Wrestling fans are aware of the history of rivalry between the Rock and John Cena in the WWE. After all, they figured in three Wrestlemanias.

It was an up and down series beginning at Wrestlemania 28 when the Rock teamed up with the Miz to help him win over Cena. The next year, Dwayne Johnson had to do it himself to topple Cena, while the 15-time world champion had the last say when he took care of the Rock for good in the last bout.

In a recent interview with Muscle and Fitness, Johnson reveals at some point the animation between the two prominent fighters became real, even coming to blows behind backstage.

"People might think it's not real or you run into the challenge of the potential for people to go, 'It's so real that it's not real.' But in this case it worked out very well and through all that edge and attitude and bite that we had and nearly coming to blows backstage and one night in the ring-literally we were nose-to-nose, it was any second. And through that in a crazy, weird completely unexplained way, we became great buds," The Rock revealed in the full interview found here.

He explains that it was all part of the theatrics, but their competitive spirit somehow took over. What made the situation more complex was that he did not take kindly the comments of the leader of Cenation that he was prioritizing his movie career over wrestling. The revelation is a breath of fresh air to fans who probably think that everything is staged between these two competitors. It is understandable because they are both fan favourites and they have the same approach in endearing fans. Who knows -- If the Rock hadn't left the sport, he might be taking some of the 22 championships from Cena.

Perhaps, he may just be tagging with him and forming a impeccable alliance, which is not out of the question. Johnson also gave his two cents on returning to the sport saying, "I'd love to. We just have to figure out what it could be and what the most ideal matchup would be, and who it would be with. Because I always feel like if I go back to the WWE, then it has to be bigger and greater than what I've done in the past."

With the Night of Champions looming and Cena falling unceremoniously to new whipping boy Brock Lesnar, we just might find the Rock making a surprise appearance to help his buddy out. After all, he has no new commitments in the film industry as of late -- having finished shooting parts for the "Fast and the Furious" franchise and just releasing the Brett Ratner-helmed Hercules. Let us not count on a total retirement just yet for the former star of the ring.

Watch some archive highlights of The Rock versus John Cena at Wrestlemania 29:

(Video Courtesy of: Youtube/Romain Launoy)