Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s potential return to WWE for WrestleMania 43 has hit a scheduling roadblock.
During a recent interview with “Variety,” Vin Diesel revealed that filming for “Fast Forever,” the final movie in the “Fast & Furious” franchise, is scheduled to begin in December, putting Johnson’s Hollywood commitments directly across the Road to WrestleMania.
“We start shooting in December, if I can make good on the request from the studio,” Diesel revealed.
“The Great One” is expected to appear in the movie alongside Diesel and Jason Statham, although the actor’s exact filming schedule has not been revealed.
The timing could prove problematic for WWE. WrestleMania 43 is scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in April 2027, meaning The Rock could be working on the movie during January, February and March.
A major production can require several months of filming. “Fast X,” for example, took four months to film. Even with a holiday break, a similar schedule for “Fast Forever” could leave “The Final Boss” with little availability during WWE’s busiest stretch of the year.
A WrestleMania match would also require more than appearing on the show itself. The Rock would need to participate in WWE programming, develop a storyline with his opponent and spend time preparing physically for the match.
That could become particularly difficult while filming an action-heavy blockbuster.
Before the latest development, fans had speculated that WrestleMania 43 could feature a major match involving “The Final Boss.” A potential encounter with Roman Reigns has been among the most discussed possibilities, with the idea of The Rock competing in what could be his final match adding even more interest to the speculation.
Nothing has been confirmed regarding Johnson’s WrestleMania 43 plans, however.
The Rock Has Been Away From WWE Storylines
(Photo by Rich Freeda/WWE via Getty Images)
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s recent WWE schedule does not suggest that he is currently committed to a full-time wrestling program. His last major storyline appearance came at Elimination Chamber in March 2025, when he aligned with Travis Scott and played a major role in John Cena’s heel turn.
He made a brief promotional appearance around WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas but did not enter an active storyline during the event.
The Rock was also heavily linked by fans to the mystery surrounding Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes during the build to WrestleMania 42. Those theories ultimately proved incorrect, with Pat McAfee eventually being revealed as the person communicating with “The Viper.”
That history makes his WrestleMania 43 status even harder to predict. A surprise appearance or brief segment could still be possible if his schedule permits, but a full match would require considerably more time.
For now, The Rock’s Hollywood obligations appear to be the biggest obstacle standing between him and an in-ring WrestleMania 43 return.
