Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has revealed that fear has been a significant barrier in his career, causing him to miss out on professional opportunities. Speaking with Vanity Fair about his role in the upcoming film The Smashing Machine, Johnson opened up about the emotional toll of the project.
He described the experience as something he hadn’t faced in a very long time, admitting he was genuinely scared and questioned his ability to perform. “I realized that maybe these opportunities weren’t coming my way because I was too scared to explore this stuff,” Johnson said.
This admission of vulnerability presents a stark contrast to the dominant “Final Boss” persona he last portrayed in WWE programming. The Rock has been absent from the company for nearly six months, with his last appearance being at Elimination Chamber on March 1, 2025.
His extended hiatus became a major topic of discussion leading into SummerSlam. Speculation of a return reached a high point when Johnson was spotted at a gym in New Jersey, the host state for the event, but he ultimately did not appear.
Just before SummerSlam, a John Cena promo on the August 1 episode of SmackDown was widely interpreted as WWE moving on from The Rock’s storyline. During the segment, Cena turned face and appeared to distance himself from the “Final Boss” vision, which many saw as a way to address Johnson’s prolonged absence following WrestleMania 41.
The storyline in question involves his feud with Cody Rhodes, which climaxed with an attack at Elimination Chamber where The Rock and a heel-turning John Cena ambushed Rhodes. The angle was left unresolved, with the expectation of a follow-up that never occurred.
Despite his on-screen absence, Johnson’s influence continues behind the scenes through his position on the TKO Group Holdings board of directors. In this corporate capacity, he is involved in strategic decisions, including a reported interest from TKO management in a wantaway star from rival promotion All Elite Wrestling.