Ranking The Rock's WWE WrestleMania Matches From Worst To Best
The Great Ones and the Not-So-Great Ones.
Provided the stars align and nothing gets in the way, WWE are at last pulling the trigger on the biggest fight they can possibly put on: The Rock vs. Roman Reigns. A Samoan showdown for the ages, a familial tussle for the seat at the head of the Anoa’i family table, it’s a money match any day of the week, and at WrestleMania Hollywood, it can be a showstopper like nothing we’ve seen before.
Of course, there are all manner of things that can go wrong before then. Injuries aside, this is all on the proviso that Dwayne Johnson doesn’t have a more lucrative movie offer dangled under his nose, or that the insurance companies permit it. This is The Rock we’re talking about, though; he’s gone Hollywood, but still loves the business, and will want to go out the right way.
The Rock and WrestleMania have a storied past, but it’s not always a match made in heaven. For every era-defining headline clash or battle of the generations, there are dashed off midcard quickies and badly booked encounters.
When he’s on fire, though, he’s like no one else, and the Show Of Shows isn’t quite the same without the Great One. Here’s how his ‘Mania matches stack up.
11. Vs. Erick Rowan (WrestleMania 32)
While there are matches in this list that are more dull, that’s really only because The Rock vs. Erick Rowan lasts just six seconds. It’s the shortest match in WrestleMania history; it wasn’t the first humiliation Rowan suffered in his WWE tenure, and it wouldn’t be his last.
Indeed, the match itself is really the least of our worries. Prior to the interruption of the Wyatt Family, Rocky makes his way down to the ring to read out the (disputed) attendance. To say he takes his sweet time is to put it incredibly lightly. He emerges with a flamethrower, sets aflame a sign bearing his name, makes the long walk to the ring, then talks endlessly.
It’s rare one could complain about hearing The Rock talk, but he has nothing to say here. We’ve seen him at the past five WrestleManias - we know the spiel by now. In due course, the Wyatts arrive; Rocky runs them down, winds up in a match with Rowan (due to the injured status of Bray and Braun), and squashes him.
It’s easy to imagine how this could have been fun, especially with Cena making the save after the match, but by this point we’re hours into a low quality ‘Mania, and The Rock running his mouth isn’t making it end any quicker.