Nick Khan is now claiming WWE never changed its WrestleMania 40 plans, a statement that flies in the face of The Rock’s own public admission and WWE’s own behind the scenes documentary. The WWE President insists the famous creative pivot fans witnessed in 2024 was the intended outcome all along.
The road to WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia saw Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes briefly give up his main event opportunity against Roman Reigns to The Rock. WWE reverted to Reigns vs. Rhodes after heavy fan backlash, and a tag team match was booked for Night 1 with Reigns and The Rock facing Rhodes and Seth Rollins.
Speaking at SBJ On Stage ahead of WrestleMania 42, Khan claimed those plans never changed and that what happened in Philly was always the design.
“By the way, the plan was always how it ended up in Philly two years ago. Sometimes, it’s a pre-determined outcome in wrestling. You want to throw the fans off, you want to let things bake, and then, boom, it ends up the way that we wanted it to end up. It never changed,” Khan said.
“That was just online rumors and gossip that we were changing, it never changed. We convinced Dwayne Johnson to come back. He’s on our board of directors. It was a tag team match. He’s about the same age I am, so two years ago let’s say he was 50, he was obviously in phenomenal shape, he did everything that we asked of him and then some. But that was always the result we were looking for,” Khan added.
Khan’s Claim Contradicts WWE’s Own Documentary And The Rock
The trouble with Khan’s version is that WWE itself has already told a different story. The promotion released a WrestleMania 40 Behind the Curtain documentary that admitted fan backlash forced the pivot back to Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes.
The Rock has also said publicly that the original plan was for Roman Reigns vs. The Rock, before WWE pivoted to put Rhodes in the match. Khan’s framing of the situation as nothing more than online rumor runs directly against both accounts.
Fans pointed out the contradiction on X, arguing that Khan does not want to accept that WWE listens to online criticism. On the same stage, the WWE President made comments tied to the WrestleMania 42 news cycle and claimed the company does not alter creative plans in response to social media reaction.
Nick Khan saying that Rock was always planned for a tag match is bullshit.
They literally released a documentary on how they pivoted from Rock vs Roman to Roman vs Cody.
He clearly doesn’t wanna accept the fact that they listen to Social Media criticism.
Khan’s standing as WWE President under TKO gives his public statements weight, which is part of why this account has drawn such pushback. He recently signed a WWE contract extension that keeps him in the role for years to come.
Reports have emerged that WWE has a contingency plan for WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia.
The plan involves Roman Reigns squaring off against Oba Femi if The Rock does not compete at the event.
According to Self Made Pro, speaking during a Self Made Session, there are still several moving pieces surrounding WrestleMania 43 and nothing has been locked in. He cited a conversation with someone inside WWE as the basis for the report.
“So I talked to someone in WWE, right? There’s a lot of moving pieces right now and they’re still unclear, at least as far as I’m aware, as far as the people I spoke to are aware, I should say. Right now, if Dwayne’s not doing Mania, then they’re looking to do Oba Femi and Roman at Mania.”
The Rock’s Status Remains Unclear
The Rock has previously addressed WrestleMania 43, expressing enthusiasm for the event and the Kingdom while keeping his answer deliberately vague when pressed on whether he would compete. His Hollywood commitments and long-term plans remain factors in any potential return to the ring.
Reports have previously indicated that WWE and Saudi officials were working on a substantial offer to bring The Rock in for the event, with the idea tied to what could be his final match. Nothing on that front has been officially confirmed either.
Jacob Fatu was almost not Jacob Fatu when he debuted in WWE. The Samoan Werewolf, ahead of his World Heavyweight Championship match with Roman Reigns at Backlash on Saturday, told Peter Rosenberg on Cheap Heat that creative had a different name lined up before Triple H stepped in at the company’s Madison Square Garden debut.
“My original name was supposed to be Caesar Sikoa. Planet of the Apes, where my ass was about to be like this,” Fatu said. “They didn’t go with it. They kept Jacob Fatu.”
The “I Need That Title” Promo Was The Turning Point
WWE protected Fatu as a silent monster for over a year. He didn’t speak on television, and he admitted on the show that he was actually nervous to start cutting promos. The moment he finally opened up, on the Raw After WrestleMania, became one of the most replayed segments of the build.
“I don’t want that title. I need that title,” Fatu said on Raw, a line Rosenberg compared on the podcast to a “Hard Times” moment in WWE’s main event scene.
The character work to get there came from someone Fatu credits with making the entire Backlash story possible. Drew McIntyre’s promos heading into WrestleMania 42 were so personal that Fatu’s own children started asking him questions.
“Drew was so good at what he was saying, my kids start to question me. ‘Damn, dad, is he telling the truth about you?’” Fatu said. “That’s how good and how over it was going.”
