Some fans were left wondering why, over the weekend, Dwayne Johnson didn’t make an appearance as “The Final Boss” at WrestleMania 41 in the match between John Cena and Cody Rhodes.
After all, Johnson was on hand and “responsible” when Cena turned heel against Rhodes, which was built up in the weeks leading to WrestleMania this past weekend.
Instead, Travis Scott came out to the ring and helped Cena get the victory, with Cena becoming the 17th WWE champ, beating the record held by Ric Flair.
Why Dwayne Johnson Stepped Away From WrestleMania 41
While appearing Tuesday on The Pat McAfee Show, Dwayne Johnson addressed why The Final Boss didn’t appear at WrestleMania offering that he wanted to keep the focus on both Cena and Rhodes and that they can always revisit The Final Boss down the line:
We’ve established this idea of Cody’s soul — we can always come back to it — I did feel, and I made the call:
I don’t want to be involved in that. Step back. 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, eventually, or John’s soul.
No — let them do what they do.And I called John after Elimination Chamber, spoke to him. Called Cody. And I said, “I think the Final Boss’s work is done. We’ve established it. 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. And 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.”
You guys go.So they had six weeks to plan for that.
Revisiting The Final Boss
Johnson continued and said they’ll eventually go back to The Final Boss storyline:
There are other commitments that I have.
And I want to also be careful that we’re not overstepping and leaning over our skis too much here.I can get involved in a finish, and I said, “But why get involved in that finish, when the spotlight should just be on — in my opinion — John, 17, heel champion. What does 2025 look like if this man is saying he’s going to ruin professional wrestling?”
That to me is the anchoring storyline — it’s not “soul” right now.
Right now it’s not. But by the way — we’ll go back to soul…
Travis Scott love wrestling
Regarding Travis Scott, while some fans didn’t like his interference, Johnson acknowledges how big of a wrestling fan the rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer is, and that Scott will actually be training with Booker T:
So look — I love Travis Scott involved.
And I’ll tell you why: because he loves wrestling. He’s a huge fan and he respects it. He’s working his ass off. I know that he has plans to train with Booker T — I don’t know if it’s happening already, it might be — not quite too sure there on his schedule. But he loves, loves the business.
What happened next?
Following WrestleMania weekend, Monday Night Raw opened up with Cena, but standing in his way happens to be none other than the Legend Killer himself, Randy Orton.
Watch the video with Dwayne Johnson and Pat McAfee:
The Rock also revealed it was Triple H’s idea to turn John Cena heel. Watch more in the video below.
