Although the anticipated showdown between The Rock and Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 isn’t materializing, reports suggest that WWE expects The Rock to continue appearing on television even after WrestleMania concludes.
According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (via Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News), WWE views the deviation from The Rock vs. Reigns at WrestleMania as a fortunate development.
The plan now involves The Rock potentially participating in more than initially anticipated, with the possibility of the highly anticipated clash with Reigns occurring later.
Meltzer also highlights the increased mainstream attention WrestleMania is likely to receive due to The Rock’s involvement and the current popularity of WWE.
Following his appointment to TKO’s board of directors in January, The Rock made a surprise return to WWE programming, confronting Reigns.
Cody Rhodes, winner of the men’s Royal Rumble match, initially declined to face Reigns at WrestleMania, seemingly making way for The Rock. However, Rhodes later reversed his decision, leading to a confrontation with The Rock, who aligned himself with The Bloodline by turning heel.
At Elimination Chamber, Rhodes challenged The Rock to a match, and The Rock is expected to address the challenge on Friday night’s episode of SmackDown.
Whether WWE’s current direction was part of the original plan or not, it sets the stage for a potential showdown between The Rock and Reigns in the future, ensuring continued interest post-WrestleMania.
John Cena’s involvement in WrestleMania 40 remains uncertain, but WWE is reportedly preparing in case he is available.
According to Meltzer (via Ishaan Rathi of Ringside News), Cena is slated to start filming the second season of Peacemaker, and his WrestleMania participation hinges on his filming schedule.
If Cena can make an appearance, WWE plans to involve him in a “fun, short, and memorable” segment with substance, considering the risk of injury if he were to compete in a match.
Cena, a 16-time world champion and a pivotal figure in WWE history, has made sporadic appearances in recent years due to his successful acting career. While WWE would prefer to have him compete, they would welcome any capacity of involvement, given his significance to the company.
AJ Styles, a two-time WWE champion, expresses his desire to reclaim the top spot in WWE before retiring.
During an interview on Johnjay & Rich: After Words (via Mukherjee), Styles emphasized his aspiration to hold the championship once more before ending his career. Styles, renowned for his tenure in TNA, surprised many with his successful transition to WWE in 2016.
Despite being a decorated champion in WWE, Styles has not held a title since November 2018. At 46 years old, he may be running out of time to secure another championship reign, but with his impressive track record, he remains a contender for the top spot in WWE, especially if opportunities arise post-WrestleMania.