The Rock Pulled Out $100 For A Kid Named Jacob
The interview’s lightest stretch came when Fatu walked through meeting The Rock as a kid in the Nation of Domination era. He asked The Rock for three autographs in a row, and got something more memorable than the third 8×10.
“They had 8x10s back in the day. I asked him for one, asked him for two, asked him for a third one. When he grabbed the third one, ‘Hey man, can I get a third one for my fridge?’ I think that’s when I first seen the people’s eyebrow,” Fatu said.
The kid then asked for lunch money. The Rock did not flinch.
“He was the first person that got me $100. Pulled out a hundred, gave me my brother and I $100. We thought we was balling. Next thing you know, my dad take the money and take us out to eat at Denny’s. Put the rest of the $100 in the gas.”
Fatu challenges Roman Reigns for the World Heavyweight Championship at Backlash 2026 Saturday night from Amalie Arena in Tampa.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson made his first-ever appearance at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Met Gala on Monday night and did not arrive quietly, sporting what has been identified as the most expensive watch ever worn on the famous steps.
According to GQ, Johnson’s timepiece was a Jacob and Co. Billionaire III, priced at $3.3 million. The watch stretched to 54 millimeters wide, significantly larger than the 36 to 40 millimeter range typical of men’s watches, and featured 714 white diamonds totaling 129.61 carats. He paired it with a Thom Browne suit, with the overall look designed to challenge conventional ideas about what men of Johnson’s physical stature can wear.
His stylist Ilaria Urbinati was clear about why the watch worked specifically on Johnson.
“It’s literally massive, and I feel like Dwayne is the only person who could pull off that size.”
Jacob Arabo, founder of Jacob and Co., offered his own assessment of seeing the piece worn by Johnson at the event.
“The Billionaire III is the crown jewel of Jacob and Co., a true masterpiece, created for those who command presence at the highest level. Seeing it on Dwayne tonight is a powerful expression of what we do best.”
This year’s Met Gala theme was Costume Art. Other notable attendees walking the red carpet included Sabrina Carpenter, Rihanna, and Beyoncé, the latter of whom served as a co-chair of the 2026 event.
Dwayne Johnson 'The Rock' wore the Jacob&Co Billionaire III last night at the Met Gala
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson had missed multiple TKO meetings last year, but that didn’t stop him from earning big. He was the only TKO Board member to miss more than 25 percent of meetings in 2025, as per the company’s annual proxy report filed with the SEC.
The report showed that during TKO’s 2025 fiscal year, the board met five times.
The report suggests that each incumbent director attended at least 75 percent of the meetings except for Johnson. The filing did not specify exactly how many meetings The Rock missed or provide reasons for his absences.
The Rock’s Royalty Earnings From TKO
The same SEC filing revealed that Johnson earned a staggering $900,000 in royalties from TKO during the 2025 fiscal year. These royalties are separate from any compensation he receives for wrestling appearances or board duties.
He also earned $600,000 in reimbursements for travel expenses associated with delivering services under what the filing refers to as the Johnson Services Agreement. It was to cover his appearances at the January 6 Raw on Netflix premiere, the following night on NXT, and the Elimination Chamber.
Johnson joined the TKO Board of Directors following the merger of WWE and UFC under the TKO Group Holdings umbrella. He has balanced his board responsibilities with his Hollywood career and occasional WWE appearances.
Randy Orton has hit the RKO on just about everyone the wrestling world has to offer, but one major name has eluded him, and he wants to fix that.
The Viper appeared at WWE World on Saturday for an on-stage interview with combat sports journalist and YouTube personality The Schmo just hours before his Night 1 main event against Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 42. When asked who, dead or alive, he would most want to drop with his signature finisher, Orton went with a name that would move the needle beyond anyone else.
Orton Wants To Add The Rock To The List
Orton noted that he has RKO’d a wide range of targets across his career, from 90-year-old fans to female talent to celebrities like Mark Cuban and the late Meat Loaf. One name still missing from the list stands above the rest.
“I’ve RKO’d everybody, but I haven’t RKO’d The Rock, and if for some reason… Rock would be at the top, for sure,” Orton said.
The answer fits a pattern Orton has leaned into lately. Earlier this year, he publicly invited Tom Brady to take an RKO after the NFL legend called pro wrestling “cute and scripted,” telling Brady to call Pat McAfee to set it up.
A Dream Scenario With WrestleMania Proximity
Orton and The Rock have shared remarkably little screen time across their overlapping WWE runs, which has only fueled fan interest in the idea of a confrontation. The Rock has also been a recurring presence in Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania stories the last two years, giving any Orton and Rock moment a built-in storyline foundation if WWE ever chose to pull the trigger.
The Final Boss is not advertised for WrestleMania 42, though sportsbooks are still listing a Rock appearance as a live prop bet at +500. Rhodes defends the Undisputed WWE Championship against Orton in the Night 1 main event on Saturday, April 18 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, with Pat McAfee in Orton’s corner after weeks of storyline buildup.
