WWE "Moving Forward" On Creative Plans For WrestleMania 41 WITHOUT The Rock
Recent reports won't confirm that The Rock is missing WrestleMania 41, but even WWE aren't sure.
Sportskeeda Wrestling's Chris Featherstone and Fightful Select are both reporting that WWE currently plans to press ahead creatively as though The Rock won't be part of WrestleMania 41. Naturally, as Fightful pointed out: "Anyone pretending that anyone else reported that The Rock is "100 percent out" for WrestleMania isn't being genuine, and nobody would supply that information knowing the Rock".
There's still plenty of time for things to change.
Wrestling Observer chief Dave Meltzer had previously reported that Dwayne Johnson told the company there was a solid chance he wouldn't be available for next year's 'Mania season. The Rock himself pushed back on that via social media - telling fans on Instagram to "not believe that sh*t".
According to Featherstone and now Fightful, WWE sources say "that there are creative plans being put in motion on the assumption that The Rock will not be working WrestleMania". Again, Rock's schedule is hectic, but there's always a chance things will come together and he'll be in Las Vegas come spring. However, it's very interesting that Triple H's team is currently working on the basis that Rocky won't be able to attend either night.
The Rock's Bad Blood Appearance Was "To Simply Get Him Onscreen"
Fightful went on to reveal WWE sources told them that The Rock's surprise appearance at Bad Blood on 5 October was done "to simply get him onscreen and didn't have a major direction or plot point they were furthering". The company only found out that he'd 100% be there the week of the PLE, and that's why Drew McIntyre vs. CM Punk inside Hell In A Cell opened the show.
The site also reported that Rock and Cody Rhodes "filmed something" at the Moana premiere, but there's no telling when or even if that'll ever surface.
This will likely be a talking point right through WrestleMania season. All 'will he/won't he' chatter surrounding The Rock working a match on the supercard(s) or even making an appearance full stop looks set to continue. As Fightful stated, nobody should completely rule out any possibility right now.
Triple H and WWE will surely have contingency plans in place regardless of whether Johnson is in the house for 'Mania or not. Right now, creative is working on the premise that he won't be.