The anticipation for WrestleMania 39 has been stoked in part by rumors that Roman Reigns and The Rock may square off. Even still, it seems unlikely that The Great One will show up at WWE's biggest event in April given his absence from the Royal Rumble event on Saturday.
During the Royal Rumble press conference, WWE's Chief Content Officer Triple H quipped about recent reports that the 10-time world champion might not have enough time to get ready for the ring.
Apparently he can’t get in shape in time. That’s what all you tell me.
But jokes aside, Triple H was quick to appreciate how busy The Rock is.
He looked pretty jacked, I thought. I saw Black Adam the other day and I didn’t think it was the uniform. He’s incredibly busy. I can say this, as a guy that, we grew up as two young kids fighting each other for the spot and having battles over it and, in the best way, pushing each other. We all were in that time.
I know, for him….I was at a large Emmy event a few years ago and there was a poster of him. I think he was about to drop the People’s Elbow on me. He was standing over me in this photo and it’s a hyper-focused incredibly detailed picture. As I’m looking at the picture, I realized he had goosebumps all over him, standing over me. I took a picture of it and sent it to him. I said, 'You don’t get this in Hollywood, do you?'
It’s a rush, but after the 12th time you’ve done that take, probably not as exciting as the first couple. There is nothing like this, nothing. I know for him, and I know his family and background, there is a part of him that, if he could be here for this and for this WrestleMania in Hollywood, he would turn over every stone and walk through fire to be able to do it, if he could.
The Rock is always welcome in WWE, whether he makes an appearance or not. At least as long as Triple H is in charge.
I just don’t think it’s in the cards. Then again, I don’t know. We always have conversations with him because he loves it so much and we’d love for him to be a part of it. He’s the biggest star in Hollywood and maybe the most recognizable person on the planet. Why wouldn’t we want him to be part of it? This is his home. It’s an open invitation. We don’t lock the door.
He has an open invitation to walk through it anytime he wants, but he’s incredibly busy. I think that respect factors both ways. He wouldn’t want to do it unless he could absolutely do it. There is no way he would show up here and half-ass it. There is no way he would show up here and not come in and want to put every single thing he had into it to make it the best it could possibly be.
Unless he could do that, it won’t happen. He knows the door is open and when he has the time and availability to do it, he can come in and electrify everybody.
Although it might not be as great a bout as The Rock vs. Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns seems to be the potential showdown at WrestleMania Goes Hollywood. The former executive VP of AEW eliminated Gunther at the Royal Rumble event to emerge victorious on his first comeback from injury.
Cody's triumph earned him an opportunity to challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. Reigns is the current and longest-reigning WWE Universal Champion in his second reign, as well as the current WWE Champion in his fourth reign.