In a business where “never say never” continues to age well, an RKO to The Rock remains one of the few outta-nowhere moments Orton has yet to deliver.
Lance Anoa’i delivered an emphatic debut in Dana White’s Power Slap promotion on Friday night, knocking out heavyweight opponent Amanpreet Singh at Power Slap 19 from The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas.
The third-generation wrestler, cousin to Roman Reigns, The Rock, Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, Solo Sikoa, and Jacob Fatu, needed just one sit-down slap to finish the job. Power Slap’s official account confirmed the finish on X, posting, “SAT HIM DOWN @LanceAnoai with the debut KO!”
The 34-year-old is no stranger to combat, but this represents a dramatic career pivot. Anoa’i was released from WWE in October 2025 alongside Wes Lee and several other talents, ending a developmental run that never produced a single sanctioned match due to back-to-back injuries.
Anoa’i signed with WWE in the summer of 2024 and was assigned to NXT, but a sports hernia and torn shoulder shelved him for the duration of his deal. He was cleared in late September 2025 and released weeks later.
In December 2025, the former MLW World Tag Team Champion announced his Power Slap pivot at the promotion’s Combine #4, telling Slap News his release was fueling the career change. He explained that wrestling had been in his family for generations, and stepping into Power Slap was about separating himself from sports entertainment to potentially knock someone out.
Carrying a Samoan Wrestling Legacy
Anoa’i made his pro wrestling debut in 2010 and built his reputation in Major League Wrestling, where he captured the MLW World Tag Team Championship with Juicy Finau in January 2023 as part of The Samoan SWAT Team. He also competed in Pro Wrestling NOAH’s N-1 Victory 2023 tournament.
His father is Samu of The Headshrinkers, and his grandfather was the late WWE Hall of Famer Afa Anoa’i of The Wild Samoans. His most notable WWE television appearance came on the May 27, 2019 episode of Raw, when he faced Shane McMahon during Shane’s feud with Roman Reigns.
Power Slap 19, headlined by Da Hawaiian Hitman vs. Makini Manu, streamed live and free on the promotion’s YouTube channel.
Former Undisputed WWE Champion Roman Reigns recently shared his perspective on Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s unprecedented career success and why modern wrestlers face different challenges in replicating that trajectory.
‘The OTC’ discussed The Rock’s unique path from WWE superstar to Hollywood megastar, acknowledging the distinct era and circumstances that enabled Johnson’s crossover success.
The Rock’s Unique Path
Speaking with Nico Leonard, Roman Reigns highlighted that The Rock’s career represents a singular achievement in professional wrestling history. The combination of timing, opportunity, and Johnson’s natural charisma created a blueprint that cannot be easily duplicated.
“It would still be close to where it’s at, but you would have some missing gaps. To replace my family, and Dwayne in general, it would take a lot to fill those voids. What he’s done is unspoken. Nobody ever hit the scene like Dwayne did and was able to move on to the next thing. To be able to keep it there, that was perfect.
He added:
“Three or four years of perfection and then so smoothly transition to the big screen, no one will ever do that. It will never happen again. No one has ever been white hot in two years, and then two years later, now they’re the biggest box office draw. It won’t happen against because the template is different.”
Reigns’ comments come as he continues his own high-profile run in WWE. While The Rock has made sporadic returns to wrestling, his primary focus remains on his entertainment empire.
Modern Wrestling Landscape
The wrestling industry has evolved significantly since The Rock’s initial departure from full-time competition in the early 2000s. Today’s performers face different media landscapes and opportunities than those in Johnson’s era.
Reigns himself has achieved mainstream recognition during his historic title reign. However, he appears to recognize the unique circumstances that allowed his cousin to transition into one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.
Roman Reigns is set to challenge CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 42.
The Great One in many ways, is the invisible link between the two WrestleMania main events announced this year. Apart from his obvious family connection to Roman Reigns, the fact that CM Punk started the build to his Mania feud with the Tribal Chief by bringing up Sika, gives him a great reason to get involved in the match at the Show of Shows.
And if he wanted to go the other route, his history with Cody Rhodes is enough of a reason for the Hollywood star to cost The American Nightmare his title match this Saturday. Not to mention that his presence as a representative of the TKO board of directors will give a new meaning to the Final Boss moniker and give superstars a face to direct their anger while mentioning the top brass.
The fact that The Rock is already in Las Vegas for the 2026 CinemaCon to promote the live-action Moana movie added another layer to the speculations about his potential involvement in the biggest wrestling PPV of the year.
Though after being criticised for not showing up at WrestleMania 41 after getting involved in John Cena’s heel turn, The People’s Champion seems to be mindful about quashing any such expectations before the rumors pick up too much.
