Dwayne Johnson, the iconic wrestler and actor, has shed light on his absence from Wrestlemania, which left many fans disappointed. At 52 years old, Johnson expressed his deep appreciation for the event and its participants, particularly praising rapper Travis Scott’s electrifying performance. During a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, he pointed to the amazing energy that Scott brought to the event. It really “instantly ramped up” the vibe.
In a touching video, Johnson said that his decision to miss Wrestlemania was not made lightly. He noted that he was still in talks with WWE planners about his role in upcoming story lines. They just get it from my point of view. If I go in front of them and say, ‘This is how I think it needs to go,’ they listen. He called for a hands-off approach that would allow today’s stars to shine. Sure, I can participate in the finale,” he continued, “but why should I when the attention rightfully should focus on John, the 17-year-old heel champ?”
The ex-wrestling champ made it clear that his loyalty lies with the wrestling entertainment, not wrestling competition. He stated that he wanted to be careful not to go beyond his mandates. There are other commitments that I’ve got and I just want to be cautious that we not, you know, get in over our heads,” Johnson said. This meticulous attention to detail speaks volumes about his regard for the art of professional wrestling and his fellow workers.
Looking ahead
Though WWE storylines have been thrown into turmoil by the new ownership, Johnson hinted at intriguing storylines. He explained that going forward, the organization intends to go back and reclaim old narratives. This would make for some very interesting story beats to the delight of the fans! Kenney gave a thumbs up to what comes next for Wrestlemania — in 2025 — calling it “a fabulous Wrestlemania.”
Beyond his WWE accomplishments, Johnson is busy in Tinseltown. He was present at the 82nd Annual Golden Globes on January 5th, 2025. A few weeks ago, he announced the UK premiere of “Moana 2” for November 24, 2024. Even with all of his new endeavors, Paul is still very much plugged in to the wrestling world and aware of its changing ecosystem.