8 hours ago
5 ARTICLE AD
The Rock’s recent appearance on WWE RAW during its Netflix debut made headlines for all the wrong reasons. While fans were thrilled to see “The Great One” in action, his unscripted Instagram Live sessions backstage reportedly threw WWE’s carefully crafted WrestleMania plans into disarray. But the real story behind the scenes is even more intriguing.
According to Billi Bhatti on the Dirty Sheets Backstage Informer podcast, The Rock went live after being told by WWE executives that the company wasn’t planning to put the World Championship on him at WrestleMania 41. The decision stemmed from The Rock’s packed schedule, which wouldn’t allow him to defend the title throughout the rest of 2025. WWE’s priority remained having a champion actively present on weekly television.
Bhatti explained, “The Rock was clearly told, as was I, and as were other people I speak to, that WWE could not afford to have the world championship off television for the rest of 2025. That was clearly conveyed to The Rock. So, while The Rock knew he was guaranteed a main event match against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 42—and that match would be for the championship, with The Rock going in as the challenger—he was clearly told that he would not be winning the belt from Cody Rhodes at this year’s WrestleMania.”
The initial plan had The Rock pinning Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41, setting up a rematch where Cody would even the score, leading to a blockbuster rubber match in Saudi Arabia. However, WWE’s stance shifted as they finalized their WrestleMania lineup, deciding to keep the belt on Cody for future programs, including a summer feud with Roman Reigns.
Even with this decision, The Rock’s Instagram Live antics created an unplanned ripple effect. While addressing fans backstage, The Rock hinted at his ongoing storyline, leaving many questioning how his match with Cody would ultimately unfold. WWE’s decision to sideline The Rock as champion didn’t sit well, but it aligned with the company’s need to prioritize a consistent on-screen title presence.
Bhatti added further insight into WWE’s evolving WrestleMania plans, noting that discussions at Survivor Series revolved around inserting Roman Reigns into The Rock vs. Cody match to protect The Rock from a pinfall. However, by the time Bad Blood rolled around, the frontrunner plan was a straightforward one-on-one encounter between The Rock and Cody.
“It was suggested that Roman be inserted into the Cody Rhodes vs. Rock match. This then became a way for The Rock not to be pinned by Cody Rhodes.” However, as time went on, WWE decided to stick with a one-on-one encounter between The Rock and Cody Rhodes.
The tension reportedly began around Survivor Series when The Rock suggested WrestleMania 41 focus on John Cena instead. Bhatti added, “Fast forward to Survivor Series weekend, and that was when The Rock began suggesting that WrestleMania should be more about John Cena.”
The chaos surrounding The Rock’s plans has left fans guessing about the Hollywood megastar’s wrestling future. While WWE aims to maintain storyline continuity, The Rock’s unpredictable actions both on and off-screen keep everyone on their toes.
What do you think about The Rock’s WrestleMania plans and his backstage Instagram Live drama? Should WWE stick to their title plans, or make an exception for “The Great One”? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