This is presumably one of the reasons why the former World Champion made sure to mention during his CinemaCon speech that he will be heading home to his daughter Tia for her 8th birthday on April 17, before the WrestleMania festivities can begin:
“Being a proud girl dad, three times. I have a daughter in her 20s, I have ten, I have eight…I have seven. My youngest is going to turn eight tomorrow. Happy birthday Tia, I know you’re going to see this. I love you. I’m coming home tonight,”
Of course, nothing The Rock says will convince everybody that there hasn’t been at least some consideration about involving him in the PPV event. But at least now nobody can say he gave fans a false impression about his plans for the Mania week.
The choice to stage WrestleMania 32 at AT&T Stadium marked an ambitious moment for WWE. Though the company wasn’t exactly on fire, the company brand and the brand of their flagship PLE was significant enough that drawing a live crowd of 100,000-plus didn’t seem entirely unrealistic.
With such a large stage, top stars like Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins coming into their own as singles stars and icons like The Rock, Brock Lesnar, and Triple H in the mix, there was the potential for something magical to happen.
While WWE did draw arguably their largest single night attendance number (there’s some debate, but the consensus is WrestleMania 32 packed over 80,000 fans in the stadium), the show itself did not go down as one of the more successful iterations of the Showcase of the Immortals for a variety of reasons.
Roman Reigns Hadn’t Yet Clicked As The Top Guy
Credit: WWE
Roman Reigns challenging Triple H for the WWE Championship closed out WrestleMania 32. On paper, this match checks a lot of boxes with one of the biggest legends in the company squaring off against the top rising star with the world title on the line and months of storytelling behind them.
In practice, the Reigns vs. Helmsley angle never heated up. Reigns kayfabe injuring Triple H in late 2015 was strange creative that had the babyface acting pretty heelishly. From there, Triple H’s “surprise” return to win the 2016 Royal Rumble and, in so doing take the title off Reigns, was incredibly predictable. To his credit, The Game got in incredible shape and put on excellent matches with Dean Ambrose and Dolph Ziggler on the Road to WrestleMania. Unfortunately, those stellar outings only underscored how blah his showdown with Reigns wound up being.
In the end, Reigns simply wouldn’t get over at a high level with a wide swathe of the WWE audience until his heel turn in 2020. WrestleMania 32 highlighted all his limitations from his promos leading up to the event, to his ring work during it, to his lukewarm connection with the fans.
Seth Rollins Was Injured
Seth Rollins. Photo: WWE
Seth Rollins was second only to Roman Reigns as the most heavily pushed rising stars in WWE in 2016. The prevailing wisdom was that he’d square off with Triple H at WrestleMania 32 if he’d been healthy—delivering a version of their WrestleMania 33 angle a year early. Some others have theorized Rollins vs. Reigns or a Shield Triple Threat may have been in the offing.
Regardless of how things would’ve played out with a healthy Rollins in the mix, there’s little question in-ring ability alone, combined with fans more readily buying into him than Reigns had the potential to singlehandedly elevate a WrestleMania that suffered from a lack of standout matches.
Brock Lesnar Didn’t Gel With Dean Ambrose
Credit: WWE
Brock Lesnar is a one of a kind professional wrestler whose combination of real-life credibility, in-ring style, and steady protection in being booked as a monster made him a draw and someone who all but guaranteed a memorable match in his every WrestleMania appearance.
The Beast and Dean Ambrose did not gel, though. From Ambrose’s own account, he had ambitious ideas, but Lesnar wasn’t interested in venturing out of his more traditional format for a match. So, whether Ambrose got too nutty with his ideas for a Street Fight or Lesnar was unmotivated, the one undeniable truth is that these two performers did not gel and the resulting match underwhelmed at every turn.
Shane McMahon’s Comeback Signaled What Was To Come
Credit: WWE
One of the most buzzworthy stories going into WrestleMania 32 was the return of Shane McMahon after going missing from the WWE landscape for nearly a decade. The choice to immediately plug him into a Hell in a Cell Match with The Undertaker certainly made for an attraction as well.
Unfortunately, the performances of both Shane-O-Mac and The Dead Man proved emblematic of where they were in their careers and where they were headed. For McMahon’s part, he’d not only lost a step but unveiled a style that came across as less the dare devil he’d been in his youth than desperate to deliver a contrived spot.
The idea of The Undertaker throwing the boss’s son off the top of Hell in a Cell was very much on the mind of fans given each man’s history. In practice, the tedious match peaked at Shane-O-Mac foolishly climbing to the top of the Cell to go for a nonsensical elbow drop, only to predictably miss. In kayfabe, McMahon came across as an idiot for the attempt; in reality, it seemed clear he was starving for attention with an eye-catching spot, even if it made no sense in the context of the match. Meanwhile, the cracks also showed for The Undertaker, who no longer had what it took to singlehandedly carry a match like this.
