WWE News: Backstage Update on The Rock's Royal Rumble & WrestleMania Plans

For those who are thrilled by the surprise pop or don't like to know WWE plans in advance, stop reading now.

If that includes any of you, which it probably doesn't, here is the latest update of Attitude Era legend The Rock's plans for the new year.

The Wrestling Observer (h/t Wrestling Inc) is reporting today that all is well in terms of The Rock returning to both the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania pay-per-views next year, even if his opponents at both have not yet been decided upon.

"Despite recent creative changes involving CM Punk and the WWE Title, The Wrestling Observer reports that as of this week Punk vs. The Rock for the WWE Title is still scheduled for January's Royal Rumble pay-per-view," the story claims.

"Plans for The Rock's opponents can always change but it's a lock that he will main event both the Rumble and WrestleMania 29."

Though this may not necessarily come as much of a surprise to the diehard fan, news that The Rock is "a lock" should come as relief, because for awhile, it was not completely certain that this would be the case.

In July, it was announced that The Rock's next movie, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, had switched its release date to late March, a week before WrestleMania was due to take place.

According to Wrestling Inc, his appearance at the showpiece PPV at that point was "not a guarantee."

So in consideration of the latest news, fans of The People's Champion can rest easy at night safe in the knowledge that this is now not so.

The news that the plan is for CM Punk to still be champion come the Royal Rumble does not bode well for the likes of Ryback and John Cena, though, who are almost sure to lose to him at upcoming PPVs Hell in a Cell and Survivor Series.

To have The Rock end Punk's long reign as champion would certainly provide us with a huge pop, but who the challenger to the WWE Championship will be at WrestleMania, though, is still unknown.

Who do you think should be The Rock's opponents at Royal Rumble and WrestleMania? Are you glad to hear his return is "a lock"?