Reports On Why The Rock Is Missing WrestleMania Are “Not The Case”

The Rock is not scheduled for a match at WrestleMania 39 this year and a friend of his is speaking out about why certain reports about it are lacking accuracy.

When WWE announced WrestleMania 39 would take place at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, it was assumed by many people that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson may be wrestling at that show. However, The Rock won’t be wrestling his “cousin” Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship because Cody Rhodes, the Royal Rumble winner, will be doing that.

It was back in January, prior to the Royal Rumble, when the Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s Dave Meltzer wrote about how Rocky wasn’t going to wrestle at this year’s WrestleMania.

“We were told that unless he changes his mind in the next few days, since a deadline for Mania plans is coming, that he’s indicated he won’t have time to get into the kind of shape he feels he needs to be in to do a main event match with Roman Reigns, but kept the door open for something in the future. Of course it is a possibility that it’s something being kept a secret from everyone.”

“Johnson right now has different projects going on, most importantly the launching of the XFL which debuts the weekend of 2/18 and he will be very heavily involved with the promotion of the league. He had said he would need to have training time to be able to get in ring shape. So his decision comes down to his belief of having adequate time to prepare.”

That report has turned out to be accurate in terms of The Rock not wrestling at this year’s WrestleMania. However, the reason why The Rock won’t be wrestling at WrestleMania is a bit off according to Brian Gerwitz.

The Rock and Brian Gerwitz have been good friends for over 20 years going back to when Gewirtz was a lead WWE writer while The Rock was a top star. After leaving WWE, Gewirtz is now the SVP of Development at Seven Bucks Productions, which is owned by The Rock. Gewirtz is also an Executive Producer on the Young Rock TV show that recently wrapped up its third season on NBC.

During an appearance on the Bill Simmons podcast this week, Gewirtz spoke about how the inaccuracy of the report drives him nuts.

“A source tells him [Meltzer], ‘The Rock is not going to make it to WrestleMania because he feels he doesn’t have time to get into match shape.’ I know that it is not the case. That is not the reason, whether it happens or doesn’t happen, I know it’s a line.

“Then, it just took a life of its own where, all of a sudden, everyone reading it on the internet and Twitter takes it as fact, to the point where Roman [Reigns] goes on the Tonight Show and tells Jimmy Fallon, ‘I understand Rock made a statement and doesn’t have time to get into ring shape.’ I’m watching this like, ‘What? What statement? Show me the statement. There is no statement.'”

“This is a quote that some stooge reported to a wrestling insider newsletter and now it’s written in granite and stone. That’s the stuff that drives me nuts.”

The last time The Rock had an official match in WWE was at WrestleMania 29 in 2013 when he lost the WWE Title to John Cena in the main event. The Rock also beat Erick Rowan with a simple Rock Bottom at WrestleMania 32 in 2016 although that was not really much of a match other than one move.

It is unknown if The Rock is going to wrestle again. At 50 years old, he may not have that many matches left in him, but clearly, he’s a guy that stays in shape.