Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson set for WWE comeback in WrestleMania 40 dream match-Alistair McGeorge-Entertainment – Metro

The Rock appears to be returning to the ring at WrestleMania 40 (Picture: WWE)

Dwayne Johnson looks set for his first official WWE match in almost a decade.

The Rock, who recently acquired ownership of his iconic wrestling moniker in a deal that also saw him join the board of directors for WWE’s parent company TKO, is poised for a main event showdown with his cousin Roman Reigns.

In a dramatic turn of events on Friday Night SmackDown this week, Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes appeared to step aside and open the door for The Rock to challenge for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship in April.

The drama started as Roman took some cheap shots at Seth Rollins and his World Heavyweight Championship, before Cody interrupted.

While many expected him to lay down his WrestleMania challenge there and then, there was a twist in the tale.

Instead, the American Nightmare insisted while he is coming to take everything from the Tribal Chief, it won’t happen at the Showcase of the Immortals.

Cody Rhodes stepped aside for The Rock (Picture: WWE)

The Hollywood star is set for a WrestleMania dream match (Picture: WWE)

Cue The Rock, who came down to the ring and shook Cody’s hand, bringing him in for an embrace before being left to stare down Roman.

Instead of Cody going to Mania to finish his story, the wrestling legend turned Hollywood star will take on Roman under the bright lights.

The two locked eyes across the ring, wordlessly all but confirming their epic showdown, which would mark his first official match since beating Erick Rowan in six seconds at WrestleMania 32 in 2016.

His last proper full-length match came back in 2013 when he lost to John Cena at WrestleMania 29.

He’s set to challenge for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship (Picture: WWE)

As for Cody, he now looks set to face Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania after injuries have forced plans to shift round.

Initially it looked like the plans for Philadelphia would see Cody challenge Roman, with Rollins defending against CM Punk.

However, first the Visionary’s injury cast doubt over the latter bout, before Punk was officially ruled out of the show due to a torn triceps, leaving WWE scrambling to save their biggest show of the year.

Seth Rollins was meant to be facing CM Punk (Picture: WWE)

Cody previously weighed in on the possibility of The Rock swooping in to take away his big moment after last year’s WrestleMania heartbreak, but shrugged off the notion.

‘I don’t think he’s the type that would come in and meddle with a story that’s been being told over the past two years,’ he told Bleacher Report. ‘I think he’s probably up to something else, but you never know with WWE.

‘I’ll be watching just like everybody else when I’m not wrestling.’

WWE SmackDown airs Friday nights at 1am on TNT Sports. WrestleMania 40 airs April 6 and 7 at midnight on the WWE Network and TNT Sports Box Office.

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