Discover Dwayne Johnson’s secret MMA ambitions while working for WWE. Learn how his frustrations and desire for authenticity led him to consider a career in mixed martial arts.
| Key Points |
|---|
| Dwayne Johnson contemplated pursuing a career in MMA while working for WWE in 1997. |
| Frustrations with WWE’s expectations and restrictions fueled Johnson’s interest in MMA. |
| Conversations with fellow wrestlers Ken Shamrock and Mark Kerr further fueled Johnson’s desire to explore MMA. |
| Vince McMahon wanted to turn Johnson into a heel after negative fan reactions. |
| Johnson’s request for microphone time to be himself led to his transformation into a popular heel character. |
In a recent podcast appearance, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson revealed his secret ambitions to pursue a career in mixed martial arts (MMA) while working for WWE in 1997. Johnson, frustrated with the expectations and restrictions imposed by WWE, started considering MMA after hearing about the significant earnings of fighters in PRIDE. Conversations with fellow wrestlers Ken Shamrock and Mark Kerr further fueled his desire to explore the world of MMA. Despite his aspirations, Johnson’s career took an unexpected turn when Vince McMahon wanted to turn him into a heel character. However, Johnson’s request for microphone time to showcase his true personality led to his transformation into a popular heel, earning him the moniker "The Great One."
Dwayne Johnson’s Secret MMA Ambitions
In a recent appearance on "The Joe Rogan Experience" podcast, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, the wrestler-turned-actor, opened up about his secret desire to pursue a career in mixed martial arts (MMA) while working for WWE in 1997.
Johnson, who had been making $150,000 wrestling 235 days a year, started considering MMA as a potential career path after hearing about the significant earnings of fighters in PRIDE, a prominent MMA organization at the time.
However, Johnson’s frustrations with WWE played a significant role in his contemplation. He expressed his dissatisfaction with the constant pressure to smile and conform to the audience’s expectations, which clashed with his authentic self.
The Rock’s interest in MMA grew as he engaged in conversations with fellow wrestlers Ken Shamrock and Mark Kerr, who provided insights into the world of PRIDE. The allure of making real money and being able to be himself without any restrictions started to take hold.
Just as Johnson was considering his next move, he received a call from Vince McMahon, the chairman of WWE at the time. McMahon expressed his intentions to turn Johnson into a heel and align him with the Nation of Domination faction. This opportunity arose after Johnson faced negative reactions from fans while performing as a babyface.
Although tempted to share his MMA aspirations with McMahon, Johnson decided to keep them to himself. Instead, he requested two minutes of microphone time to showcase his true personality. McMahon reluctantly granted him one minute.
Within a month of delivering his authentic promo, Dwayne Johnson transformed into the hottest heel in WWE, earning the moniker "The Great One." His popularity soared, and his career took an unexpected turn.
Please note: If you use any quotes from this article, kindly credit "The Joe Rogan Experience" with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
