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The Rock Addresses WWE WrestleMania Absence

The Rock appeared on the Pat McAfee Show today to discuss this past weekend's WWE WrestleMania 41, where John Cena beat Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Title in the main event of night 2. Leading up to WWE Elimination Chamber, the wrestling world was captivated by The Rock's return to WWE television, where he directly addressed Cody Rhodes with a cryptic offer for his "soul." At Elimination Chamber, Rhodes ultimately declined The Rock's offer. Cena then turned heel and betrayed Rhodes, aligning himself with The Rock and setting the stage for a WrestleMania 41 showdown for the Undisputed WWE Championship. The Rock was notably absent from WWE television in the weeks leading up to the event and did not make an appearance at WrestleMania 41 itself. He got a call about a month before Elimination Chamber from TKO CEO Ari Emanuel about appearing at Elimination Chamber. The Rock further elaborated on the decision to have Cena turn heel, revealing that the idea came from Triple H. "As we got closer to Elimination Chamber, we were kicking ideas around, myself and Triple H, Nick, my team. Triple H said, 'What about John turning?' I said, 'I love it.' The next question is talking to John and see how he feels about it. John loved the idea of turning heel, but he said there is an anchor that he was going to root it in, which was a real thing he's experienced over the past 25 years. When we were moving forward with John and this idea that we would crown him at 17 and being a heel champion, I knew then, the best thing for the Final Boss, 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. " The Rock looks on during NXT: New Year's Evil at The Shrine Expo Hall on January 7, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. The Rock looks on during NXT: New Year's Evil at The Shrine Expo Hall on January 7, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. WWE/Getty Images More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation "Let the Final Boss step back into the shadows. Let all the spotlight go to John and Cody. Let's not make it about Cody's soul or John's soul. Let's let them do what they do.' I called John after Elimination Chamber, called Cody, and I said, 'I think the Final Boss' work is done. We've established it. We just pulled off the greatest angle i the history of professional wrestling,' other than Hulk Hogan turning heel. 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." The Rock explained that he intended to create a compelling narrative that would draw fans to Elimination Chamber and set up a significant WrestleMania main event. Once Cena's heel turn and the championship match against Rhodes were established, The Rock felt his immediate role in the storyline was complete, allowing the focus to shift to the champion versus challenger dynamic. The Rock indicated that while he appreciates the fans' desire to see him, there's a flip side to the coin of him appearing. He also wanted to be mindful of not overshadowing the central storyline between Cena and Rhodes. "No, they don't have to say anything like that to me," Rock stated (H/T to Fightful for the transcription). "They know, when I come to them and lay this out, 'Here's how I feel it should go. We can insert Final Boss into the end of this finish, but then where do we go?' There are other commitments that I have and I want to be careful that we're not overstepping. I can get involved in the finish, but why get involved in the finish when the spotlight should just be on John, 17, heel champion? What does 2025 look like if this man is saying he's going to ruin pro wrestling? That, to me, is the anchoring storyline. It's not now it's not, but we'll go back to it. I was surprised to see Travis Scott as well, and the moment I saw Travis, it immediately amplified, 'Here comes the Final Boss.' They were waiting. I love John Cena, heel champion, the GOAT says he's going to ruin wrestling. Some parts of it, I would have just adjusted," The Rock concluded More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.