It was a rainy day Sunday at Daytona, one that washed out the planned 66th running of the Daytona 500. NASCAR’s biggest race will now be run on Monday, but Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson stuck around to speak to the media — and even confirmed some wrestling news while doing so.
Johnson was on hand to be the grand marshal for the race, meaning he’ll be the person to give the drivers the order to fire their engines. He told the media he’d be sticking around to perform those duties despite the postponement.
During his time in the track’s media center, Johnson also answered some pro wrestling questions, including one about how WWE has benefited by making WrestleMania a two-day event. Cognizant that the racing press may not all completely be up to speed (pun intended) on his pro wrestling background as The Rock, he patiently explained both his own third-generation history and why WrestleMania has expanded to fill two nights.
While doing so, he also verified that he’d be in the ring in Philadelphia this April.
“I can’t wait, and this WrestleMania, WrestleMania 40, we look to put on, hopefully, the biggest WrestleMania of all time,” Johnson said. “I am returning, into the ring, so, have to put the spandex on, and I’ve got to start my diet. And I can’t wait. I think we are creating something that should be, I think, pretty cool for the fans and pretty entertaining.”
Just a few weeks ago, it appeared Johnson was going to take on Roman Reigns in what figured to be one of the show’s main events. That changed at WrestleMania XL Kickoff, when Cody Rhodes ended up challenging Reigns instead.
The Rock ended up slapping Rhodes in something of a dispute over the legacy of their respective wrestling families. The most recent episode of SmackDown cemented an alliance between The Rock and Reigns, with the latter formally inviting the former to join The Bloodline.
What isn’t clear yet is who Johnson might be wrestling in Philadelphia. The consensus is that he might team with Reigns to face Rhodes and Seth Rollins in a tag team match, which would be on night 1 before Rhodes-Reigns on night 2.
That’s still speculation at this stage, but at least WWE fans can rest assured that Johnson will be in the ring, laying the smack down on someone at WrestleMania 40.
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