Why The Rock Is Very Likely To Return To WWE For WrestleMania 43

The Rock could possibly make his in-ring return for WrestleMania 43 next year, according to a WWE Hall of Famer.

Back in 1996, The Rock joined the WWE as a rookie named ‘Rocky Maivia.’ He received a lot of backlash in the early stages of his career, but completely turned it around in a few years and became one of the biggest stars in pro wrestling history. Rock later went on to become a massive star in Hollywood as well. The Great One is currently on the TKO board of directors, and last competed at WrestleMania 40, where he teamed with Roman Reigns to defeat Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins.

Although The Rock has shown no interest in a potential in-ring return since Mania 40, many fans are hopeful that he could wrestle a match at WrestleMania 43 next year, which will take place in Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, the WWE Hall of Famer has also explored the same possibility.

The Rock could be on the card for WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia

Speaking on his 83 Weeks podcast recently, Eric Bischoff was asked what could be a marquee match in WWE’s eyes for WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia. Bischoff said that while he doesn’t know much about the Saudi audience, they want to see legends like The Rock and John Cena:

Now again, maybe the audience has gotten more current and it’s a completely different environment, but my exposure six, seven years ago was they want older names that are not easily available, which makes me think Rock because if that same kind of vintage hangover, we’ll call it legacy hangover, is still part of the audience composition in terms of what they want to see, then obviously bringing Rock back, John Cena in some kind of non-wrestling related role is probably going to check those, we’ll call them nostalgia boxes.”

Eric Bischoff also stated that he sees The Rock on the card for WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia:

Those fans that are looking to the early 2000s or mid 2000s as the peak WWE period, you got Rock, you could bring John Cena in to participate. Couple other nice little moves and then balance the rest of the card out with younger talent. But I do see Rock on the card in Saudi for WrestleMania,” Bischoff said. [H/T Ringside News]

Per @AndrewBaydala, There’s a “big offer” on the table for The Rock to wrestle at WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia, but there is hesitation about moving forward, as he knows it would most likely be his final match.

🚨🚨🚨 pic.twitter.com/GTy5bVCxYl

— EliteRockerz 𝕏 (@EliteClubS0B) January 2, 2026

Fans will have to wait and see if The Rock will take time out of his busy schedule to make an in-ring return at WrestleMania 43.

Also read: The Rock Set To Snub Major Non-WWE Event