The Rock vs. Roman Reigns was going to be the main event of WrestleMania 40 … until it wasn’t. But even though the two men are currently working together as part of The Bloodline, that doesn’t mean they still might not end up squaring off sometime this year.
Dave Meltzer has raised the idea of The Rock working on one of WWE’s Saudi Arabia shows earlier this year, and even with his participation in WrestleMania, that idea could still play out.
In his latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter (subscription required), Meltzer explains how WWE would like to use The Rock for more than one 2024 match if possible, with one of the Saudi shows the likely spot if that turns out to be the case.
The next Saudi Arabia PPV is 5/25, which will be the day before AEW’s Double or Nothing show. … When asking if Rock will be working that show, we’re told there are a lot of variables in play and a variety of factors but obviously the company would like it if he would. But while nothing is set in stone, the belief as of right now is that Mania won’t be his only match in 2024 and there is definitely a push to get him to work at least one Saudi Arabia event this year.
The storytelling path from WrestleMania 40 to a showdown in Saudi Arabia wouldn’t be a hard one, especially if Cody Rhodes defeats Reigns in Philadelphia. Just have Reigns blame his “cousin” for the end of his long run as Universal Champion and voila.
Meltzer also feels there’s a chance that The Rock vs. Roman Reigns might not happen until the next WrestleMania in the spring of 2025. That could seem like a long wait, but as WWE has shown with Rhodes-Reigns II (and prior WrestleManias, to be fair), it has the patience to play things out that far in advance and believes fans will accept it as well.
On the other hand, the company has also loaded up previous Saudi Arabia cards with past and present stars, and there’s no question a Rock-Roman match would draw even more attention that usual for a show in that market. This appears to be a win-win decision for WWE in the sense that wherever and whenever it takes place, the masses will be talking.
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