his status for the event. With excitement building, fans are hopeful that Cena will make an appearance in some capacity at the show. Only time will tell if Cena will grace the event with his presence.
Likelihood of The Rock Facing Roman Reigns In A Singles Match
WWE and professional wrestling, although not classified as competitive combat sports in the traditional sense, place considerable physical demands on athletes’ bodies. Participants, including seasoned wrestlers like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, undergo extensive training to prepare for matches.
Following a four-year hiatus, The Rock made his return to WWE in September 2023 but has not yet participated in a match. Paul Heyman, WWE’s newest Hall of Fame inductee, discussed The Rock’s conditioning for a match in a recent interview with Jimmy Traina from Sports Illustrated.
After returning to WWE, The Great One initially aimed to face Reigns for the Head of the Table title, diverting from fans’ expectations of Cody Rhodes concluding his storyline. However, a sudden heel-turn led to Johnson teaming up with his cousin instead.
In discussing the potential for a dream match between Johnson and Reigns without the heel-turn, Paul Heyman expressed optimism, stating, “Could Dwayne Johnson have come back and put together a really classic, very memorable 15-minute match with Roman Reigns for this year’s WrestleMania without going through that training? I bet he could.” Heyman was positive about the feasibility of a fifteen-minute bout one day.
