The Rock announces WWE retirement

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson could still make a return [Courtesy]

The Rock says he publicly admitted for the first time that he has retired from wrestling.

But the Hollywood mega-star has left himself open for a return to the squared circle.

The 47-year-old has been busy promoting the new film 'Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw' recently and earlier this week was named the highest-paid actor for 2019 by Forbes - racking in a cool $124million.

However, speaking on Live with Kelly and Ryan in the States, the eight-time WWE champion admitted: "I miss wrestling. I love wrestling.

"I quietly retired from wrestling because I was lucky enough to have a wonderful career and accomplish what I wanted to accomplish.

"But there's nothing like a live crowd, live audience, live microphone."

Real name Dwayne Johnson, The Rock, a sure-fire future hall-of-famer, has come and gone from the company a number of times in recent years, with Hollywood commitments taking precedence.

His last big feud in the company came with John Cena - culminating at WrestleMania 29, while his last official match took place at WrestleMania 32 - an impromptu bout that saw him defeat Erick Rowan in just six seconds.

He also discussed his WWE debut back in 1997.

Then known as Rocky Maivia - combining the names of his grandfather and father - he starred at Madison Square Garden in an old-school Survivor Series match 22 years ago.

"I had my very first match ever in the WWE in Madison Square Garden. It was a big pay-per-view and, it's funny because I credit my journey in pro wrestling to getting me to where I am today — especially that particular night.

"Generally, your first match, you have it in a small town, small crowd, non-televised. This is Madison Square Garden, sold out, one of the biggest pay-per-views of the year, Survivor Series.

"I was in one of the main events. No one knew who I was.

There is the saying, 'If you can make it New York, you can make it anywhere' because it's the toughest crowd and they really test you, especially in the world of wrestling.

"At the 15-minute mark of my match, 22,000 people are chanting 'Rocky, Rocky, Rocky.' It just set me on a path in my career that I'll never forget."

Earlier this year Dave Bautista returned to the ring for his retirement bout against Triple H at WrestleMania 35.

Could this be the first step towards The Rock doing something similar? Almost certainly, WWE chief Vince McMahon will want him to go out with a bang, rather than quietly fading into the background.