The Rock Must Appear at WWE WrestleMania 41 After Criticism of the Build Amid Rumors

Will he or won't he?

That has been the question in relation to The Rock and whether he will make an appearance at WrestleMania 41 after not appearing at all in the wake of an unforgettable heel turn by John Cena that he was the catalyst of.

According to WrestleVotes, some in WWE expect The Final Boss to be at the event.

He must, if for no other reason than enhancing the extravaganza following criticism of its build.

While there are some storylines that have been stronger than others, most notably Jey Uso's pursuit of the World Heavyweight Championship against Gunther, the creative lead-in to WrestleMania has lacked the overall quality and long-term storytelling that was a staple of last year's show. Some of the matches feel half-baked or thrown together, others have the least backstory imaginable for a show of this magnitude.

Yet, for the issues that have existed with the built to the show, one appearance from The Rock, who is typically at the heart of the major angles in WWE today, would satisfy fans.

It was the Final Boss to whom Cena sold his soul. It was he who had previously asked Cody Rhodes to do the same. He may even have his fingerprints on the Triple Threat Match between CM Punk, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns.

He is the nucleus of the overarching story in WWE and belongs on the WrestleMania stage, be it in a cameo or as the emphasis for the outcome of a marquee match.

Without him, questions remain unanswered, and not in the good way. Not in a way that makes you keep wanting the answers but, rather, in a way that makes one question if they are ever coming. One's patience is good for only so long before it feels like it is being taken advantage of.

If The Rock does not appear at WrestleMania after being such a significant figure in the build that we did get to the show, most notably in terms of the Cena heel turn that set up the main event, then Triple H and Co. must look toward a future and creating stories that do not revolve around a megastar with an unpredictable film schedule.

Otherwise, they risk alienating the audience and testing their patience to the point that they opt not to stick around to find out the direction in which everything is going.

If nothing else, an appearance by The Rock and some creative twist or turn creates some level of excitement and anticipation for the WWE product moving forward, exactly what a show of this size and spectacle is defined by. It creates goodwill and has fans looking forward to Monday and the new year-long journey the company will take them on.