In the latest installment of “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, a former luminary of the WWE now gracing Hollywood, unfolded an intriguing chapter from his grappling era. The Rock, who made a distinctive cameo on WWE SmackDown on September 15, delved into contemplations of transitioning to the realm of mixed martial arts (MMA) back in 1997.
“In that epoch, I was raking in $150,000, grappling 235 days annually,” divulged Johnson. “Now, crunch the numbers on that, ponder the per-match earnings. Rumors reached us, ‘Hey, those folks over at PRIDE are hauling in 250, 350, 500,’ and it struck me then, ‘Perhaps WWE isn’t my arena. The audience is showering me with boos. I’m stifled, compelled to wear a grin. I refuse to conform; it’s not my essence.'”
Johnson narrated how he explored this notion with fellow wrestlers Ken Shamrock and Mark Kerr, seeking enlightenment on PRIDE, the illustrious MMA entity. The allure of substantial remuneration devoid of a coerced smile began to ensnare him.
Also Read: Dwayne Johnson did Shoplift from 7-Eleven?
Before any seismic decisions transpired, Johnson received a call from the then-WWE honcho Vince McMahon. McMahon, oblivious to Johnson’s MMA musings, articulated an inclination to morph him into a heel and embed him in the Nation of Domination faction. This proposition emerged following Johnson’s adverse reception as a babyface.
Determined to unveil his authentic self, Johnson petitioned for two minutes of microphone time from McMahon, who reluctantly conceded one minute. In a resonant promotional address, “The Great One” metamorphosed into WWE’s most scorching heel within a month, substantiating that, at times, unscripted authenticity eclipses a rehearsed smile.
