Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson ends filming, WWE return schedule is clear

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has parlayed his eight-year run as a central figure in professional wrestling into a lucrative film career, and the world at large has been able to appreciate him on the big screen for the past two decades. He hasn’t abandoned his in-ring roots, however, and following the completion of his latest Hollywood project, fans are hopeful that they’ll see him back in action sometime in 2024.

Rock appeared as an integral part of Cody Rhodes’ “Finish The Story” title run earlier this year, headlining both days of Wrestlemania LX. And now that his latest film adventure, The Smashing Machine, has wrapped filming (according to Hollywood North Buzz ), could action inside the squared circle beckon?

The Smashing Machine is an A24 Films biopic about MMA fighter Mark Kerr, a legendary figure from the UFC’s no-holds-barred era who struggled with addiction. Kerr was embroiled in a rivalry with Igor Vovchanchyn, who will be played by current heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk. Kerr was previously the subject of an HBO documentary in 2002, which explored his addiction to painkillers and eventual overdose.

The film is written and directed by Benny Safdie and co-stars Emily Bunt, Lundsey Gavin, Ryan Bader and Zoe Kosovic. Much of the filming, which has been underway since mid-May, took place in Vancouver, Canada at the Lions MMA gym.

Rock’s last appearance in official ring action was when he and Roman Reigns teamed in a tag team match to defeat Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. The following day, he wrestled both John Cena and the Undertaker. Buzz is adamant that Rock will face Rhodes at Wrestlemania next year, but the buildup to how that will happen is certainly still uncertain.

Currently, WWE SmackDown is hosting The New Bloodline storyline, and there has been ongoing speculation that Reigns is on his way back after a hiatus following Wrestlemania itself and the end of his record-breaking title reign. Should he return, it will be a Civil War storyline between members of the extended Samoan family tree in professional wrestling, of which he and Rock are the current generation’s legacy members.