The Rock Could Replace Former Great Rival and Participate in WWE Elimination Chamber

WWE’s road to WrestleMania 41 continues to develop with unexpected twists as The Rock announced his upcoming appearance on SmackDown. The Final Boss stated in his social media post that he intends to “fu*k up” a certain superstar, generating immediate fan speculation about his target and intentions.

This announcement arrives at a crucial moment in WWE’s storytelling trajectory. Last year, The Rock’s unexpected involvement dramatically altered WrestleMania’s planned direction, suggesting his current appearance could similarly impact the build toward this year’s Show of Shows.

One scenario gaining traction involves Roman Reigns potentially launching an attack on CM Punk before the 2025 Elimination Chamber. This theoretical confrontation would serve as retaliation for Punk’s actions at the 2025 Royal Rumble, where he simultaneously eliminated both Reigns and Seth Rollins, leaving the Original Tribal Chief visibly shocked and verbally confronting Punk afterward.

A Reigns-orchestrated assault resulting in Punk’s removal from the scheduled Chamber match would create a logical opening for The Final Boss to potentially step in as a replacement. This situation could see The Rock leveraging his TKO board position to secure the spot, potentially setting up a championship opportunity against Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania.

This sequence of events would also establish a clear path toward the rumored Triple Threat match between Punk, Reigns, and Rollins at WrestleMania 41, bringing together three of WWE’s most prominent figures in a high-profile confrontation.

While this remains entirely speculative at present, fans anticipating tonight’s SmackDown broadcast will soon discover The Rock’s actual intentions when he appears on the blue brand. The Final Boss has consistently demonstrated his ability to dramatically redirect WWE storylines, making his announced appearance particularly significant as WrestleMania season continues to unfold.

Bold and disruptive.
Unpredictable and dangerous.

The Final Boss returns, LIVE on #SmackDown tomorrow at 8ET/7CT on @USANetwork. @WWE @TKOGrp pic.twitter.com/q3UaSYLQNh

— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) February 21, 2025

READ MORE: WWE Gives Rhea Ripley New Nickname