Dwayne Johnson’s SmackDown return has given the WWE Universe the best surprise of the year. Not only is the thirst quenched to some extent, but it has also opened the doors to seeing him in the ring yet again. His recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show also brought out many things that fans weren’t aware of.
The Rock revealed that the plans were all set for him to go against his cousin Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39. However, the plans were dismissed. Eventually, it was Cody Rhodes who replaced Dwayne Johnson in creating a new story for The Tribal Chief and The Bloodline at WrestleMania 2023.
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However, during the show, Dwayne Johnson went candid and praised his cousin, Roman Reigns. Talking about having a perfect WrestleMania competitor in the form of Roman Reigns, “Imagine… Roman, incredible athlete. He’s gonna be on Mount Rushmore. Super handsome, good dude, my cousin, family, amazing,” said The Rock.
The statement given by DJ speaks volumes about the position and respect that Roman Reigns holds in the hearts of his fans and other family members. Such words coming from someone who is extremely well-versed in the industry would mean a lot to Roman. While their WrestleMania match is still under question, their bond seems to be extremely strong both on and off the screen.
When did Dwayne Johnson last appear in the WWE ring?
Dwayne ‘The Rock‘ Johnson has spent a lot of his life inside the ring. While it is hard for the fans to not see their star inside the ring, it is equally tough for him to stay away from the WWE Universe. After staying away from the ring for four long years, The Rock recently made his in-ring appearance at SmackDown.

Dwayne Johnson last appeared in the ring in 2019, where he joined hands with Becky Lynch for a promo. The audience went crazy as the duo rocked the event and thrashed Baron Corbin. Talking about his last match in WWE, came against Eric Rowan at WrestleMania 32 in 2016.
The Rock pinned Rowan in a mere six seconds, setting up an all-time record in the history of WrestleMania. His appearance was more hyped when his longtime rival John Cena returned, but he eventually joined his side as the duo took out the entire Wyatt Family. Dwayne Johnson‘s recent appearance has also opened the gates for him to set up an equally promising storyline in the near future, especially at WrestleMania.