Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
Before becoming an action superstar in Hollywood, Dwayne Johnson made his name in the WWE circuit and went on to become one of the iconic wrestlers of the league. Over the years, The Rock has locked horns with many legendary fighters and has come out on top numerous times to be crowned WWE champion.
Among Johnson’s memorable rivals, another wrestler-turned-actor, John Cena and Philip Jack Brooks, aka CM Punk, have given him a run for his money multiple times. ButThe Scorpion Kingactor named WWE legend and mentor Brooklyn Brawler as the toughest opponent he has ever faced to date.
Dwayne Johnson Rates Brooklyn Brawler As His Most Difficult WWE Opponent
It is common knowledge thatDwayne Johnsonis a bonafide superstar in Hollywood. The actor, though, became an icon much before his acting career when he stepped into theWWEback in 1996. Over the years, theBlack Adamstar carved a unique niche for himself and became a cult figure after winning multiple championships by overcoming some of the toughest rivals.
Among his opponents,John Cenaand Philip Jack Brooks, aka CM Punk, have given Johnson a run for his money. In fact, theJumanji 2actor’s fierce rivalry with CM Punk is one for the record books as reported in an article inThe Sportster.
Brooks ignited the fire in 2011 by insinuating that The Rock was a product of Vince MacMahon’s favoritism and scathingly called his arms ‘too short to box with God’. Johnson gave a fitting reply by defeating Punk in 2013 for the WWE title, which was marked by a lot of controversy.
“I know a special mom who I’m going to gift this to”: Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Has Another Gift for Cody Rhodes After His Brutal Beating at WWE Before WrestleMania
While spectators may think that this was the most challenging rivalry of theDCalum’s career, the actor confessed that it was not so. In a rapid-fire session withESPN, the celebrity revealed that his toughest opponent was none other than the WWE legend Steve Lombardi, aka Brooklyn Brawler.
Incidentally, it was Lombardi who initiated The Rock into the field after he beat the WWE icon in a fight in Texas in his first ever match. The legend went down memory lane in an interview during The Gathering Wrestling Convention (viaSportskeeda) and revealed the respect that Johnson had for him and for his words of advice. Quoting the actor, he said,
“Later in his book, he wrote: ‘I was blessed enough to have Steve Lombardi in my very first match. He didn’t know that I went in the corner and wrote every word he said down on a napkin and I memorized it.’ We went in the ring and he hit every high spot, every move, everything.”
It is no surprise then that Johnson rates Lombardi as the toughest opponent he has faced judging by the huge influence he has had in his professional sporting career.
Dwayne Johnson’s Rivalry With John Cena Is One For The Books
While Dwayne Johnson may have named Brooklyn Brawler as his most challenging rival, it is well known that his matchups with John Cena inside and outside the WWE ring are legendary. Johnson has spoken candidly about his duels with his fellow DC alum on many occasions in his public appearances.
Both stars who gave the WWE its name and fame were part of some intense duels that led to a rivalry in real life between them. Johnson revealed the inside details of his history with Cena onThe Late Show with Jimmy Kimmeland said,
“We had a great rivalry. In the world of wrestling, its fictionalized, its a show, but here’s the thing. Our rivalry was, it was so real. We had real problems with each other”.
“I think this was strategic by design”: Don’t Expect The Rock to Stick Long After WrestleMania 40 as His Business Partner Reveals the Brahma Bull’s Endgame
The action star also added that this fiery competition between the two celebrities developed later into a mutual respect and admiration for each other and their work. The Rock spoke fondly of his colleague Cena, saying that they were now the best of friends and that he was always rooting for him to win.
Sharanya Sankar
Senior Writer
Articles Published :1230
Sharanya Sankar, Writer for FandomwireHaving completed her Masters degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, Sharanya has a solid foundation in writing which is also one of her passions. She has worked previously with Book My show for a couple of years where she gained experience reviewing films and writing feature articles. Sharanya’s articles on film and pop culture have also been published on Film Companion, a popular film-based website. Apart from movies and pop culture, her interests include music and sports. She has contributed over 650 articles to Fandomwire so far.
