Update On The Rock's WWE Future

The Rock may be away from WWE for a little while at some point following WrestleMania 40.

Dwayne Johnson has been back on WWE TV since the start of 2024 and he is set to make his in-ring return in the main event of WrestleMania 40 night one on April 6 when he teams with Roman Reigns to take on Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. Johnson is also a part of the TKO Board of Directors. 

Johnson was in attendance for the Oscars on Sunday, March 10 and The Rock confirmed to ET that he would be on set for filming of the live-action Moana later in 2024, with the movie scheduled to be released on June 27, 2025. Johnson will be filming 'The Smashing Machine' before then, however, which is his A24 movie where The Rock will portray former UFC fighter Mark Kerr.

The official synopsis for the movie states: "'The Smashing Machine' is a drama based on the story of Mark Kerr, the legendary MMA fighter from the no-holds-barred era of the UFC at the peak of his career. He struggles with addiction, winning, love and friendship in the year 2000."

The movie will be directed by Benny Safdie and The Rock will reunite with Emily Blunt for 'The Smashing Machine.' 

These projects will ultimately take The Rock away from WWE TV. Reports have indicated he is scheduled to wrestle at least twice in 2024 and there has been a push for that second match to be at one of WWE's events in Saudi Arabia. WWE are internally scheduled to return to the Middle East in late May and Crown Jewel has taken place in early November in recent years.