Update On WrestleMania Status Of The Rock

Back in July it was reported that The Rock would be returning to WWE at Survivor Series with one eye on an appearance at WrestleMania 38 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington Texas.

While no details were available about what The Rock’s appearance at Survivor Series in Brooklyn might involve, it was believed that it would eventually set up a bout with Roman Reigns on the Grandest Stage of Them All.

However, an appearance by The Great One at WrestleMania in 2022 is reportedly far from locked in.

Writing in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reports that any match featuring the former World Champion depends very much on the man himself. However, Meltzer notes that if The Rock wants the match to happen, it will happen.

“The match will take place if, when and where Johnson wants it to. His schedule is such that there is no lock for anything. In 2023, he may be running the XFL, or movies or even running for president (I doubt it but he’s given that date before as something he’s thought about although the Young Rock story seems to have indicated he’s looking at 2032 if he really ever does it).

With him, there is no way to know what his schedule will allow. If he wants to do it, that will be the year he does it. There also may be no XFL, which right now the idea is to bring it back in 2023 but I sense there’s no XFL without a paying TV deal. Obviously Vince McMahon felt that wasn’t going to happen which is why he declared bankruptcy for the league and closed it down. But the feeling right now is 2023, which would seem to mean Lesnar in 2022.”

With regard to a meeting between Universal Champion Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar, the pair look set to clash long before WrestleMania.

At SummerSlam, Lesnar returned to WWE for the first time since WrestleMania 36. After Reigns had dispatched Cena in the main event, Lesnar arrived on the scene, starring down the Universal Champion. This led many to believe that Lesnar would be Reigns’ next challenger.

However, on the following episode of SmackDown Lesnar failed to appear. In his absence former champion Finn Balor laid down another challenge to the Head of the Table.

It was later reported that current plans will see Reigns and Balor meet at Extreme Rules before Lesnar challenges Reigns at Crown Jewel or Survivor Series.