10 WWE Matches The Rock Surprisingly Never Had

The Rock became one of WWE's biggest names during the Attitude Era, building his career through memorable rivalries with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Triple H, The Undertaker, Mick Foley and Kurt Angle. His promos, catchphrases and ability to connect with WWE crowds helped turn him from Rocky Maivia into “The People's Champion,” while his success eventually took him beyond wrestling and into Hollywood.

The Rock's full-time WWE run, however, was shorter than those of many other all-time greats. He debuted at Survivor Series 1996, reached the top of WWE within two years and began spending more time away from wrestling as his movie career grew in the early 2000s. Because of that timing, several wrestlers who were either already established or beginning their own rise never received a one-on-one match against him.

From Shawn Michaels and Sting to Randy Orton and Batista, here are 10 matches involving The Rock that WWE never booked as traditional singles encounters.

1. The Rock vs. Shawn Michaels — The WWE Dream Match That Never Happened

The Rock vs. Shawn Michaels remains one of the biggest singles matches WWE never managed to book. Michaels was already one of WWE's top wrestlers when The Rock arrived at Survivor Series 1996. Their careers overlapped during Rock's early years, but Michaels suffered the back injury that led to his first retirement shortly before Rock became a world champion.

By the time Michaels returned to the ring in 2002, the situation had reversed. Rock had already become one of WWE's biggest attractions and was beginning to spend more time working in Hollywood. Interestingly, both men wrestled at SummerSlam 2002. Michaels returned to singles competition against Triple H, while Rock defended the WWE Championship against Brock Lesnar.

Despite being available at the same time again, Rock vs. Michaels never happened. There was also reported tension between the two men dating back years. The supplied material notes stories involving Rock's family and Michaels, as well as Michaels' backstage influence during Rock's early WWE career. Whatever the reasons behind it, WWE had two of its most recognizable performers available during overlapping periods without ever producing The Rock vs. Shawn Michaels.

2. The Rock vs. Sting — WWE vs. WCW's Missing Match

The Rock vs. Sting would have brought together two wrestlers closely associated with opposite sides of the Monday Night War. Rock became one of WWE's leading stars during the Attitude Era, while Sting remained one of WCW's most prominent names. When WWE purchased WCW in 2001, a match suddenly appeared possible.

Unlike Booker T and several other WCW wrestlers, Sting did not immediately join WWE after the company purchased WCW. The supplied material says Sting had concerns about how former WCW wrestlers were being presented during WWE's Invasion storyline. It also states that The Rock was interested in facing Sting years later, but a deal still didn't come together.

Sting eventually made his WWE debut at Survivor Series 2014, more than a decade after Rock had stopped wrestling full-time. By then, the opportunity had largely passed. WWE eventually gave fans Sting vs. Triple H, but The Rock vs. Sting remained untouched.

3. The Rock vs. Rey Mysterio — Their WWE Timing Never Worked

Rey Mysterio made his WWE debut in July 2002, creating a brief period when both he and The Rock were active on the roster. The match never came together. At the time, Rock was already reducing his WWE schedule as his Hollywood career expanded. Mysterio, meanwhile, was establishing himself on SmackDown.

Their styles could have produced a very different Rock match. Mysterio relied on speed, counters and aerial offense, while Rock's matches were built more around power, timing and crowd interaction. When Rock returned with his Hollywood character in 2003, he was working on Raw while Mysterio remained on SmackDown. By the time Mysterio became a world champion in 2006, Rock was no longer wrestling regularly. Despite both being WWE stars during the same period, fans never received The Rock vs. Rey Mysterio.

4. The Rock vs. Roman Reigns — The Family Showdown WWE Never Delivered

The Rock vs. Roman Reigns came closer to happening than almost any other match on this list. WWE appeared to be heading toward the family showdown in 2024 when The Rock confronted Reigns, but plans shifted during the build to WrestleMania XL. Instead, Rock joined Reigns as The Final Boss, and the two teamed against Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins on WrestleMania XL Night 1.

A singles match still made perfect sense. WWE could have built it around The Final Boss vs. The Tribal Chief, with both men fighting over who truly represented the family and deserved to be called the Head of the Table. Despite sharing the WrestleMania stage and working the same storyline, The Rock vs. Roman Reigns never happened one-on-one.

5. The Rock vs. Edge — They Shared the Ring, But Never One-on-One

This one is surprising because Edge and The Rock spent several years in WWE together. They even wrestled in the same matches. Edge was primarily part of WWE's tag-team division alongside Christian during Rock's years at the top of the company. Their paths therefore crossed through tag matches and other situations rather than a dedicated singles rivalry.

