Dave Meltzer does not expect The Rock to wrestle at WrestleMania 43 because of a film schedule.
WrestleMania 43 is set for Riyadh next year, and Saudi organizers are believed to want The Rock on the card. Vin Diesel told Variety this month that Fast Forever, the final film in the Fast and Furious series, is aiming to start shooting in December. Rock is scheduled to appear in it.
Meltzer discussed it on the post-Raw Wrestling Observer Radio.
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.
His argument is about preparation rather than availability.
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.
Meltzer said Rock has too much pride to go out unprepared, and pointed out that he has trained hard before every previous return. He expects an appearance rather than a match.
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 December date is not locked. Diesel’s own words were that filming would start if he could meet a request from Universal, which has been reported as a big budget reduction. Director Louis Leterrier had not read the script as of a few weeks ago. The film is scheduled for release in March 2028.
Rock last appeared on WWE television at Elimination Chamber in Toronto in March 2025.
