The Rock at WrestleMania 40: What to know about return to WWE for 'The People's Champion'
Can you smell what The Rock is cooking?
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has made his return to WWE and he's doing more than just talking, as "The Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment" will enter the ring and compete in a match for the first time in eighth years at WrestleMania 40. One of the newest members to the board of directors of the TKO Group, which owns WWE, The Rock will be competing in a main event match of Night 1 in Philadelphia, and he's more than likely going to appear in some capacity on Night 2, so it's shaping up to be a stacked weekend for one of the most recognizable people in all of wrestling.
Here's everything to know about The Rock for WrestleMania 40:
What match is The Rock competing in?
The Rock will be competing in a tag
team match. He will team up with Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes and World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins.
When is The Rock's match?
The Rock's match will be on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40 on April 6.
Why is The Rock back?
The Rock has been hinting about his desire to return to WWE in the past year, and he even made a surprise appearance in September, but it really went into full gear on Jan. 1. On "Raw," The Rock returned and alluded to facing Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.
After Rhodes won the 2024 men's Royal Rumble match that same month, it was expected he would challenge Reigns for the title. But then The Rock inserted himself into facing Reigns at WrestleMania instead of Rhodes, much to the disapproval of Rhodes and WWE fans. This led to a faceoff at the WrestleMania 40 kickoff show in Las Vegas in February, which ended with The Rock slapping Rhodes and aligning himself with Reigns, while Rhodes was granted the right to face Reigns at WrestleMania. After Rollins came to the defense of Rhodes, a tag team match — The Rock and Reigns vs. Rhodes and Rollins — was proposed and later accepted. The rivalry has been brewing since then, with The Rock launching brutal attacks on both Rhodes and Rollins.
What to know about The Rock's match
The tag team match between the two sides won't be a regular match, but it will have consequences for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match on Night 2.
If Rhodes and Rollins win, then The Bloodline, the faction spearheaded by Reigns that now includes The Rock, will be barred from ringside during the championship match. If The Rock and Reigns win, then the match will be under Bloodline rules — a no disqualification match — which means The Bloodline can interfere however it wants. If that happens, The Rock said he will do "everything" to make sure Rhodes doesn't win the title.
The Rock's last WWE match
This will be The Rock's first WWE match since 2016, when he competed in a six-second match against Erick Rowan at WrestleMania 32. Before that, The Rock last competed in 2013, when he faced John Cena for the WWE Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 29.
Since 2011, The Rock has competed in six WWE matches.
The Rock's WWE career
"The People's Champion" has accomplished a lot during his illustrious WWE career that began in 1996. He is a 10-time WWE Champion, two-time Intercontinental Champion and five-time tag team champion. He also won the 2000 Royal Rumble.
This will be The Rock's 12th WrestleMania match, and he owns a 6-5 record in WWE's grand event. Here's The Rock's WrestleMania history:
- WrestleMania 13: Defeated The Sultan to retain the Intercontinental Championship.
- WrestleMania 14: Defeated Ken Shamrock by disqualification to retain the Intercontinental Championship.
- WrestleMania 15: Lost to Stone Cold Steve Austin for the WWF Championship in a no disqualification match.
- WrestleMania 16: Lost to Triple H for the WWF Championship in a fatal four-way match.
- WrestleMania 17: Lost to Stone Cold Steve Austin for the WWF Championship in a no disqualification match.
- WrestleMania 18: Defeated Hollywood Hulk Hogan.
- WrestleMania 19: Defeat Stone Cold Steven Austin.
- WrestleMania 20: Lost to Randy Orton, Batista and Ric Flair in a 3-on-2 handicap match with Mick Foley.
- WrestleMania 28: Defeated John Cena.
- WrestleMania 29: Lost to John Cena for the WWE Championship.
- WrestleMania 32: Defeated Erick Rowan.
The Rock's Hollywood success
The Rock began acting before stepping back from wrestling, and has since found great success on the big screen. He's one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood and has starred in movies across genres, from the Fast & Furious series to Baywatch, the Scorpion King, Jumanji and the voice of Disney's Moana. He also had a successful HBO series, Ballers, is a New York Times bestseller and was twice named one of the world's most influential people by Time.