Buying or Selling The Rock Showing Up at WWE WrestleMania 39

Despite years of speculation and fantasy booking from fans, it appears The Rock vs. Roman Reigns may finally be off the table for WWE.

During the post-show Royal Rumble press conference, Paul "Triple H" Levesque confirmed that talks were held with Rock regarding a match at WrestleMania 39 this April but that his busy schedule ultimately prevented it from happening.

That isn't to say an appearance from The Great One on The Grandest Stage of Them All isn't completely out of the question, though.

If Rock were to compete at the event, he would have needed a recurring role on either Raw or SmackDown on The Road to WrestleMania. However, nothing is stopping him from making a one-off appearance and make his presence felt in a different way.

Then again, the premier pay-per-view is expected to be stacked with star power, so is his return really necessary?

Let's look at whether Rock showing up at WrestleMania 39 is worth buying or selling on.

A Rock Return Is Long Overdue

When The Rock originally returned to WWE in February 2011, he triumphantly declared he was "home" and that he wouldn't be going anywhere ever again following his seven-year hiatus from the company.

He proceeded to appear fairly consistently through WrestleMania 29 for his feud with John Cena and pop up occasionally at The Show of Shows and on Raw, but he was seldom seen on WWE TV beyond 2016.

In fact, his sole televised appearance for the promotion since squashing Erick Rowan at WrestleMania 32 took place on SmackDown's debut show for Fox in October 2019. He has been absent otherwise.

It's become clear that wrestling one more match, even against his cousin, Reigns, isn't a top priority to him and likely never will be. His hectic schedule in Hollywood simply doesn't allow him to have a final run in the ring, but he could put aside some time to resurface at WrestleMania 39 and lead the crowd into a frenzy with a quick cameo.

He wouldn't necessarily need to get physical, but a Rock return isn't complete without at least one Rock Bottom or People's Elbow.

Serving as Special Guest Referee for Reigns vs. Rhodes

A quick cameo consisting of a classic Rock promo and Rock Bottom may not be worthwhile to some fans, and understandably so. If he's going to be in attendance for the event, he may have to do something more significant to justify him being there.

The best possible role he can have at WrestleMania would be as a special guest referee for Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes to ensure there isn't any outside interference from anyone in The Bloodline.

Rock is also one of the few members of the Anoa'i family to have not "fallen in line" with The Tribal Chief, so he'd be able to call the contest down the middle. He can endorse Rhodes afterward and cement his status as a main event player.

Rock vs. Reigns is presumably a pipe dream at this point, but this would be the closest we could come to getting that fantasy warfare, regardless of whether they come to blows or not.

The only drawback to this idea is that the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship main event doesn't need Rock involved, or any other shenanigans for that matter. The focus should solely be on Reigns and Rhodes, with the latter winning clean.

It would be an attraction, but not one that strengthens the story in any meaningful way.

WrestleMania 39 Doesn't Need Rock

Only two matches have been set in stone for WrestleMania 39 as of now: Reigns vs. Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship, and Charlotte Flair vs. Rhea Ripley for the SmackDown Women's Championship.

Without anything else being officially announced, it's safe to assume the card will be star-studded this year based on what's expected to be added. This includes Seth Rollins vs. Logan Paul, Brock Lesnar vs. Bobby Lashley in some of stipulation match, and possibly "Stone Cold" Steve Austin in action again.

That's in addition to everyone else on the active roster with a shred of star power. In other words, The Rock isn't needed for the April 1-2 PPV, whether it's in an in-ring role or otherwise.

WWE focused on enough part-timers and celebrities last year that the 2023 installment should be all about showcasing the current crop of competitors and using the aforementioned notable names to help get them over.

Of course, a Rock return at the Hollywood edition of 'Mania would be fitting considering the silver screen is where he has resided for the past decade, but it shouldn't feel forced.

WWE opting to pass on Reigns vs. Rock this year (though it evidently wasn't its call to make) prevented plenty of problems booking-wise and puts the spotlight back where it belongs.

Final Verdict

Unless something changes with The Rock's schedule at the last minute, he won't be a focal point at WrestleMania this year and everyone may be better off for it.

If he is available, WWE should bring him in for an appearance without announcing it in advance. He doesn't need to end the event standing tall or plant seeds for a future match that likely won't happen, but a face-to-face encounter with someone who can compete with him on the mic (à la LA Knight) would suffice.

As previously noted, Rock has made a massive name for himself in Hollywood as an actor since quietly calling it quits as a wrestler years ago. It's only appropriate he combine those two successful endeavors in April and give fans a 'Mania moment they'll never forget.

Announcing his return would allow WWE to build excitement and anticipation for it, but it's been so long since he was last around that keeping it a surprise in order to maximize the reaction would be ideal.

Rock making a rare appearance at WrestleMania should not come at the expense of anyone else, specifically the up-and-coming talent. If executed properly, it can be a fun addition to what's shaping up to be a promising two-night extravaganza on its own.

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Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, has specialized in sports and entertainment writing since 2010. Visit his website, WrestleRant, and subscribe to his YouTube channel for more wrestling-related content.