The Rock’s Involvement Was Underwhelming
Credit: WWE
WrestleManias 27 through 29 marked a trilogy of sorts with The Rock’s return to WWE and impact on the main event, followed by consecutive years of him main eventing the show himself against John Cena. From there, WrestleMania 30 saw him cut a sweetly nostalgic opening promo with fellow icons Hulk Hogan and Steve Austin, before he delivered an electric moment at WrestleMania 31, teaming up with Ronda Rousey to clear the ring of Triple H and Stephanie McMahon.
So, even though The Rock didn’t have anything official on the docket for WrestleMania 32, there was reason for optimism he might do something cool if he showed up at AT&T Stadium. The People’s Champion did arrive, complete with an over-the-top flame thrower entrance that underwhelmed fans, followed by a generic promo.
Business looked like it would pick up when The Wyatt Family showed up to confront The Great One, but things quickly devolved into an impromptu, seconds-long squash match with The Rock pinning Erick Rowan, followed by a brawl. While the segment wasn’t the worst part of WrestleMania 32, it did signal babyface, part-time Rock had run his course.
Other Potential Big Draws Underwhelmed
Credit: WWE
There are other reasons why WrestleMania 32 had a lot of potential on paper but failed to deliver. John Cena made a surprise appearance which was perfectly fine—helping The Rock against The Wyatts—but paled in comparison to his previous WrestleMania roles. Shaquille O’Neal was a surprise entrant in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal and had a confrontation with The Big Show, but between the booking and execution, what might have been a huge celebrity appearance fell flat and became utterly forgettable.
Zack Ryder’s last-minute addition and victory in the Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match arguably stole the show, but also left fans scratching their heads because Ryder had not been in the title mix up to that point (not to mention that he promptly dropped the belt without fanfare). A League of Nations versus New Day showdown ultimately felt as though it was just there to set up a paint-by-numbers legends segment with Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels, and Mick Foley beating up the current talents. All of this added up to a WrestleMania that felt thrown together, carelessly booked, and far short of its potential.
In the end, the biggest silver lining to a severely disappointing WrestleMania may well be that it offered the emergent women’s division an opportunity to shine. Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks emerged as a pretty clear cut match of the night—the first time the women of WWE could make such a claim in WrestleMania history. This match paved the road for women to work featured matches every year to follow, including garnering their first main event spot at WrestleMania 35.
Shawn Michaels addressed long-standing rumors about tension between himself and The Rock during an appearance on 7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony and Kazeem Famuyide. The WWE Hall of Famer dismissed claims that he and Triple H mistreated The Rock during his early WWE days.
“There is a big kerfluffle in the wrestling business about me and Hunter doing stuff to him and being mean. All of it way blown out of proportion, none of it even accurate,” Michaels said. “Things that, when he was younger, were said a lot. Later on, and to this day, we get along, and we talk about stuff.”
The Rock’s Early WWE Struggles
Michaels explained the context of The Rock’s difficult start in WWE. When Rocky Maivia debuted in 1996, he was met with “Rocky Sucks” chants from fans who rejected his clean-cut babyface persona.
“When he first came in, he was just Rocky Maivia’s [Rocky Johnson’s] son. He was one of the first legacies and people at that time were rebelling against that kind of stuff,” Michaels explained. “I think he recognized that and felt like he had to come back with something a little harder and more aggressive.”
The NXT creative head noted that typical locker room ribbing occurred during this period. After taking time off to rethink his approach, The Rock returned with the aggressive persona that would make him a star.
Why They Never Faced Each Other
Michaels was WWE Champion when The Rock debuted in 1996, but the two never had a singles match. By the time Michaels returned from his back injury in 2002, The Rock was transitioning to his Hollywood career.
“That’s one I think everybody would have liked to have seen. By the time I came back, he was well off into his Hollywood career,” Michaels said. He admitted he would pick The Rock to win in their hypothetical matchup.
The two did work together in limited capacities. Michaels served as special guest referee for Rock matches and aligned with him when Rock was the corporate champion and Michaels was commissioner.
Michaels also worked with The Rock’s daughter Ava during her time in NXT before she left WWE earlier this year.
The former WWE Champion took to social media to express his appreciation for the honor, which recognizes individuals with significant global impacts on Disney.
“I was really moved when I received ‘the call’ as that certain voice on the other line said I would be receiving Disney’s highest honor ~ Disney Legends Award,” The Rock wrote. “This honor recognizes individuals with significant and global impacts on Disney. I’m moved. THANK YOU.”
Rock’s Message of Gratitude
In his lengthy social media post, The Rock highlighted the values that have guided his career across entertainment and sports.
“I believe in hard work, being grateful, being humble, being good to people, taking care of people, and respecting that the trust they put in you to deliver, is sacred,” he stated.
