Nick White
In the world of professional wrestling, dream matches and epic showdowns are the lifeblood of the industry. When two of the biggest names in wrestling history, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Roman Reigns, were rumored to face off at WrestleMania 39, fans’ excitement reached a fever pitch. However, in a recent interview on “The Pat McAfee Show,” The Rock shed light on the tantalizing possibility and why it ultimately didn’t materialize.
The prospect of The Rock and Roman Reigns headlining WrestleMania at SoFi Stadium was a tantalizing one. The Rock himself confirmed, “The Rock headlining WrestleMania with Roman Reigns, SoFi Stadium, that was locked. We were doing it.” Wrestling enthusiasts around the world were abuzz with anticipation for what could have been one of the most monumental matches in WWE history.
The journey towards making this epic showdown a reality began at the start of 2022 when Dwayne Johnson, Vince McMahon, and WWE’s Nick Khan came together in Los Angeles. The Rock recounted the pivotal meeting, emphasizing the camaraderie and excitement that filled the room.
“We broke out the Teremana, we toasted life, we toasted the business we love, and about an hour later, we started talking about the potential of what this match could be between myself and Roman Reigns headlining WrestleMania at SoFi.”
While the match between The Rock and Roman Reigns seemed to be a certainty, their collective vision reached far beyond just having a great contest in the ring. The trio aimed to create something unprecedented for the fans, something that would transcend the confines of WrestleMania and redefine the wrestling landscape.
“So the north star thought was, ‘Okay, let’s not do something good. Let’s not do something great. Let’s do something unprecedented.’ It was in, what can we create for the fans that has never been done before. A match, great. Roman, incredible athlete. He’s gonna be on Mount Rushmore. Super handsome, good dude, my cousin, family. Amazing. We can have the match, but the bigger thought was, what can we do for the fans and the business that love, where WrestleMania isn’t the end of something, it’s actually the beginning of something bigger.”
As exhilarating as the prospect was, The Rock revealed that despite coming very close, they couldn’t quite determine what “that thing” was that would elevate their storyline to the unprecedented level they aspired to achieve.
“So we got really, really close, but we couldn’t actually nail what that thing was. So we decided to put our pencils down.”
While The Rock confirmed that the merger between WWE and another major wrestling promotion, as well as WrestleMania in Philadelphia, are potential future opportunities, the larger goal remains unchanged. They want to deliver something groundbreaking, not only for the fans but also for the wrestlers themselves and the wrestling world as a whole.
“What can we do to put them in a position where they’re part of something that is a new change, an era, in this world of pro wrestling. Again, Vince is a big-picture thinker, as you know. This is why we’ve gotten along for years, just trying to think big picture. So we’ll see.”
While the dream match between Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39 remains unrealized, the wrestling world continues to anticipate what groundbreaking and unprecedented plans lie ahead. The Rock’s commitment to delivering something extraordinary for the fans and the wrestling community showcases his unwavering passion for the business. As wrestling enthusiasts, we can only wait with bated breath to see what groundbreaking spectacle awaits us in the future of WWE.
