WrestleMania 41 is a few months away but the build to the event is already underway. RAW and SmackDown have new women atop their divisions.
Tiffany Stratton dethroned Nia Jax by cashing in her Money in the Bank contract last week on SmackDown. Meanwhile, Rhea Ripley defeated Liv Morgan on RAW's Netflix premiere.
Ever since he returned at last year's RAW Day One to tease a future match with Roman Reigns, fans have wondered when the match would happen. After a strange appearance at RAW's debut on Netflix and again on NXT the following day, that dream match may not take place in April this year.
The Rock may not make it to the WrestleMania 41 match-card for the next four reasons:
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#4. A packed film schedule
The Rock's movie schedule has been one of the major roadblocks for big matches at The Show of Shows. He's one of the biggest film stars in the world and often has a few films releasing each year.
The Great One is fresh off the success of Red One and Moana 2 but will reprise his role for a live-action version of the movie. He's also working on a biopic of MMA fighter Mark Kerr and another installment in the neverending Fast and Furious franchise.
The People's Champion has another sequel in the Jumanji movie franchise on the horizon. With so much already on his plate, finding time to dedicate to several appearances before WrestleMania 41 would be difficult for such a busy man.
#3. Stars who deserve a big spot on the WrestleMania 41 card
By moving to a two-day format for WrestleMania, WWE has given more stars the chance to get on the card. However, the feuds must be worthy of the spectacle.
Triple H has done a good job of assuring that's the case for every contest booked on the show. WrestleMania 41 is still a few months off but many huge stars should be featured on the card.
Gunther, Cody Rhodes, John Cena, Roman Reigns, CM Punk, Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair, and other champions will wrestle in Las Vegas. That's even without the potential returns of Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch.
Pentagon Jr. has to be featured since his debut is imminent. The Rock is still one of the biggest names in the world but WWE doesn't necessarily need his presence to have success at WrestleMania 41.
#2. Enduring another grueling training camp
One thing The Rock made sure to show the world before WrestleMania 40 was his "training camp" with Gallus to get into ring shape. Fans saw clips on RAW and SmackDown.
The fact that he needs time to prepare for a wrestling match isn't the best sign. He's over 50 and while things have changed in the last decade, it's not easy as the body gets older.
Allocating significant time to prepare for a wrestling match may be harder with each passing year. The Rock may not want to go through another long training camp to get into ring shape for a big match at WrestleMania 41.
#1. He inexplicably turned face after a year of vitriolic Final Boss actions
If he was scheduled for WrestleMania 41, The Rock would face Cody Rhodes or Roman Reigns. When he hit the ring for his promo on RAW's Netflix premiere, he strangely turned face. He pandered to the fans and Netflix before praising Rhodes for carrying the company.
The Final Boss showed up the next night to close NXT but said nothing of substance. The strangest part was that WWE booked the post-Tribal Combat segment as the stage for a potential heel turn. When all was said and done, he put the Ula Fala around Roman's neck and then left.
It was such a random switch after a heated 2024. He bashed everyone, including fans who didn't like how he walked in, and grabbed the spotlight on the way to WrestleMania 40.
Rocky brutally assaulted Rhodes and insulted his mother. To see such a turnaround, especially after an equally bizarre appearance at the end of Bad Blood, was such a letdown after all the storytelling in 2024.