The Hollywood star also highlighted his commitment to bringing joy to audiences worldwide. “And where and when can, always, always, always try and deliver a little joy for folks around the world.”
Recognition for Disney Team
The Rock made sure to thank specific Disney executives and employees who made the honor possible.
“Thank you Josh, Alan, Dana, Asad, David, Steve, executive teams, Imagineers, every Disney employee and cast member around the world,” he wrote.
He concluded his message with anticipation for the ceremony itself.
“Looking forward to pulling up and showing my gratitude in person at the ceremony! And course saying…YOU’RE WELCOOOOOOME #DisneyLegends.”
The Disney Legends Award represents Disney’s highest honor for individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the Disney legacy through their imagination, talent, and dreams.
The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) is set to be honored as a Disney Legend at the 2026 awards ceremony, recognizing his contributions to film and voice work with the company. The ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, August 16th, 2026, at the Honda Center during D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event.
Disney announced Johnson as one of 11 honorees for the 2026 class. The ceremony will be hosted by Ryan Seacrest and celebrate individuals who have made significant contributions to the Disney legacy.
Johnson’s Disney Career
The WWE superstar voiced the demigod Maui in Disney’s animated film Moana, then reprised the role in Moana 2, which grossed more than $1 billion worldwide. ‘The Great One’ will reinvent the part for the highly anticipated live-action Moana, set to release in Summer 2026.
As per Disney’s official announcement, Johnson’s career has been defined by breaking stereotypes and bold transformations. As his professional football dreams ended at 23, he became the most popular and successful wrestler of all time before transitioning to acting.
Box Office Success
Johnson made his film debut in 2001’s The Mummy Returns and landed his first leading role in The Scorpion King the following year. His films have grossed more than $15 billion globally, making him one of the top five box-office stars of all time.
The actor has appeared in more than 40 films, including reviving blockbuster franchises like Fast & Furious in 2011 and rebooting Jumanji in 2017. His recent projects include Red One (2024) and Zootopia 2 (2025).
2026 Disney Legends Class
Johnson joins 10 other honorees at the ceremony, including Chris Berman, Jerry Bruckheimer, Susan Egan, Eric Goldberg, Anne Hathaway, Bob Iger, Kim Irvine, Jonas Brothers, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Alan Tudyk. The Disney Legends Award recognizes individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the Walt Disney Company.
The Great One recently posted a teaser video on his X account showing a digital avatar of him wearing armor. In the caption of the post, the former World Champion told his fans to ‘Meet me in the lobby this Thursday… 3/19.’
With the latest season of the online shooter dubbed Showdown set to be released on the same day, the speculation is that the post is about his return to the game:
The Rock has previously been featured in Fortnite as The Foundation. The character leads a mysterious organization called The Seven, whose goal is controlling the island’s reality.
Originally introduced back in 2021, the gimmick became a playable character at the start of Chapter 3 after the reveal of his identity during the Chapter 2 Finale The End. Though The Foundation has not been featured in the game in any major capacity since 2022.
The People’s Champion last appeared on WWE programming at Elimination Chamber last year. There has been speculation about Rock’s return to the company with angles such as Paul Heyman’s mystery helper and the latest Randy Orton storyline, but there has been no real update on his return to the promotion.
Jeff Jarrett recently said that the story behind The Rock\’s return to last year\’s Elimination Chamber tells you everything you need to know about WWE\’s current ticket pricing problem.
\”Why did The Rock come back last year at Elimination Chamber? Why did he say Ari called?\” Jarrett said. \”He said, \’Hey, ticket sales were soft. We got to get something in here. They\’re not moving as fast.\’\”
Despite those soft sales concerns, the event went on to become the highest-grossing WWE event ever held in Canada — surpassing every WrestleMania that has taken place north of the border. Jarrett noted the irony: a record-setting show that still needed a last-minute star power injection to get tickets moving.
\”That\’s not just the biggest Elimination Chamber. That\’s not just the biggest PLE,\” he said. \”That\’s bigger than the WrestleManias that have been held in Canada.\”
The 25% Discount That Changed Nothing
The Elimination Chamber situation set up what Jarrett sees as the most damning data point: a WrestleMania ticket discount weekend that failed to move inventory even after a 25% price cut.
\”They did that 25% off weekend and they didn\’t even move tickets,\” Jarrett said. \”Even at 25% off, those are high tickets.\”
His diagnosis: the base prices are simply too high to begin with, and a one-weekend discount doesn\’t fix a structural pricing problem. WWE leadership has pushed back on criticism of ticket prices, but the discount weekend result suggests the market is sending a clear signal.
Jarrett places the blame squarely on TKO Group Holdings\’ decision to benchmark WWE against UFC when setting price expectations. The two properties share a parent company but serve fundamentally different audiences — and in his view, charging WWE fans UFC prices misreads the room entirely.
