Update on The Rock’s post-WrestleMania WWE schedule

It doesn’t look like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will be wrestling at WWE’s next show in Saudi Arabia.

WWE is scheduled to make its return to Saudi Arabia for a premium live event on Saturday, May 25. Dave Meltzer reported last week that, while a lot of variables and factors were in play, WWE would obviously like to have The Rock on that event. Meltzer noted that there had definitely been a push to get The Rock to work at least one of WWE’s Saudi events this year.

In an update in the new edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Meltzer writes that Rock’s movie filming schedule rules him out of the May 25 show in Saudi Arabia:

Johnson starts filming ‘The Smashing Machine’ on 5/1. This rules him out of the May Saudi Arabia show and makes SummerSlam tough depending on the schedule. It could mean the earliest he could do another match would be the second Saudi Arabia show. And I could see him waiting for WrestleMania.

“The Smashing Machine” is a biopic with The Rock playing MMA legend Mark Kerr. The Rock’s Seven Bucks Productions is partnering with A24 Films for the movie.

With WrestleMania 40 just three weeks away, The Rock is set to appear on SmackDown from Memphis tonight (March 15). WWE will follow up on Cody Rhodes slapping The Rock at the end of last Friday’s show.

The Rock & Roman Reigns are facing Rhodes & Seth Rollins at night one of WrestleMania. It has implications for Reigns and Rhodes’ Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match at night two. If Rhodes & Rollins win the tag team match, The Bloodline will be barred from ringside for Reigns vs. Rhodes. If Rock & Reigns win, Reigns vs. Rhodes will be a Bloodline Rules (anything goes) match.