The Rock explains his baffling absence from WrestleMania 41: 'I made the call, I don't want to be involved'

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The Rock has some explanations for his absence from WrestleMania 41. (Photo by Georgiana Dallas/WWE via Getty Images)
WWE via Getty Images

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has been a glaring omission from the Undisputed WWE title picture since aiding in John Cena's heel turn at WWE Elimination Chamber, to the point where his bizarre absence from WrestleMania 41 was one of the primary talking points coming out of WWE's big weekend.

According to the WWE Hall of Famer, when speaking Tuesday on The Pat McAfee Show, The Rock never wanted to continue his involvement in the biggest angle in recent professional wrestling history.

"When we were moving forward with John and this idea of him getting crowned at WrestleMania and becoming 17, and being a heel champion, I knew then the best thing for 'The Final Boss,'" Johnson said. "We've established this idea of Cody [Rhodes'] soul. We can always come back to it. I did feel, I made the call, I don't want to be involved in that. Let 'The Final Boss' step back into the shadows. Let all the spotlight go to John, let it go to Cody. Let's not make it about Cody's soul or John's soul. Let's let them do what they do."

Cena ultimately dethroned the now-former champion Rhodes in the main event of WrestleMania 41, Night 2 in Las Vegas this past Sunday. The win made Cena the new WWE recordholder for most world title wins, surpassing Ric Flair.


The storyline between both parties began thanks to Johnson's sudden reemergence after February's Royal Rumble to seemingly threaten Rhodes, wanting "his soul." However, after Rhodes rejected Johnson, Cena appeared to join forces with Johnson after he won his Elimination Chamber match.

That was the final time The Rock has been seen on WWE television.

"I called John after Elimination Chamber, spoke to him, called Cody, and I said, 'I think 'The Final Boss' work is done. We've established it,'" Johnson said. "We just pulled off the greatest angle in the history of professional wrestling, other than Hulk Hogan turning heel back in the '90s. I said, 'This is amazing. We have six weeks. Now, let's build. You guys go and crush it. I'll be right there with you, and I'm always here if you need me, but I think it's best for 'The Final Boss' not to be involved in that finish. Six weeks to plan for that.'

"I loved the finish of [Sunday's] match. I would have finessed things a little differently in how they got there, but that's just me creatively. There are a lot of minds in the room. That's my thought, but still, ultimately, the bottom line was I loved John getting 17. I never had a concern about John pulling this off. My thoughts were always to Cody because of what we've established with him and his story, and the kind of babyface he is. So, if done right, and I think if finessed right and nuanced right, down the road, that guy not only has an incredible babyface run again as champion, but also just an unheard of rise as a heel down the road."

Cena and Rhodes briefly mentioned The Rock in the build to their match, but that was about it.

The new champion Cena now looks destined to revisit a feud with one of his oldest rivals, Randy Orton, after Monday's "WWE Raw" after WrestleMania.

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