Despite their actors' history as wrestling rivals, The Rock's Black Adam and John Cena's Peacemaker could fit better in the DCEU as allies rather than enemies. Many wrestling icons have made a successful jump to the big screen during or after the height of their wrestling careers. Stars such as Roddy Piper, Jesse Ventura, and Andre the Giant left their mark in the film industry, and top-tier wrestlers such as Dave Bautista, John Cena, and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson continue to rise as movie superstars in their own right.
The Rock and John Cena are arguably two of the all-time greats in the world of wrestling, with the former at the top of the famous Attitude Era, and the latter as the face of the Ruthless Aggression Era. Throughout their long and successful careers, The Rock and John Cena forged one of the WWE's most famous rivalries, which culminated in The Rock's victory over John Cena in 2013's WrestleMania XXIX. Now that Black Adam and Peacemaker have introduced both wrestlers in the DC Extended Universe, there is plenty of potential for a superpowered rematch.
It would be nothing short of exciting to see John Cena's Peacemaker try his best in a David-vs-Goliath battle against The Rock's Black Adam, but such a fight might feel too forced. There aren't many reasons for Black Adam to meet Peacemaker, as the Egyptian champion would probably run into the Suicide Squad or a member of the Justice League before he could meet Christopher Smith. Even if the circumstances were right, there would be little time for hand-to-hand combat — the main draw of their hypothetical battle — since Peacemaker's helmet weapons and gadgets wouldn't be a match for Black Adam's godlike powers. One single punch from Black Adam is enough to obliterate the strong, yet still human Peacemaker, so The Rock and John Cena's wrestling skills would simply fade into the background.
Instead of battling it out, Black Adam and Peacemaker could join forces. This would give them many more opportunities to show off their acting chops and comedy skills, with Peacemaker's dark humor possibly bouncing off Black Adam's serious demeanor. An alliance would also give them more time to develop interesting character dynamics, similar to how Peacemaker and Bloodsport developed a friendly rivalry throughout the events of The Suicide Squad before their deadly duel. The Peacemaker series displayed Christopher Smith's strong opinions on superheroes, so Black Adam's reactions to being stuck with an annoying mortal would make for even funnier moments. Finally, Peacemaker and Black Adam's joint battles could allow both actors to demonstrate the respect they have for each other without the limitations of the ring's unspoken rules.
An epic battle between The Rock's Black Adam and John Cena's Peacemaker would definitely be a sight to see, but an unlikely friendship could produce more engaging interactions. These are two larger-than-life anti-heroes that now find themselves at the lead of the current version of the DCEU, both played by two legendary wrestlers who know a thing or two about showmanship. Their crossover could be the birth of a new DCEU duo and the rekindling of a long-standing rivalry more compelling than Chris Smith's quick and gruesome death at the hands of Teth-Adam.
