As WWE SummerSlam weekend approaches, there is no internal indication that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will make an appearance, according to a report from Fightful Select. Despite high fan anticipation, people within WWE have reportedly not been told of any creative plans involving The Final Boss for this weekend’s two-night event.
This backstage silence contrasts sharply with rampant fan theories, which intensified after John Cena’s abrupt character shift on the August 1 episode of SmackDown. Cena abandoned the heel persona The Rock helped him create, leading some to believe WWE is executing a “swerve” to make a potential appearance by The Rock more impactful. Cena’s speech, however, did not directly mention Johnson.
The widespread interest has even reached betting markets. A prop bet from Sky Bet focuses on whether The Rock will appear during Sunday’s main event. The odds currently sit at -500 for him not to appear, signaling that bookmakers view a return as unlikely. A surprise appearance has odds of +300.
Wrestling veteran Vince Russo stated that an unadvertised return would be a mistake, arguing that WWE would be “stupid” not to promote an appearance of that magnitude beforehand. His comments highlight the debate between the value of a surprise moment versus the promotional benefit of announcing a major star.
With the main event between John Cena and Cody Rhodes set, the narrative currently excludes The Rock. While his storyline influence remains significant, all signs point to his absence from SummerSlam as of now.