Why The Rock Shouldn't Wrestle at WWE WrestleMania 40

The Rock's emphatic return to WWE at the onset of 2024 shook up the entire road to WrestleMania 40 and caused plans for the pay-per-view to shift considerably.

Since pivoting from Roman Reigns vs. The Rock to Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes, the company has done an excellent job of keeping fans guessing week after week with what will happen next. That includes incorporating Seth Rollins into the mix and turning Rock for the first time in over two decades.

The seeds were planted for a massive tag team match as early as the WrestleMania press conference in early February and Rock all but made it official on the March 2 edition of SmackDown.

The Great One getting back in the ring at 'Mania was hardly in doubt, but that doesn't make it any less unnecessary.

With how hot the WWE product is at the moment and how stacked the WrestleMania card is shaping up to be, there is no need for Rock to compete on either night of the event. Keeping his role limited to interfering in Reigns vs. Rhodes would have been the best case scenario–as unlikely as it now seems.

The cons outweigh the pros as to why Rock should not wrestle at WrestleMania 40.

How Night 1 Tag Team Match Takes Away from the Reigns vs. Rhodes Rematch

This main focus heading into WrestleMania 40 should be and always should have been on Rhodes and Reigns.

The story is simple: Rhodes was cheated out of the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Reigns by The Bloodline and earned the right to a rematch by winning the men's Royal Rumble for the second straight year.

To WWE's credit, they're taking a grander approach by bringing Rock and Rollins into the fold so Rhodes has backup and a bigger obstacle to overcome with The Bloodline growing in numbers.

In doing so, it's made the soon-to-be-confirmed tag team match the ultimate attraction instead of what's supposed to be the biggest WrestleMania rematch of all-time.

Adding stakes will be what makes it meaningful as the outcome directly affects Reigns vs. Rhodes the next night. However, the first bout will consequently eliminate some of the magic when Rhodes and Reigns lock up on Night 2 after already squaring off the night prior.

The build has been brilliant thus far and hasn't proven to be too overcomplicated, but come WrestleMania weekend, the atmosphere for Rhodes finally challenging Reigns again may not be nearly as electric as it was one year ago.

Both WWE World Championships Could Get Overshadowed

Not only could fan interest in Reigns vs. Rhodes wane due to both men pulling double duty over WrestleMania weekend, the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship and the World Heavyweight Championship could be overshadowed by the nonessential tag team match.

It could be argued that they already have been with the build for said bout taking on a life of its own.

Rhodes has made it abundantly clear that he can't finish his story until he's holding the Undisputed WWE Universal title. In theory, that should make Reigns his final boss, not The Rock, who has had more animosity toward Rhodes than Reigns has since the storyline started.

The World Heavyweight title has come off as an even bigger afterthought. Rollins and his WrestleMania opponent Drew McIntyre have interacted a few times since McIntyre became number one contender at Elimination Chamber, but Rollins has seemingly been far more concerned with Rhodes and The Bloodline than with The Scottish Warrior.

Reigns has been champion for so long that Rhodes dethroning him at 'Mania should be as massive of a moment as possible, not playing second fiddle to Rock's in-ring return.

Running the Risk of Reigns, Rhodes or Rollins Getting Injured

Injuries are the nature of the pro wrestling business, but WWE is running a real risk by having Reigns, Rhodes and Rollins compete twice in high-profile matches on back-to-back nights at WrestleMania.

Of course, it's imperative they stay healthy until then, and Rollins was already injured for a brief period between the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber. But if they're adamant about the tag team match living up to the lofty hype, Night 1 of WrestleMania would be where they'd go all out and jeopardize getting hurt.

If that were to happen, Night 2 could be a colossal disaster for WWE, regardless of who goes down with an injury.

Going the "safe" route for the tag team match would prevent it from feeling as special as it has the potential to be, so finding that middle ground is key.

Any story that can be told on Night 1 can be told just as well as Night 2 with Rock at ringside for Reigns vs. Rhodes or getting involved in some other form or fashion. The projected WrestleMania lineup sells itself and doesn't need Rock in action to be a success; his presence alone is enough.

Rhodes, Rollins and Reigns Shouldn't Be Losing Ahead of Night 2

On paper, Reigns and Rock vs. Rhodes and Rollins is an absolute blockbuster of a bout, but one team will win and the other will lose. With three of the four men wrestling the next night as well, none of them can afford a defeat and that's the predicament WWE finds itself in.

The stipulations state that Reigns vs. Rhodes on Night 2 will be Bloodline-free if Rhodes and Rollins win, whereas it's "Bloodline rules" if Reigns and Rock reign supreme. The stakes were necessary, but booking any of them to lose ahead of the anticipated rematch is far from ideal.

Rock will be the only one not pulling double duty, but he shouldn't suffer a loss if the idea is for him to wrestle again eventually, even if it were due to him and Reigns having a miscommunication. The Bloodline wining makes the most sense, but neither Rhodes nor Rollins should be beaten.

Rollins is already the "fourth wheel" in many ways and a pinfall loss would cement him as such. Rhodes was recently defeated by Drew McIntyre on Raw and hasn't lost a shred of credibility, not to mention that Rock being the one to pin him could set up a future match between them.

The expected Night 1 main event is unquestionably WrestleMania worthy, but no outcome can justify its existence.

There Are Multiple Matches Worthy of the Main Event Spot

If this were almost any other year, the Bloodline saga being spread across two nights of WrestleMania would be perfectly acceptable.

There have been many 'Manias that were loaded with part-time talent and stars of yesteryear because the active roster have very little depth. WWE has the opposite problem in 2024: They have too many Superstars who are over with the audience than they know what to do with.

All signs pointed to Rollins defending his World Heavyweight Championship against CM Punk in the Night 1 main event before Punk got injured. Rock wrestling was likely always in the cards, so the tag match may have been inevitable no matter what, but it's not as if WWE doesn't have other marquee matchups they can close Night 1 with.

Bayley being the women's Royal Rumble winner and challenging Iyo Sky for the WWE Women's Championship is an obvious option, along with Rollins vs. McIntyre for the World Heavyweight title. Rhea Ripley vs. Becky Lynch could also realistically headline and they wouldn't at all feel out of place.

If there was ever a time to shine a light on the talent of today and not rely on performers from the past, it would be now. Rock's in-ring return will add to the excitement fans have for WrestleMania 40, but as an unnecessary addition to the card, it would be best saved for another event later down the road.

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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.