WWE fans give two-word reply to The Rock after Oscars snub as wild Royal Rumble theory emerges

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has once again had his shoulders pinned to the mat in Hollywood.

The multi-time former wrestling champion’s movie, The Smashing Machine, has moved a step closer to silver screen immortality – but Rock himself has taken, well, a Rock Bottom.

The Smashing Machine

The Smashing Machine arrived with genuine awards chatter and heavyweight praise, positioning Johnson as a surprise Oscar contender after a career spent dominating box offices rather than ballots.

When the nominations landed this week, though, his name was nowhere to be seen.

The Rock’s major Hollywood blow

The film itself picked up a single nomination at the 98th Academy Awards for Best Makeup and Hairstyling, but there was no acting recognition for Johnson.

For a project built around transformation and reinvention, the contrast was stark and, to many fans, it felt like a snub.

Back in September, Variety had described The Smashing Machine as “one of the unlikeliest Oscar contenders in recent memory,” praising Johnson’s transformative performance and even drawing comparisons to Mickey Rourke’s turn in The Wrestler.

The publication suggested the role could reshape how Hollywood views one of its most bankable stars, rather than simply add another hit to his résumé.

Johnson did receive a Golden Globe acting nomination for the role, but Oscar nominations have told a different story.

Perhaps worse, despite the noise, The Smashing Machine was a flop by Johnson’s own box office standards.

It opened to just $5.8 million in the United States, the lowest debut of Johnson’s movie career.

Variety reported the figure fell well short of projections between $8 million and $15 million and even below his 2010 thriller Faster, which opened to $8.5 million. For a star used to commanding opening weekends by default, it was a rare stumble.

X: @RaminSetoodeh

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While the film itself earned its Oscar nod, The Great One himself was left out in the cold.

Johnson struck a gracious tone on Instagram, congratulating his make-up team and writing: “A proud and heartfelt congratulations to the one and only @kazustudios Kazu Hiro & my make up team for their Academy Award nomination for The Smashing Machine,” before calling the recognition an “incredibly inspiring honor.”

If Johnson was disappointed, he managed it quietly. Wrestling fans, however, quickly turned the conversation back to familiar ground.

Johnson remains a central figure in WWE whether he wrestles or not. His involvement at WrestleMania XL and feud with Cody Rhodes reshaped the entire event, dragging storylines, matches and long-term plans into his orbit simply by being there.

That influence carried into early 2025. His presence around Elimination Chamber and the fallout that followed, including John Cena’s shock heel turn, underlined his continued pull.

Then, just as quickly, he vanished again. No follow-up. No resolution. Just absence.

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It’s that combination – Hollywood disappointment and wrestling silence – that has split fans so sharply.

Fans in wild Royal Rumble theory

“Come back,” one fan wrote, urging Johnson to return to WWE and calling him the ultimate shot in the arm for WrestleMania season.

Another added: “Real shame. Now come back to the place where you are actually appreciated.” Others pushed the fantasy further, with one calling for “Rock vs Roman WrestleMania 42,” while another simply declared: “Bro is coming home.”

But not everyone welcomed the idea, and some had a very different two-word sentiment waiting in store.

“Stay away,” one fan warned bluntly.

Others were more fearful than hostile. “When he wins the Rumble at number 30, you’ll know why,” one said, while another predicted: “That’s him coming into the Rumble and eliminating Cody to win.”

A third added: “This means he’ll be back next week, win the Rumble and never appear again.”

All of this is bubbling as Royal Rumble 2026 looms next weekend. With the road to WrestleMania officially underway, Johnson’s name hangs over the event even without confirmation of an appearance.

There are no signals or subtle on-screen teases just yet – just expectation and anxiety.

Oscar recognition or not, box office hit or miss, the reality is unchanged. The Rock is still one of the most talked-about figures in wrestling.

Should he decide to come ‘home’, WWE fans will, as always, be watching.