WWE Star The Rock Opens Up About Challenging Transformation for “The Smashing Machine” Role
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson recently appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and discussed his demanding transformation for his role in The Smashing Machine biopic, portraying MMA legend Mark Kerr. The transformation involved physical, emotional, and vocal changes, with Johnson having to gain over 30 pounds of muscle and work on achieving the specific muscle quality of a freestyle wrestler and MMA fighter. He described the process as requiring the use of 22 prosthetics and extensive physical training to capture the essence of Kerr’s physique and movement style. Johnson also shared insights into his conversation with director Benny Safdie, who informed him about the need to bulk up for the role, eliciting a determined response from Johnson.
In other WWE news, a new trademark for “Showdown” was recently filed by WWE for wrestling and entertainment purposes, coinciding with the announcement of an upcoming NXT vs. TNA special event on October 7th on The CW under the same name. The name change from “NXT Invasion” to “NXT Showdown” was reportedly prompted by backlash from Israeli fans due to historical sensitivities associated with the original name and date chosen for the event. The decision came in light of October 7th being the anniversary of past tragic events in Israel, leading to concerns regarding potential implications of the show’s branding in that context.
WWE also garnered attention for its programming ratings, with the A&E broadcast of WWE LFG on September 28th drawing 85,000 viewers and a 0.02 rating in the 18-49 demographic. The viewership figures for the previous week’s episode are currently undisclosed. Additionally, the WWE Greatest Moments doubleheader featured segments focusing on “Macho Man” Randy Savage and Survivor Series in the 2000s, scoring 136,000 viewers and a 0.03 rating, indicating a shift in audience engagement compared to previous episodes.
Furthermore, various updates in the WWE landscape included ticket pricing details for John Cena’s retirement match, musician Bad Bunny’s announcement of headlining the NFL Super Bowl LX halftime show, and reports of WWE’s docuseries WWE Unreal’s season two slated for a January 2026 release on Netflix. Additionally, the debut of WWE talent Penina Tuilaepa under the ring name PJ Vasa, WWE’s participation in an event at the White House, and the release of new archival videos on WWE’s YouTube channels further showcased the diverse activities within the WWE universe.