Following Cody Rhodes's unexpected decision not to face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson appeared, setting the stage for a match between him and Reigns. The announcement followed Rhodes's victory in the 2024 Men's Royal Rumble, where he chose not to challenge Reigns despite expectations. The crowd erupted as The Rock and Reigns locked eyes in a historic face-off, with fans expressing excitement online. The Rock's appearance was set up by WWE's promo segments, beginning with Reigns speaking negatively about Seth Rollins and ending with The Rock and Reigns staring at each other face-to-face. The Rock's return to WWE television comes amidst the dark cloud hanging over the organization due to the sex trafficking lawsuit against former chairman Vince McMahon.