Vince Russo has weighed in on Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s noticeably leaner physique, stating he believes the transformation indicates Johnson will not be returning to a WWE ring. Speaking on his Writing with Russo show, the former head writer suggested the weight loss is a deliberate move to distance himself from wrestling.
Russo addressed Johnson’s recent appearance at the Venice Film Festival, where reports noted he had lost a significant amount of weight. He stated directly that the change means a return is unlikely. “Yeah, bro, for him to go through that transformation, he ain’t coming back to wrestling anytime soon, if at all. If at all, bro,” Russo said.
He also sarcastically commented on WWE’s ability to replace a star of The Rock’s magnitude. “Well, the good news is, there’s a bright side to this. Thank God, they got AJ Lee to step into The Rock’s shoes there. Thank God, AJ Lee will slip right in The Rock’s shoes and we’ll never miss a beat, bro.”
Johnson’s physical change coincides with his role as MMA fighter Mark Kerr in the A24 film The Smashing Machine. The film’s director, Benny Safdie, recently won the Silver Lion for Best Director at the Venice International Film Festival, an achievement Johnson celebrated on Instagram. Critics have praised his performance as a departure from his usual blockbuster roles.
In a past interview with Vanity Fair, Johnson admitted that fear had previously stopped him from pursuing certain professional opportunities, a sentiment that contrasts with his recent “Final Boss” gimmick in WWE.
Johnson has been off WWE programming for nearly six months, with his last appearance occurring at Elimination Chamber on March 1, 2025. His absence left a major storyline unresolved following WrestleMania 41, where he and a heel John Cena attacked Cody Rhodes.