It is that time of the year again when The Rock's plans for WrestleMania become the focus of the wrestling rumor mill, with reports emerging from different sources about his status for the biggest show of the year.

This year is no different, with several top insiders weighing in with the latest regarding The Final Boss' plans for The Showcase of the Immortals in Las Vegas on April 19-20.

What do they look like, how subject to change are they, and how might it affect WWE's plans moving forward?

Find out with this collection of reports that also includes the latest on Drew McIntyre's return, Gunther's contractual status, and Kenny Omega's in-ring comeback.

Update on The Rock's WrestleMania 41 Plans

Will he or won't he?

It's a common question asked of The Rock and his role on any given WrestleMania card over the last decade and, according to the latest reports, that will be the case for the 41st incarnation of The Showcase of the Immortals.

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reported The Final Boss' appearance at Bad Blood on October 5 "was to simply get him on screen and didn't have a major direction or plot point they were furthering."

Sapp also revealed on Monday's Fightful that "he doesn't believe The Rock will be working WrestleMania, based on things he'd heard."

Dr. Chris Featherstone of Sportskeeda reported the same.

Dave Meltzer reported for his Wrestling Observer Newsletter on October 24 that The Rock was not a lock to appear at WrestleMania 41. The Great One emphatically responded to a fan's question on Instagram at the time, saying "don't believe any of that bulls--t" (h/t WrestlePurists).

All three reports insist that, as has always been the case with Rock and his Hollywood schedule, things can change at any moment. As things stand. though, it appears WWE Creative is moving forward without the former WWE champion factored into plans for the biggest show of the year.

On one hand, it feels like a momentum-killer for The Bloodline story, which appeared to be headed toward a showdown between Rock and Roman Reigns or a championship clash pitting The Final Boss against Cody Rhodes.

On the other, WWE has proved its ability to present long-term storytelling to great success. If The Rock is not available for WrestleMania 41, and the company can extend things without issue.

The question is whether an absence in 2025 means another year-long wait for his return or if Rock would appear at SummerSlam or another major WWE premium live event to help pay off his teased match with Rhodes and unsettled business with The Bloodline and Reigns.

That will determine whether the company should have held off on bringing him back at Bad Blood.

Latest on Drew McIntyre's Return

Drew McIntyre returned in the closing moments of Monday's Raw, laying Sami Zayn out with a Claymore and standing tall as the show faded to black.

Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com reported: "McIntyre's return was not expected to be this soon and the belief backstage last night was that the injury to Bronson Reed at Survivor Series led to McIntyre returning a few weeks earlier than initially planned."

Reed had been established as a top-tier heel on Raw via his feuds with Braun Strowman and Seth Rollins, and he competed in his first premium live event main event Saturday at Survivor Series.

However, the Australian suffered injuries to his ankles during the climactic missed Tsunami splash off the top of the WarGames steel cage.

WWE head of creative Triple H revealed during the post-show press conference that Reed will be "questionable" for a few weeks.

McIntyre's return put an exclamation point on the Raw after Survivor Series and set in motion what would appear to be a rivalry with Zayn, if not Jey Uso, who had been attacked by an unknown assailant earlier Monday night.

The Scottish Warrior has plenty of reason to target those two, especially given his unsettled issues with Roman Reigns and The Bloodline dating back to Clash at the Castle 2022, when his dream of winning the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship in Cardiff, Wales went up in smoke.

Taking exception with Zayn and Uso escaping The Tribal Chief's narcissistic web, only to go back and help him, would fit an overarching story that has seen Rollins find fault in the same perceived lack of logic.

Regardless, McIntyre being back at or near the forefront of Raw is a positive for all involved.

Gunther Nearing New Contract

Johnson also reported: "WWE World Heavyweight Champion Gunther is in the final stages of a new WWE deal, PWInsider.com has learned."

The article stated that The Ring General is either in the final stages of signing the deal or has already agreed to the deal.

The Austrian has been one of the most consistent and believable performers on the main roster since his callup from NXT, and Triple H and his creative team have gone to great lengths to protect his aura as a seemingly unstoppable force.

They were even able to tell a "lost confidence" story with Gunther after he lost to Cody Rhodes at Crown Jewel.

Recently, the world heavyweight champion has shown signs of a potential babyface turn, especially as he embarks on a rivalry with Finn Bálor and The Judgment Day that will culminate at Saturday Night's Main Event on December 14.

One of the best, most physical and engaging professional wrestlers in the industry, Gunther long ago earned a big-money deal. Hopefully, this one will be enough to keep him around for the foreseeable future.

How Will Kenny Omega Handle His Return to the Ring?

Meltzer reported in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the plan for Kenny Omega's return to the squared circle is to "ease into a full-time schedule down the line and hope everything holds up."

Omega will wrestle his first match since December 5, 2023 at Wrestle Dynasty on January 5 at the Tokyo Dome in Japan when he squares off with Gabe Kidd.

Omega missed the last year of ring time after suffering a bout of diverticulitis.

There is no timetable for his return to All Elite Wrestling but when he does, he will find the company different than the one he left. He will almost certainly return as a babyface ready to reclaim his crown as the top star in the promotion.

To do so, he will have to combat Jon Moxley and The Death Riders, the renegade faction intent on shaping AEW in their image.

Considering the many battles Omega has had with Moxley and the violence they have trended toward, it will likely prove just how battle-tested The Best Bout Machine is after his showdown with Kidd.