The Rock explains why he's working with John Cena in his return to WWE

The Rock has been back with WWE for nearly three full years now, having worked at WrestleMania 27, 28, and here in just over one month, WrestleMania 29. Throughout that time, he's worked extensively -- and almost exclusively -- with one man: John Cena.

Was that how he wanted it? You bet cha.

In an interview with Matt Fowler at IGN.com, Rock explains:

"He was my pick, yes. Definitely. You have to understand that my return back into the WWE was years in the making. And since I've been back, it's been a three year-long journey that started at WrestleMania 27 in Atlanta. So John has always been my first choice. Here's the thing. The question was that if I was going to go back in the WWE, how could I go back and make the most impact? With who can I headline WrestleMania in that company and make the most impact? And the bottom line is that it continues to be John Cena. Just in terms of, and we'll use a Hollywood term here, box office appeal. Universal appeal. Athletic pairing. So there are a lot of reasons."

Also of note, later in the interview Rock says the scenario he dreamed of was to come back, win the WWE championship, and "give back to the business, the fans, the company, and their number one hero."

That sure sounds to me like he's looking forward to dropping the title to Cena in the main event of WrestleMania 29 on Sun., April 7, 2013, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

On the one hand, an argument could be made that Rock isn't being used as effectively as possible because he's not creating a new star, he's simply aiding an already established one. On the other, doing so makes WWE truckloads of cash and that's the name of the game, right?

Even if we don't like it (and that's not even necessarily the case here).

Plus, the idea of Rock working WrestleMania against a less established star to put them over -- like, say, a Daniel Bryan or maybe a Damien Sandow type -- sounds ludicrous when thinking of how Survivor Series 2011 played out. The booking helped create the situation but when Rock was in the ring with The Miz and R-Truth, it was obvious they hardly belonged in the same building.

He's that big a star, deserving of an opponent of a similar caliber.

In short, don't expect Rock to be putting over anyone other than a deeply established star the likes of Cena or Brock Lesnar. Okay with that?