Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is officially stepping back into the wrestling ring after an 11-year break. The actor and former WWE champion is preparing for WrestleMania 40 but admits the journey back has been challenging. Speaking to People magazine at the opening of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Auana’ in Honolulu, Johnson candidly shared that returning to wrestling form has been “incredibly hard.”
“The training becomes really extensive, and the training camp becomes extensive,” Johnson said. He revealed undergoing an intensive eight-to-nine-week WrestleMania training camp to get back in shape. Despite the accelerated pace, Johnson pushed through the grueling regimen.
Speculation continues to swirl about Johnson’s potential involvement in WrestleMania 41, set to take place in Las Vegas next year. The Rock himself has fueled rumors, especially after teaming up with Roman Reigns earlier this year for a showdown against Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. He described his opponents as “great dance partners,” highlighting their chemistry in the ring.
After his spring wrestling comeback, Johnson shifted his focus to his Hollywood commitments. He spent seven weeks training for The Smashing Machine, a Benny Safdie-directed film co-starring Emily Blunt, set for a 2025 release. Simultaneously, he has been promoting Disney’s Moana 2 and his upcoming Christmas comedy Red One.
“Red One is special. It’s our little Christmas movie, as I like to call it,” Johnson said. He also praised Moana 2 for spotlighting Polynesian culture. “It’s really been this incredible global embrace of our Polynesian culture and how amazing that is.”
On Tuesday, Johnson attended the premiere of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Auana’ at the Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel in Hawaii. The event, celebrating Polynesian and Hawaiian culture, was particularly meaningful for Johnson, who was accompanied by his 9-year-old daughter, Jasmine. “It’s good to be back home during this time and bring the little one here, too,” he shared.
As Johnson balances his wrestling comeback with an already packed Hollywood schedule, fans eagerly await his return to the WrestleMania stage, where he first earned his legendary status.