Update on If The Rock Will Wrestle At WWE WrestleMania 43

As previously reported, Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority has been making a big push to have Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson headline WrestleMania 43 in Riyadh next year, with negotiations reportedly advancing next year. However, The Rock’s busy Hollywood schedule might also make landing him at the WWE premium live event extremely difficult, per Dave Meltzer on today’s Wrestling Observer Radio.

If Vin Diesel is to be believed, Fast Forever, the planned eleventh installment in the Fast & Furious franchise, is expected to start filming later this December. Diesel told Variety last week, “We start shooting in December, if I can make good on the request from the studio.’

The Rock, whose return as Luke Hobbs was teased during a credits scene in Fast X in 2023, is scheduled to make his return in the upcoming sequel. Meltzer explained on Fast Forever, “Because that movie is gonna take months to film, if he is in it, which he is scheduled to be in it, that him doing a match at WrestleMania would be out the window. I mean, could he fly to Saudi Arabia and show up? Of course. Of course he could, and he could always do that.”

Meltzer stated that Saudi’s General Entertainment Authority is keen to have The Rock wrestle at WrestleMania 43. However, Meltzer expressed doubt about when The Rock would be able to train for the match while shooting the planned sequel.

Meltzer continued, “I know that the Saudis really wanted him to wrestle on that show next year, and if they offer enough money, there may be a way, but I don’t know where he’s gonna get time to train when he’s doing a movie like that. And I don’t see him doing something in the ring without training. He has too much pride, if that’s the right word, to go out there and half-*** it. I mean, the one thing that you could say is every time he came back, he trained his *** off.”

He added, “I don’t see him doing a match. Now, as far as showing up for an appearance, I could certainly see that. To get Dwayne to do something at this stage, especially in Saudi Arabia, the amount of money would be giant. But, like I said, from a timing standpoint, I think it would be very unlikely he’s doing a match.”

The Rock has not appeared on WWE TV since Elimination Chamber Toronto in 2025, where he ordered John Cena’s attack on then-WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes, after Rhodes refused The Rock’s offer to align with him.

Also, The Rock spoke about his excitement for WrestleMania 43 during a recent interview with Raffi Talks. He also said his conversations with WWE were “good” and will “always be good.”

Fast Forever is slated to hit theaters on March 17, 2028.