‘The Final Boss’ The Rock will appear on WWE SmackDown tonight, teasing fans that ‘The Great One’ could compete at WrestleMania 41. The Rock took to his Instagram account to say he was planning to tackle head-on on something he’d been avoiding for years.
Dwayne Johnson is a busy man with his fingers in many pies. So, this could mean anything. A new movie role, a new product launch, a WrestleMania 42 announcement, or something beyond our comprehension.
Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque told fans to “strap in” whilst reminding us it was WrestleMania season. “When The Final Boss shows up at this time of year, the audience knows absolutely anything is possible,” Levesque said in a WWE press release. “Everything could change in an instant.”
The Rock appearing on WWE SmackDown means we can trust he isn’t planning to add himself to the Gunther vs. Jey Uso match already booked to headline WrestleMania 41. With that in mind, here are five matches – that groundwork has already been laid for – The Rock could have at WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas.
Bold and disruptive.
Unpredictable and dangerous.The Final Boss returns, LIVE on #SmackDown tomorrow at 8ET/7CT on @USANetwork. @WWE @TKOGrp pic.twitter.com/q3UaSYLQNh
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) February 21, 2025
The Rock vs. Roman Reigns
This is the match we “had in the palm of our hand” and let slip away last year. ‘The Final Boss’ might give fans a final chance to experience the biggest match in WrestleMania history as he faces Roman Reigns. It’s the match that the world needs. We got to know who is truly the “Head of the Table” – “The High Chief Seiuli” or “The Tribal Chief”.
The Rock vs. Seth Rollins
Reigns is currently injured, as a result of Seth Rollins’ curb stomp onto steel steps at the WWE Royal Rumble. If Reigns is too hurt to compete at WrestleMania 41, Rollins is to blame.
The Rock could decide that, if Rollins has cost him his match with Reigns this year, then he will do as a replacement. The two feuded in the build-up to WrestleMania 40 where they met on opposite sides of the tag team match that headlined night one.
The Rock vs. Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns
Take the exact setup from the above match. Book The Rock vs. Rollins. Then have Reigns return to make things a triple threat.
Another option is The Rock acts as a special guest referee in a match between Reigns and Rollins.
The Rock vs. Solo Sikoa
One of the most talked about moments of 2024 was The Rock’s shock appearance at WWE Bad Blood. Johnson turned up at the climax of Reigns & Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa & Jacob Fatu.
The Rock raised an eyebrow but also three fingers. This suggested he was coming for three people. Sikoa’s attempted mutiny over Reigns since WrestleMania 40 is enough to irk The Rock.
Perhaps he looks to put Sikoa firmly back in his place at WrestleMania 41. The Rock could team up with Jimmy Uso to take on Sikoa and Fatu. This tag team match would get a lot of the Anoa’i family members on the card in Las Vegas.
The Rock vs. Cody Rhodes
This is the match The Rock promised us when he walked away from WWE after WrestleMania 40. A weird love-in with Rhodes at the WWE Raw on Netflix premiere seemed to throw cold water on this match.
But, if The Rock is returning with WrestleMania 41 in mind, nothing would be as big as him highjacking the main event to challenge the Undisputed WWE Champion. Meanwhile, at NXT New Year’s Evil, The Rock claimed he was 20 steps ahead of all of us. So, really, anything could happen on WWE SmackDown.
Enjoy.
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