On January 11, he made his first 

SmackDown appearance in ten years, getting into an altercation with

Team Rhodes Scholars, resulting in him delivering a Rock Bottom to Damien Sandow and a People's
Elbow to Cody Rhodes.[185] The Rock closed out the 20th-anniversary episode of Raw, on January 14,
with one of his "Rock Concerts", leading to a brawl with CM Punk. [186] The following week on Raw, the
Rock was attacked by The Shield. Vince McMahon then asserted that if The Shield attacked the Rock in
his title match with CM Punk, Punk would be stripped of the WWE Championship. [187]

The Rock revealing the brand new WWE Championship design in 2013

On January 27, at Royal Rumble, CM Punk would seemingly defeat the Rock after the arena lights went
out and someone attacked the Rock. Vince McMahon then came out and was about to strip Punk of the
championship, however, at the Rock's request, he instead restarted the match. This culminated in the
Rock defeating Punk to win his eighth WWE Championship. [188] Punk received a title rematch with the
Rock, at Elimination Chamber, with the added stipulation that if the Rock was disqualified or counted out,
he would still lose the WWE Championship. The Rock would pin Punk to retain the championship. [189] The
following night on Raw, the Rock unveiled a new WWE Championship design, with a different center
plate and removable customizable side-plates which had his "Brahma Bull" logo. [190] The Rock then
resumed his rivalry with John Cena, who won that year's Royal Rumble to set up a rematch of the
previous WrestleMania match between the two at WrestleMania 29, only this time with the WWE
Championship on the line.[191][192]
On April 7, at WrestleMania 29, Rock lost the WWE Championship to Cena, ending his reign at 70 days.
[193]
 Despite being advertised for Raw after WrestleMania, where it was stated that the Rock was still
entitled a rematch for the WWE Championship,[194] The Rock did not appear because of a legitimate injury
sustained during his match with Cena, in which his abdominal and adductor tendons tore from his pelvis.
[195]
 Johnson underwent surgery on April 23 to reattach the torn tendons. [196]
Final feuds and first retirement (2003–2004)
The Rock returned on the January 30, 2003 episode of SmackDown! to set up another match with Hulk
Hogan at No Way Out.[153] Because of negative fan reaction during his previous couple of matches as a
result of his budding acting career, the Rock turned heel again. The Rock then defeated Hogan at No
Way Out before assigning himself to the Raw brand.[154] There, he had various small feuds, including one
with the Hurricane.[155] He also began performing "Rock Concerts", segments in which he played the
guitar and mocked WWE performers and fans in song. [156]

The Rock defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin (left) in the latter's final match at WrestleMania XIX in March 2003
After failing to win a number one contendership for the World Heavyweight Championship, the Rock
went into another program with Stone Cold Steve Austin. This led to a match at WrestleMania XIX, which
called back to their previous two WrestleMania encounters, both of which Austin had won. The Rock won
after delivering three consecutive Rock Bottoms, ending their long-running rivalry in what turned out to
be Austin's final match.[2][157] The next night, Raw was billed as "The Rock Appreciation Night", in honor of
his victory over Austin. That night, he was attacked by a debuting Goldberg.[158] At Backlash, Goldberg
defeated the Rock, who then briefly left WWE to film Walking Tall.[2][159]
Throughout the rest of the year, the Rock made occasional appearances, returning to a face character.
[160]
 In 2004, the Rock aided Mick Foley in his feud against Evolution,[3][2][161] leading to a reunion of the
Rock 'n' Sock Connection. They lost against Ric Flair, Randy Orton, and Batista in a handicap
match at WrestleMania XX, when Orton pinned Foley after an RKO.[2][162] This would be Johnson's final
wrestling match until November 2011. The Rock appeared in WWE sporadically following WrestleMania
XX. He made returns to provide support for Eugene against Jonathan Coachman, and made a cameo in
his hometown of Miami and helped Mick Foley against La Résistance.[2] Later in 2004, he hosted a pie-
eating contest, as part of the WWE Diva Search, and ended the segment by giving Coachman
a People's Elbow.[2] The Rock's contract with WWE then ended and he started his full-time acting career.
[163]

Non-wrestling appearances (2007–2009)

On March 12, 2007, the Rock appeared on a WWE show after nearly three years, via a pre-taped promo
shown during Raw. He correctly predicted that Bobby Lashley would defeat Umaga at WrestleMania
23 in Donald Trump and Vince McMahon's "Battle of the Billionaires" Hair vs Hair match. [164] On March
29, 2008, Johnson appeared to induct his father Rocky Johnson and grandfather Peter Maivia into
the WWE Hall of Fame.[165] Johnson's next appearance was through a pre-taped promo on October 2,
2009 during the Decade of SmackDown.[166]

Return to WWE
Feud with John Cena (2011–2013)

The Rock in the ring as host of WrestleMania XXVII in April 2011

On February 14, 2011, the Rock was revealed as the host of WrestleMania XXVII, appearing live
on Raw for the first time in almost seven years. During a lengthy promo, he addressed the fans and
started a feud with John Cena.[167][168] After numerous appearances via satellite, the Rock appeared live on
the Raw before WrestleMania XXVII to confront Cena. After he and Cena exchanged insults, The
Miz and Alex Riley appeared and attacked the Rock; he fended off Miz and Riley, only for Cena to
blindside him with an Attitude Adjustment.[169]
The Rock and John Cena (left) on Raw, agreeing to a match at WrestleMania XXVIII one year in advance

On April 3, at WrestleMania XXVII, the Rock opened the show by cutting a promo. After appearing in
numerous backstage segments, the Rock came to ringside to restart the main event between Cena and
The Miz as a No Disqualification match, after it had ended in a draw. As revenge for the Attitude
Adjustment Cena had given him on Raw, Rock hit Cena with the Rock Bottom, allowing The Miz to pin
him and retain the WWE Championship. After the match, Rock attacked Miz and hit him with
the People's Elbow.[170] The following night on Raw, the Rock and Cena agreed to a match
at WrestleMania XXVIII the next year. They then worked together to fend off an attack by The Corre,
which at the time consisted of Wade Barrett, Heath Slater, Justin Gabriel, and Ezekiel Jackson.[171]