Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Opens Up About the One Challenge That Nearly Broke Him Upon Returning to WWE

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, an icon in both Hollywood and professional wrestling, has recently made a highly anticipated return to the WWE ring. His return to WWE began with a surprise appearance on SmackDown on February 21, 2025, at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, following his involvement in WrestleMania 40 in April 2024. This marked his first full-length match in over a decade, teaming up with Roman Reigns in a tag-team match against Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. As the 52-year-old actor and wrestler continues to balance his career in Hollywood with his passion for wrestling, the question arises: what has been the hardest part of his return to the WWE?

The Physical Demands of Returning to the Ring

The primary challenge for Johnson, as highlighted in multiple sources, is the physical toll of returning to wrestling after years away from the ring. In a December 17, 2024 interview with People, Johnson described the preparation for WrestleMania 40 as “incredibly hard.” He noted that it took an intensive eight- to nine-week training camp to get back into peak physical condition. Johnson’s last full-length match was in 2013 at WrestleMania 29, where he faced John Cena, and he had suffered significant injuries, including a torn abdomen and hernia, as reported in an ESPN profile.

This extensive and fast-paced training regime was crucial to ensure Johnson could hold his own in the ring. The transition from acting, where his physicality is less demanding, to the rigorous demands of professional wrestling was a significant adjustment. As Johnson admitted, it was a difficult challenge to compete in the ring again, noting the hardships of regaining his physical form after so many years focused on acting.

Sportskeeda and Yardbarker also echoed these sentiments in December 2024, with Johnson admitting that it was “incredibly hard” to prepare for his return. While Johnson’s natural athleticism and experience helped him through the training process, it was clear that the physical demands were the toughest part of getting back into the ring.

Context of His Return: A Larger Commitment to WWE

Johnson’s return to the WWE was not solely driven by a desire to step back into the ring; it was also a part of his broader commitment to the company. In January 2024, he joined the board of TKO, WWE’s parent company, and expressed his excitement about the future of the company. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight in February 2024, he revealed his love for wrestling and his intention to make things “bigger and better” for WWE. While this corporate role might have added pressure, it seems that the physical aspect of returning to WWE was still the hardest challenge for Johnson, with reports consistently emphasizing the toll of physical training over any managerial or scheduling obstacles.

His return was marked by high-profile moments, including his pinning of Cody Rhodes during Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, which further underscored his significant role in the WWE’s ongoing narrative. However, Johnson’s reflections on the physical challenges of returning to the ring remain a focal point, especially given his age and past injuries.

Comparing Past Experiences

Johnson’s return to the WWE in 2024 came after years of sporadic appearances. His last full-length match, as mentioned, was in 2013, and since then, he made a brief six-second appearance at WrestleMania 32 in 2016 against Erik Rowan. In between, Johnson focused on his Hollywood career, which involved less physically demanding work compared to his wrestling days. His earlier injuries, such as the torn abdomen and hernia from previous WWE matches, likely made his return even more difficult, especially since he needed to regain peak physical condition to perform at the highest level.

This contrasts with earlier reports, such as in September 2023, when Johnson was open about the possibility of a WWE return but did not yet discuss the physical challenges involved. At that time, he focused more on potential matchups and the excitement of returning, without mentioning the intense physical preparation that would be required.

Potential Other Challenges: Mental Preparation and Fan Expectations

While the physical toll of returning to WWE is the most frequently cited difficulty, it is worth considering other potential challenges that Johnson may have faced. Mental preparation, managing fan expectations, and maintaining character consistency are often crucial in making a successful return to professional wrestling. However, these aspects were not highlighted in the available reports as primary obstacles for Johnson. In interviews, he has expressed his love for WWE and the camaraderie he missed, but these aspects were not framed as challenges in his return.

In a February 25, 2025 article from Cinemablend, Johnson’s character consistency and the reactions from fans were discussed, but the focus remained on his physical readiness rather than these softer challenges. Similarly, a November 2023 piece from Wrestling Inc. discussed Johnson’s nostalgia for WWE and the people he missed, but again, the difficulties of returning to such an intense physical environment were not highlighted as a key issue.

Conclusion

For Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, returning to WWE has been a monumental challenge, with the hardest part undoubtedly being the physical toll of stepping back into the ring at the age of 52. After more than a decade away from full-length matches, the intense training required to prepare for his return to WrestleMania 40 was a major undertaking. While his passion for wrestling and his role with WWE’s parent company, TKO, fueled his return, the focus on physical conditioning underscores the demanding nature of professional wrestling, even for someone with Johnson’s experience and athleticism.

As Johnson continues his career both in Hollywood and in the squared circle, his return to WWE remains a testament to his resilience and dedication to the craft that made him a global star. The physical demands of returning to wrestling may have been difficult, but for Johnson, the challenge was worth it—both for his career and for his connection to the WWE universe.