One example came in 2002 when The Rock and Edge teamed together against Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit. But WWE never booked a traditional singles match between Edge and Rock. The timing became worse once Edge moved into the world championship picture. Edge captured his first WWE Championship in 2006. By then, Rock had already stepped away from wrestling full-time. Considering the characters both men later developed, Hollywood Rock vs. Rated-R Superstar Edge is an especially interesting match to imagine.

6. The Rock vs. AJ Styles — Never Happened

The Rock vs. AJ Styles became possible when Styles joined WWE at the 2016 Royal Rumble, but the two never faced each other. Both even appeared at WrestleMania 32, where Styles wrestled Chris Jericho while The Rock defeated Erick Rowan in an impromptu match.

Styles quickly moved up the WWE card and won his first WWE Championship later that year. By then, however, The Rock was only making occasional appearances and rarely wrestling. With Styles' fast-paced wrestling style and Rock's crowd-driven approach, the matchup could have offered something different. Despite briefly being part of WWE at the same time, The Rock vs. AJ Styles never happened.

7. The Rock vs. Diamond Dallas Page — The People's Champion vs. The People's Champion

There was an obvious reason for WWE to book this one. The Rock and Diamond Dallas Page were both called “The People's Champion.” During the Monday Night War, Rock was becoming one of WWE's biggest stars while DDP was climbing WCW's card.

When WWE purchased WCW in 2001, Page joined the company. That finally put both men under the WWE banner at the same time. But instead of immediately putting DDP against Rock, WWE introduced Page through his storyline with The Undertaker.

Rock returned during the Invasion and became involved with Booker T and the WCW Championship. Their paths never properly crossed. The story practically wrote itself: WWE's People's Champion against WCW's People's Champion. Yet The Rock vs. DDP never happened as a WWE singles match.

8. The Rock vs. Batista — They Met at WrestleMania, But Never Alone

The Rock and Batista actually fought each other at WrestleMania. Just not one-on-one. At WrestleMania XX in 2004, Rock reunited with Mick Foley to face Evolution's Randy Orton, Batista and Ric Flair in a handicap match. That put Rock and Batista in the same ring. It also came just before Batista's career reached another level.

Batista broke away from Evolution, won the 2005 Royal Rumble and defeated Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 21. Rock, however, was moving in the opposite direction. His WrestleMania XX appearance came near the end of his regular wrestling career as Hollywood became his primary focus.

Had Rock remained around for another year, The Rock vs. Batista would have been an easy match for WWE to build. Instead, WrestleMania XX became the closest fans ever got.

9. The Rock vs. Randy Orton — The Legend Killer Never Got The Rock

Perhaps no missed Rock match had a more obvious storyline than The Rock vs. Randy Orton. Orton was building his reputation as “The Legend Killer” in 2003 and 2004.

His character revolved around targeting established wrestling names. Rock certainly qualified. The two finally crossed paths during the build to WrestleMania XX, when Rock and Mick Foley feuded with Evolution. At WrestleMania, Rock and Foley faced Orton, Batista and Ric Flair in a handicap match.

Those interactions showed WWE had both men available for a potential singles program. Rock stepped away following that period, while Orton's career quickly moved toward the world championship. Later in 2004, Orton became World Heavyweight Champion. The storyline opportunity had already disappeared. Considering Orton's Legend Killer character, The Rock vs. Randy Orton remains one of the easiest WWE rivalries to imagine from that period.

10. The Rock vs. Daniel Bryan — A Match WWE Could Have Made During Rock's Return

The Rock's 2011-2013 WWE comeback created several matches that once seemed impossible. He wrestled John Cena twice. He faced CM Punk for the WWE Championship. He even became WWE Champion again. During the same period, Daniel Bryan was becoming increasingly popular with WWE crowds. Their careers therefore overlapped at exactly the right time. Rock and Bryan even appeared together in a backstage segment on Raw 1000 in July 2012, alongside AJ Lee.

But WWE already had Rock's direction mapped around CM Punk and John Cena. After losing the WWE Championship to Cena at WrestleMania 29, Rock again stepped away from regular competition. Bryan's rise then accelerated, eventually leading to his WrestleMania XXX championship victory the following year.

The timing was incredibly close. Had Rock's return lasted longer, The Rock vs. Daniel Bryan could have become another attraction from his comeback. Instead, it joined the list of Rock matches WWE never booked.