The Rock Teases Blockbuster WrestleMania 43 Return as WWE and Saudi Talks Heat Up
The Rock may be juggling Hollywood superstardom, but the door to a historic WWE comeback is far from closed. Speculation around Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s involvement at WrestleMania 43 has exploded following his recent comments in an interview with Raffi Talks on January 20. While he stopped short of confirming anything outright, his words were enough to fuel belief that something major is brewing behind the scenes.
The Rock, who currently serves on the TKO Board of Directors—the company that owns WWE—last appeared on WWE programming at the 2025 Elimination Chamber PLE. That appearance proved unforgettable, as he played a key role in John Cena’s shocking heel turn. Since then, The Final Boss has been absent from WWE television, focusing instead on his rapidly expanding Hollywood career.
That career is showing no signs of slowing down. Johnson recently earned Golden Globe recognition for his performance in The Smashing Machine, further cementing his status as one of the most bankable stars in entertainment. Despite this, insiders suggest WWE is determined to bring him back for what could be a once-in-a-lifetime WrestleMania moment.
According to reports from Dave Meltzer, WWE and Saudi officials are discussing a deal that would see The People’s Champion receive the biggest payday of his wrestling career. The proposed agreement is said to be for a match that could potentially be The Rock’s final bout, adding enormous weight to any future appearance.
When asked directly about WrestleMania 43, The Rock kept things intentionally vague—but optimistic.
“I can tell you that I’m excited for the brand of WrestleMania. I’m excited for the Kingdom because that is a big show… and I can’t wait,” Johnson said. “In terms of the conversations I’ve been having, good or bad? It’s all good. It will always be good.”
Still, questions remain about whether his demanding film schedule could ultimately derail WWE’s plans. Industry insider Andrew Baydala recently noted that if Johnson’s movie commitments continue to intensify, it may limit his availability—especially given the physical toll of wrestling at this stage of his career.
“If the movie career really takes off and he has a great match in Saudi, he may be unavailable to do anything else,” Baydala explained, adding that hesitation reportedly exists within The Rock’s camp.
For now, nothing is officially confirmed. But with WrestleMania 43 still on the horizon and talks reportedly ongoing, fans have every reason to believe that The Rock’s final chapter in WWE may be bigger—and richer—than ever imagined.