\”TKO\’s going, \’Look what we can charge for UFC,\’\” Jarrett said. \”But it\’s just a different audience and a different mentality.\”
His broader point is that WWE\’s major tentpole events — Royal Rumble, SummerSlam, WrestleMania — can still command premium prices. The problem is applying that same ceiling to every event on the calendar.
\”I\’m not saying they can\’t for Rumble or SummerSlam or WrestleMania,\” Jarrett said. \”But I don\’t think they can treat every show like a UFC super show.\”
Jarrett isn\’t alone in this criticism — multiple industry voices have raised alarms about WWE pricing fans out of live events as TKO continues to push revenue growth.
The Rock has confirmed he\’s been in discussions with Saudi Arabia regarding WrestleMania 43, which will mark WWE\’s first-ever WrestleMania held in the Kingdom in 2027.
Speaking about the historic event, The Rock stated, \”I\’m excited for the WrestleMania 43 showcase in Saudi Arabia, and regarding whether there have been conversations between me and Saudi Arabia? Yes, and there are always good conversations between us.\”
The confirmation fuels speculation about The Rock\’s potential involvement in the landmark show, whether in an in-ring capacity or as a featured presence. The WWE megastar last competed at WrestleMania 40 in April 2024, teaming with Roman Reigns against Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins in a tag team match.
WrestleMania 43 represents a major milestone for WWE\’s ongoing partnership with Saudi Arabia, which has hosted premium live events since 2018. As both a top-tier WWE performer and TKO board member, The Rock\’s involvement carries significance beyond just his potential in-ring role.
The event will be WWE\’s biggest international WrestleMania to date, and The Rock\’s comments suggest he\’ll play some part in the show\’s presentation. Further details about his specific role are expected to be announced as the event draws closer.
Roman Reigns vs. The Rock is a match that has been talked about for more than a decade, but has never actually taken place despite the efforts of many. It came the closest to becoming a reality at WrestleMania 40, but the popularity of Cody Rhodes forced the Hollywood star to check himself and the company to change direction back to the American Nightmare\’s crowning as the new face of the company.
Still, there are many who believe that the match between the two cousins is still likely to take place. Among them is Lloyd Anoa’i, a cousin of the two mega stars. He expressed this opinion during a recent interview with PWMania, saying that it\’s not off the table:
\”I’d love to see it. That match would be a record-breaker. WWE teased it before and pivoted, which I thought was smart, but I don’t think it’s off the table. Even if The Rock isn’t wrestling full-time, he’ll be back in some capacity. The storylines in WWE always leave room for surprises.\”
Roman Reigns was last seen on WWE programming during the Survivor Series event. He hinted at renewing his rivalry with Cody Rhodes at the time after losing the WarGames match to The Vision.
Latest report suggests, however, that the company has made a recent pivot to the WrestleMania direction, and the rematch between the two arch rivals is now unlikely for the show of shows. You can check out more about it here.
Tensions grew between the female star and the NXT General Manager, Ava after Monroe attacked Thea Hail before their scheduled North American Championship match at New Year\’s Evil this Tuesday. The two continued fighting on X after Ava threw the former AEW star out of the building for her conduct.
It was during this exchange that the former champion made the now deleted comment. Referencing Ava\’s father and WWE board member The Rock, Blake Monroe wrote: “Don’t make me call daddy, you power-tripping nepo baby bitch.”
Thea Hail would go on to conduct an open challenge in the absence of her expected opponent. Izzi Dame managed to snatch the opportunity with help from her partners of The Culling, and she walked out of the show with the North American title.
This might be the beginning of the end of Monroe\’s development run. Reports suggest that the company changed plans for her after she accidentally lost the NA title last month, and there has been talk of fast-tracking her main roster call-up alongside other recent debuts.
A brewing power struggle between The Rock and Triple H within WWE\’s corporate structure has been alleged by former WWE announcer Jonathan Coachman, who claims firsthand knowledge of tension between the two legendary performers. The allegations come as The Rock\’s $80 million compensation package raises questions about his role within the merged WWE-UFC entity.
The controversy centers on The Rock\’s notably silent social media presence regarding WWE despite earning over $80 million as a TKO board director over the past two years, according to Wrestling Observer. That figure doesn\’t include merchandise earnings, WrestleMania pay, or live appearance fees.
\”Do you know a lot of talents who make over $80M and DON\’T send any supportive tweets or videos towards the company during that time,\” Coachman questioned on Twitter/X. \”The only social media posts have been directly towards Cena.\”
What Did Jonathan Coachman Say About The Rock and Triple H?
Coachman, who worked with WWE from 1999-2018, made striking claims about the relationship between Rock and Triple H, who now serves as WWE\’s Chief Content Officer.
