The Rock Reveals What Conversation He’s Had with the Saudi Officials for WrestleMania 43 in Riyadh

The Rock has opened up on WrestleMania 43 taking place in Saudi Arabia while also discussing his potential role for the event.

The Rock Reveals What Conversation He’s Had with the Saudi Officials for WrestleMania 43 in Riyadh

The Rock [via- WWE]

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Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who’s not only a Hollywood mogul but also someone who sits on the Board of Directors of TKO, was recently asked about his thoughts on WrestleMania 43 being hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Speaking on Raffi Talks, the former 10-time world champion said he’s very excited about the brand of WrestleMania and WWE Superstars getting to be a part of such a global event.

As far as his negotiations and participation are concerned, ‘The Final Boss’ let out a hearty laugh when the interviewer asked if the talks are good or bad. The 53-year-old then replied by saying, “Good, they’re always good.”

Even though The Rock didn’t go into the ins and outs of the conversation he’s had with the Saudi officials, the General Entertainment Authority (GEA) is certainly pushing to secure him for the wrestling spectacle in Riyadh.

A few days ago, Andrew Baydala reported that the Saudis have made a big push to feature two “Bald Attitude Era stars” at WrestleMania 43. Without a shadow of a doubt, they’re none other than The Rock and his great rival, ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin. Baydala said that there’s hesitation from The Rock’s camp about him wrestling in Saudi Arabia, as it would most likely be his last match.

Last September, a report in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter stated that with the closing of WWE’s deal with Saudi Arabia to host its first-ever WrestleMania outside of North America, the local entertainment authority was eyeing ‘The Great One’ to either face Cody Rhodes or Roman Reigns in the main event.

Rock vs. Reigns, the long-pending dream match between the Anoa’i wrestling clan stalwarts, might finally take place at WrestleMania in Riyadh, and if it doesn’t, that ship will have sailed. The can has been kicked down the road in regard to this match over the last few years. It was supposed to happen at WrestleMania 39 with a Hollywood theme aligning perfectly with The Brahma Bull’s movie business stature. However, it didn’t happen.

Who could ever forget what happened on the Road to WrestleMania XL when Rock had returned almost on a full-time basis to finally take on his cousin in what was being dubbed as the biggest WrestleMania main event of all time? However, the unprecedented Cody Rhodes fever among the fans led to WWE pivoting to ‘The American Nightmare’ getting his spot back.

Drew McIntyre brings up The Rock’s unfulfilled assignment of Cody Rhodes

Drew McIntyre recently made headlines by finally beating Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship. He stepped into last week’s SmackDown in London with a special entrance and exaggerated pyro celebration for his watershed moment. Taking to X, the Scot gave a check mark to what he’s accomplished, which is taking the world title belt off Rhodes and also stealing his pyro budget.

Drew McIntyre brings up taking Cody Rhodes' soul like The Rock had long ago
Drew McIntyre brings up taking Cody Rhodes’ soul like The Rock had long ago [via- WWE]

McIntyre is now onto taking “Cody’s soul.” It sure does ring a bell. Isn’t it? That’s exactly what The Rock had tried doing last year when he unexpectedly returned to WWE programming in early 2025. ‘The QB1’ savagely declined The Brahma Bull’s offer at the Elimination Chamber in a segment that resulted in John Cena’s heel turn.

The Black Adam star had abruptly disappeared from WWE following that and has yet to make an on-screen appearance for the company since then. The Rock did tell Pat McAfee after WrestleMania 41 that he will revisit the storyline concerning Cody Rhodes’ soul, which Drew McIntyre has now brought up in a recent social media post.

McIntyre and Rock caught up backstage at the Netflix premiere of Raw last year, and ‘The Scottish Psychopath’ said he asked ‘The Final Boss’ to do him an undisclosed favor. Could all this possibly tie up into McIntyre and Rock working in cahoots to stack the odds against Rhodes in the near future? It remains to be seen.

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