The Rock's early 2013 WWE schedule includes a reported three Raw shows and the Royal Rumble

WWE will hold its final pay-per-view (PPV) event of the year when the promotion hits the Barclay's Center in Brooklyn, New York, on Dec. 16, 2012, with TLC, its annual end of the year gimmick show that traditionally does fairly well at the box office.

But it's nothing in comparison to WrestleMania season, which kicks off early next year.

That means hype for the Royal Rumble, scheduled for Jan. 27 in Phoenix, which, of course, features the in-ring wrestling return of The Rock, who will be going after the WWE championship, no matter who is holding it at that time.

It would be a shock if that man is anyone other than CM Punk.

With all that in mind, questions have arisen regarding how often we'll see Rock on Monday Night Raw in the lead up to the Rumble. He's got an insane schedule promoting and working on up to five films set for release or production in 2013 including G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Fast Six, Pain & Gain, Snitch, and Empire State. Considering that slate, he'll be hard pressed to find time for WWE.

That's what he'll do, though, for a reported three episode of Raw in January, on Jan. 7, 21, and 28, according to the Wrestling Observer. That includes both the Rumble go home and fallout shows with the Rumble sandwiched in between.

He's going to be run pretty ragged but considering how hard he works, squeezing in wrestling training while working on his movies, there's no reason to worry about burnout.

Not too much, at least.