\”You have to understand I was in the room several times and know first hand the REAL relationship between Rock and HHH. They don\’t get along. Period,\” Coachman stated. \”If they did Rock would have supported this year all along the way. He hasn\’t. Not ONE social media post.\”
The former announcer added context about The Rock\’s board appointment: \”Most members of boards are there for their business acumen. Rock was asked to be on the board for so many other reasons. Not to mention he is 1 of the 3 best performers of all time.\”
Coachman concluded with an ominous assessment: \”The struggle for power is real.\”
Thank you for the response. Here is what you are missing. Most members of boards are there for their business acumen. Rock was asked to be on the board for so many other reasons. Not to mention he is 1 of the 3 best performers of all time. And his right hand was once the lead… https://t.co/DT04sCsI93
The Rock joined TKO\’s Board of Directors in January 2024 following the WWE-UFC merger. His limited WWE involvement throughout 2024 and 2025, despite his board position, has raised questions among industry observers about the dynamics within WWE\’s leadership structure. The Rock\’s last WWE appearance was at Elimination Chamber in March 2025, meaning he\’s been absent from WWE programming for over nine months despite his lucrative board role.
What do you think about Coachman\’s claims? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Dwayne \”The Rock\” Johnson brought holiday cheer to families in need through a surprise Walmart shopping spree partnership with his men\’s care brand PapaTui and the YMCA.
The WWE legend shared footage on Twitter showing him greeting families with a unique \”Golden Ticket\” style giveaway. \”As long as you can fit it in the cart, on the cart and it STAYS IN the cart, then you TAKE IT ALL HOME!!\” Johnson explained in his post.
So I pulled up to @Walmart and surprised some beautiful families from the YMCA.
Gave out a few buck$, gave out some toys and 5 Golden Tickets ?? ?
As long as you can fit it in the cart, on the cart and it STAYS IN the cart, then you TAKE IT ALL HOME!! ? ? ? ?
Beyond the shopping spree opportunity, The Rock distributed cash and toys to the YMCA families. \”As parents we all know, there\’s no greater joy than seeing our little ones be HAPPY & SMILE!\” he wrote, signing the message as his holiday alter-ego \”Dwanta.\”
The heartwarming event showcased Johnson\’s commitment to community giving during the holiday season. \”Meetings these families made my day ~ thank you everyone for being so kind and cool,\” he shared. \”From my @PapaTui_ and Walmart family to yours ~ Happy Holidays, & Merry Christmas -Dwanta.\”
PapaTui, The Rock\’s affordable men\’s care brand launched in March 2024, is available at Walmart and Target with products ranging from $7.99 to $9.99. The brand name honors his late grandfather, Samoan High Chief Peter Maivia, combining \”Tui\” (his grandfather\’s nickname for him) with \”Papa\” (meaning \”Rock\” in Samoan).
Former WWE star CJ Perry (Lana) shared valuable lessons she learned from working with The Rock and John Cena during her appearance on Insight with Chris Van Vliet.
Perry revealed how The Rock taught her the critical skill of reading crowd reactions during a 2014 Brooklyn appearance. \”Dwayne, John Cena, Big Show, these men are they\’re they\’ve been around for so long and they know how to listen to the crowd and you learn by doing that. There\’s no you can\’t just be taught that,\” Perry explained.
The Rock returned after a two-year absence and completely changed his promo on the fly based on crowd energy. \”He told us he\’s going to tell us when to talk. He\’s gonna give us an eggy to tell it because he\’s like, \’You don\’t want to step on the crowd. You don\’t want to step on it. They\’re going to get louder and they\’re going to get louder,\’\” Perry said.
She credited Rusev\’s natural instincts for understanding the timing, while admitting she initially rushed her delivery. The lesson proved invaluable for maximizing crowd engagement throughout her WWE career.
John Cena\’s Masterclass
John Cena provided another masterclass during the height of \”We Want Lana\” chants at live events. Perry described how Cena methodically positioned her in specific locations around the ring to build crowd reactions strategically.
\”John Cena\’s like, \’Okay, we\’re going to you\’re going to get up on the apron. I\’m going to tell you where to stand.\’ And he would literally go, \’Go here. Go here in the match cuz it\’s getting louder and louder,\’\” Perry recalled.
Learning From The GOAT
Cena\’s first attempt involved having the referee kick Perry out of the match, but the crowd reaction wasn\’t what they wanted. Rather than settle, Cena adjusted the plan. The second attempt had Rusev kick her out instead, which generated a massive response and led to Perry\’s eventual babyface turn.
\”That\’s what I loved about John is like John would always give us always say, \’You have to take calculated risk.\’ And then he\’s like, \’Then if it doesn\’t go as planned, you have to take ownership,\’\” Perry explained.
The approach culminated in a memorable Extreme Rules moment and demonstrated Cena\’s ability to adapt in real-time based on audience feedback. Perry noted these experiences with veteran performers taught her skills that simply cannot be learned in training or rehearsal.
