In the December 5 edition of The Wrestling Observer newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported on discussions within WWE about Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson returning to the company at January’s Royal Rumble event in an effort to build to a Wrestlemania match in April against Rock’s cousin and Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, Roman Reigns.
There had been rumors for the last two years about Rock wrestling again at Wrestlemania, but a match never materialized. For a variety of reasons, this year may be the most likely that he steps back into the squared circle – and it could be to the XFL’s benefit.
The XFL’s history with WWE is well-known: The founder and owner of the first two versions of the XFL, Vince McMahon, was the longtime boss in WWE, a position he held until his recent retirement this past summer. The Rock being able to return to his wrestling roots while also giving a boost to the league through his wrestling appearances would be a win-win situation.
The one hurdle may be WWE’s television partners. The company’s deals with Fox and NBC are incredibly important to WWE’s bottom line. Those two networks also happen to be in bed with the XFL’s rival, the USFL: Fox owns the league while NBC airs some of the games. Would WWE want to rock the boat by allowing Rock to advertise the XFL on USA Network’s Monday Night Raw or Fox’s Friday Night Smackdown? How much would Fox and NBC really care? It’s a potential hurdle, if nothing else.
Wrestlemania season happens to dovetail nicely with the ramp-up to the XFL season and covers the majority of the regular season as well. It’s unclear how often Rock would appear on WWE TV, but we know that he’s cleared his filming schedule for the spring to focus on the XFL’s first season under his ownership. That would also free him up to appear on Raw and Smackdown, as well as get into wrestling shape to prepare for his Wrestlemania match.
The Royal Rumble is on January 28, just a few weeks before the XFL kicks off. That coincides with a critically important period for the league to gain a foot-hold in the consciousness of the sports fan. Rock’s WWE appearances would play an important part in doing just that.
The stars seem to align even more when considering the location of the Royal Rumble: The Alamodome in San Antonio, the same arena in which the Brahmas will play their home games. A perfect opportunity for an XFL tie-in and a Rock appearance. On the road to Wrestlemania, WWE stops for TV in other XFL cities. They’re in Washington, D.C. for a Smackdown taping on March 3. On March 20, just two weeks before Wrestlemania, Raw emanates from St. Louis. Then it’s on to Wrestlemania in Los Angeles, where it just so happens Rock has made a successful second career as an actor.
It’s almost too perfect: Rock, WWE, XFL. When The Rock partnered in buying the XFL in 2020, the assumption was he’d use his reach as a megastar to help rebuild the league’s brand. If he can do that while tying in WWE and fulfilling his own destiny in facing his cousin on the Grandest Stage of Them All, that’s a win for all involved, including the XFL at a pivotal juncture that will help determine the successfulness and perhaps the future of the league.
