WWE is reportedly moving forward with its early WrestleMania 43 planning under the assumption that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will not be available for a major storyline role at the event.
WrestleMania 43 is scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia next year, marking a historic shift for WWE’s biggest annual show. It will be the first WrestleMania held outside North America, though WWE has yet to announce the exact date or dates for the event. The company has also not formally confirmed its full WrestleMania Week schedule, although the show is expected to retain its two-night format.
That expectation is notable because WrestleMania has become a two-night destination event in recent years, and the format is reportedly preferred by ESPN. WWE has announced that WrestleMania-related watch parties and two special live events will be held in New York, but many of the central details surrounding the Saudi Arabia stadium shows remain unknown.
One element that currently appears less likely is a substantial in-ring program involving Johnson. WWE creative is said to be proceeding without plans built around “The Great One,” with the belief that he will not be available for significant storyline participation.
For more background on this topic, read WWE Reportedly Targeting Perth for Survivor Series or Royal Rumble in 2028.
The Rock’s WrestleMania Status Remains Uncertain
The reported internal approach does not necessarily rule out Johnson appearing at WrestleMania 43 in some capacity. In professional wrestling, particularly around WrestleMania season, plans can shift quickly when a major attraction becomes available. However, the important distinction is that WWE is not believed to be constructing the event’s key creative direction around his participation at this stage.
That is a practical position for WWE to take given Johnson’s commitments outside the wrestling industry. He remains one of the most recognizable stars associated with WWE, but his film schedule has repeatedly been a factor whenever questions arise about his ability to commit to an extended wrestling angle.
Recent discussion around WrestleMania 43 included rumors that Saudi Arabia was interested in having Johnson wrestle on the card. The prospect makes sense on a surface level. WrestleMania’s first trip outside North America is a landmark occasion, and Johnson is among the few names whose presence can immediately make any WWE event feel larger.
Still, interest in a match and the logistical reality of making one happen are different matters. Johnson is expected to be occupied with filming the newest installment of the Fast and The Furious franchise. That work could make it difficult for him to take part in the type of physical, multi-week program that a WrestleMania match would ordinarily require.
There remains a difference between a match, a major angle, and a brief appearance. A cameo, promotional segment, or other limited role could potentially be more realistic than a full wrestling commitment. At present, though, WWE’s creative plans are reportedly not operating on the belief that he will be a central WrestleMania 43 figure.
A Different Situation From Johnson’s Last WWE Appearance
Johnson has not appeared on WWE programming since the Elimination Chamber premium live event in March 2025. That appearance was one of the defining moments of WWE’s recent creative direction, as John Cena turned heel on Cody Rhodes.
The segment placed Johnson in the middle of a massive shift involving two of WWE’s most important active stars. Cena’s turn against Rhodes was designed as a major storyline development, while Johnson’s involvement gave the moment additional star power and reinforced his ability to alter the direction of WWE programming whenever he returns.
Because of that history, it is understandable that speculation around a WrestleMania 43 role surfaced quickly. Johnson is not simply a nostalgia act who can be inserted into a celebration segment. When WWE has used him in recent years, it has often done so in a manner tied to the company’s highest-profile championship and character stories.
His limited availability also increases the importance of every appearance. If Johnson is able to participate in a major angle, WWE has a strong incentive to make that time count. But if he cannot commit to the required build, designing WrestleMania’s creative around him would present an obvious risk.
A WrestleMania main event or major featured match demands more than a single night of availability. WWE would need time to establish the conflict, promote the attraction across television and media platforms, and account for the training and preparation needed for an in-ring performance. The scale of the Saudi Arabia event could make those demands even more significant.
WrestleMania 43 Will Carry Historic Expectations
Regardless of whether Johnson is involved, WrestleMania 43 will arrive with unusually high expectations. WWE’s decision to bring the event to Saudi Arabia makes the show a major milestone for the company and its relationship with the region.
WrestleMania has long been presented as WWE’s premier spectacle, combining championship matches, celebrity involvement, international media attention, and the biggest attendance figures of the year. Moving that model beyond North America changes the scale of the undertaking while also creating a new set of questions about scheduling, presentation, and the eventual card.
WWE has not announced the dates, venue details, or the main attractions for the event. Those unanswered questions leave ample room for speculation, especially where stars such as Johnson are concerned. Yet the reported decision to prepare without him provides a useful indication of how WWE is approaching the planning process: build a show that can stand on its own, then adjust if an extraordinary opportunity emerges.
That approach is especially sensible with a performer whose schedule can be affected by major film production. Johnson remains an enormous part of WWE’s broader identity, but his wrestling appearances must fit around commitments that extend well beyond the company’s calendar.
WWE’s roster, meanwhile, gives the promotion several potential directions for a WrestleMania card without relying on a returning legend. The company can continue to develop its current championship programs and top rivalries while retaining flexibility for surprise appearances or late additions. A major Johnson appearance would still be valuable if it becomes possible, but it would not need to be the foundation of the event.
Why WWE Cannot Wait on a Late Decision
There is always a temptation to keep WrestleMania plans open for a name as large as The Rock. Few wrestlers can command mainstream attention at his level, and even a short appearance can reshape fan expectations around a show. However, waiting too long to determine his availability could leave WWE in a difficult creative position.
Major WrestleMania programs are generally stronger when they are given time to develop. Audiences invest in stories through repeated confrontations, clear stakes, and the sense that rivalries are escalating toward a meaningful conclusion. A last-minute Johnson program could generate massive interest, but it may also require WWE to alter existing plans that have already been established around full-time talent.
Planning as if Johnson will not be there allows WWE to protect those longer-term narratives. It also means the company can treat any future availability as a bonus rather than a necessity. If his schedule changes and he is able to take part, WWE could evaluate whether there is a role that fits the event without compromising the stories already in place.
For now, the key word is flexibility. The situation is not being presented as a permanent decision that Johnson will definitely miss WrestleMania 43. Rather, the current expectation is that he will not have the time for substantial storyline participation. Given the amount of time remaining before the event and the unpredictable nature of both entertainment scheduling and WWE creative, that could change.
Until it does, WWE appears set to map out its first Saudi Arabia WrestleMania without placing The Rock at the center of the plan. For a show with historic significance already attached to it, that decision ensures the company will not be dependent on an uncertain availability timeline.
WrestleMania 43 is already positioned to be one of WWE’s most consequential events in years. Whether Johnson ultimately becomes part of that moment remains an open question, but the present creative expectation is that the company will need to deliver the spectacle without a major program involving “The Great One.”
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Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.