The Rock Heavily Criticized For Interview Statements

The Rock came onto the wrestling scene in the late ’90s and changed the entire world of wrestling.

After The Rock’s football career didn’t work out, he joined WWE. He followed in his family’s footsteps and entered the professional wrestling industry.

After starting with $7 in his pocket, he eventually became the people’s champion we all know today.

On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer called out The Rock in a recent interview with Joe Rogan. He stretched the truth a bit and said the Great One “channeled Hulk Hogan” for the interview because he didn’t remember the story accurately.

“The Rock was channeling Hulk Hogan … he said in 1997, he was thinking very seriously, and he was very close to signing with PRIDE Fighting Championships … that’s what he said in 1997.

He said he was making $150,000 a year as a pro wrestler, and he was hanging out in Southern California and he found out that these fighters in PRIDE were making $250k per fight,

and he figured it was better than wrestling 5 nights a week and making not nearly the money — that’s what he said, that’s what he claimed.

“I am … I don’t know. I’m trying to think if the PRIDE fighters were making that kind of money, and I don’t think any of them were.

In the 2000s, yes, but he said he was friends with Ken Shamrock, which he was friends with Ken Shamrock, they worked together in WWE, I remember that.”

Dave Meltzer went on to say that, “it kinda floored me, it was kinda like when Hulk Hogan used to say he was one of the original stars of PRIDE …

he used to say his New Japan matches were shoots, and he fought in PRIDE in Japan, but yeah … it’s interesting that Dwayne said that.”

The idea of ​​The Rock leaving pro wrestling and returning to mixed martial arts in 1997 is an interesting one.

But even if The Rock had this idea at the time, there’s a good chance he made a mistake in telling this story over the years.

The Rock made his WWE debut as Rocky Maivia at the 1996 Survivor Series. He quickly rose to prominence and became one of the most prominent figures in wrestling.

In 1997, The Rock quickly established himself on the mid-card scene and won his Intercontinental Championship.

Despite his initial popularity, fans began to resent the pressure and overly positive portrayal of his character. A short time later, he changed his tune and told fans his true feelings as The Rock.

We’ll never know what would have happened if The Rock had decided to enter the world of MMA before his WWE career began, but there’s no doubt that he was glad he stayed with Vince McMahon.

It’s hard to imagine how the world of professional wrestling would be different today if one of the most influential talents of all time stepped into the ring and made money in MMA with PRIDE in 1997.

If anything, the validity of The Rock’s story doesn’t seem to mesh well with his historical recollection, especially considering the PRIDE fighter’s pay cut.

We’ll see if The Rock says anything about it in the future, but there’s no doubt that he changed his history by staying in WWE.