Just why is Dwayne Johnson not competing at WrestleMania?
The prevailing theory for as long as anyone can remember was that Dwayne Johnson would lace up his boots one more time to face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39. The event is set to take place in California, and an intrafamily storyline with Reigns practically writes itself. However, in January it was reported that the match was off the table. That report stated that the man also known as The Rock, turned the match down as he didn’t feel he could get into ring shape in time.
Since then much of the card for WrestleMania has been confirmed and Reigns will be defending his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Cody Rhodes.
Interestingly, former WWE writer and SVP of Development at Seven Bucks Productions Brian Gewirtz has now revealed there could be much more to the story. Johnson’s long-time friend and collaborator said reports of the star missing the show as he wasn’t physically ready are “not the case.”
During an appearance on the Bill Simmons Podcast, Gewirtz explained that this is not the reason Johnson won’t be wrestling, adding it’s just a line from “some stooge.”
“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 it’s own where, all of a sudden, everyone reading it on the internet and Twitter takes it as fact, to the point where Roman 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,”
When Did Dwayne Johnson Last Wrestle?
The Rock hasn’t wrestled since being defeated by John Cena at WrestleMania 29. During the bout, Johnson sustained an abdominal injury which pushed back filming for the movie Hercules. The WWE legend did technically wrestle against Eric Rowan at WrestleMania 32, where he pinned the star in under 10 seconds in an impromptu match.
H/t to Fightful