The Rock WrestleMania XL Interview: A new era in wrestling & becoming the Final Boss

The Rock WrestleMania XL Interview: A new era in wrestling & becoming the Final Boss | WWE on ESPN

Рет қаралды 153,834

Ай бұрын

Joe Tessitore sits down with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as they discuss how professional wrestling has evolved since the 80’s ahead of WrestleMania XL. They also discuss The Rock’s return to the ring and how it lead to his “Final Boss” persona.
#WWE #WrestleMania #TheRock
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Пікірлер: 500

@jacobartis9853 Ай бұрын

Rock pulling the curtain all the way back with this one, which i appreciate.

@emunety Ай бұрын

He has to be on record because some people can’t see through the act. And that’s dangerous for someone like Rock. It’s awesome for wrestling fans. But dangerous for the most loved man on earth.

@rafaellima8996 Ай бұрын

Yea some of you marks need to hear this more often. You get way to invested in these fake characters

@Jake-ol7hw Ай бұрын

Appreciate him admitting they messed up with the approach on this and trying to take it from Cody. Then listened to the fans for once and pivoted into something so much better.

@TheRealAhoy Ай бұрын

Literally the first thing they did. They made the wrong decision, and the first time they were asked to listen to the fans, they did. They've got a 100% record of listening to the fans 👍

@jameschou888 Ай бұрын

They make more $$$ pivoting with the fans than the original plan. Plus if they didn't it would have affected the Rock's other businesses

@jaybee4288 Ай бұрын

You say that but Roman vs the rock would have been so much better. Cody wrestled Roman last year and it was dire, awful and boring. Cody isn’t a big star and the fans that support him still live with their moms let’s be honest.

@ShivendraSrivastava94 Ай бұрын

@@jaybee4288 hatt ❤de

@Kacaroto13 Ай бұрын

@@jaybee4288😂😂😂😂

@jacobchaves3203 Ай бұрын

I love how he’s out of character here. Makes you appreciate his character even more! Love you rock!

@sctmcg Ай бұрын

Oh he's not out of character, he's just taking care of business calmly before he bleeeeeds that cry baby tonight! Mama Rhodes....I hope you're watching!!

@MrLove717 Ай бұрын

@@sctmcglmao 🤣🤣🤣🤣 the stardust cry babies are offended 😂

@anthonyrobinson3514 Ай бұрын

All those years of acting is paying off for “the final boss”!

@personaldevelopment9874 Ай бұрын

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

@mikenomics1014 Ай бұрын

@@sctmcg Couldn't have said it better myself😂

@victorarellano2345 Ай бұрын

Finally a journalist that knows pro wrestling. Meltzer gave this interview 1 star 😂😂😂

@billanddougsuck Ай бұрын

I was thinking the same. It gets very eye rolling when they interview wrestlers in a demeaning manner asking the same stupid questions, dropping the “F” bomb and just being overall quite condescending.

@Talib-904 Ай бұрын

Dave meltzer is a joke I can’t stand the guy

@danielgill2219 Ай бұрын

dave is a clown he hasnt got any clue trust me 😂😂

@jamesj760 Ай бұрын

It would of got 2 stars if it was in the Tokyo Dome.

@victorarellano2345 Ай бұрын

@@jamesj760😂😂😂

@elenagat8315 Ай бұрын

Final Boss - great heel

@diamondeyesfilms Ай бұрын

They have been absolutely blitzing us with media press this week. I’ve been devouring it all freaking day. Every time I open this app, a new interview is out.

@conspiracytheorista8988 Ай бұрын

Almost like they're getting you ready for something BIG, isn't it?

@tanzeebali1885 Ай бұрын

@@conspiracytheorista8988 yeah but this time they're going the extra mile which makes sense for the 'biggest wrestlemania' ever

@conspiracytheorista8988 Ай бұрын

@@tanzeebali1885 Oh it's going to be BIG alright... probably not the way people expect though.

@jackhughes7637 Ай бұрын

He's never looked more "Dwayne" than he does right there

@siriusb22 Ай бұрын

I think that's the point. Good spot on your part.

@DigitalTimothyski Ай бұрын

Obviously you forget the time he toned the roids down and had half a hair line in the start of his hollywood career

@siriusb22 Ай бұрын

@@DigitalTimothyski obviously you'd realise he wasn't on roids in his first run. He was just big with great genetics. Obviously a keen judgemental eye such as yourself could tell the difference between roids weightloss and natural build.

@mr.perksy Ай бұрын

Yes he was on roids in parts of his active career. But he was 270 and bulky then in his late 20’s, now at 51/52 he’s 270 ripped.

@DigitalTimothyski Ай бұрын

@@siriusb22 that’s why he had the gyno issue? Oh wait he was “predisposed” genetically to have it

@Gareth-dq3lg Ай бұрын

Best version of the rock I’ve ever seen

@AlfredFJones1776 Ай бұрын

When he puts those glasses on he instantly turns into “Dwayne” when he takes them off or wears the Sunglasses…He becomes The Rock.

@jashankailay14 Ай бұрын

the rock looks in great shape.... looking like a professional wrestler. It doesn't seem that he 's been away for 12 years got leaner and sharper, Well all hail the final boss 🔥🔥🔥

@NiGiff Ай бұрын

Yeah. Steroids work! Crazy, right?

@ray5952 Ай бұрын

Rock back with the attitude era again just like old times!

@bosspranks8349 Ай бұрын

Bring back vince russo the writer in that era

@thehmc Ай бұрын

No. Everyone else on the show is still boring and has no charisma.

@doubleM1986 Ай бұрын

Cody Rhodes vs. Reigns again. BORING!! Wrestlemania 40 sucks.

@bosspranks8349 Ай бұрын

@@tripdefect87 why not the guy wrote during attitude era best era

@redcomet0079 Ай бұрын

*THE GREAT ONE* 🗣🎙

@anthonycampos8057 Ай бұрын

Fears Stone Cold Steve Austin

@redcomet0079 Ай бұрын

@@anthonycampos8057 and yet he beat him the last time they faced each other 🤫

@anthonycampos8057 Ай бұрын

@@redcomet0079 it doesn't change the fact that Steve will always give him problems.

@redcomet0079 Ай бұрын

@@anthonycampos8057 The rock *retired him* 💀🍺

@anthonycampos8057 Ай бұрын

@@redcomet0079 he got lucky

@Viaterarising Ай бұрын

Even back in the 90's everyone knew The Rock was such a gift to the WWE we all knew he would move on to bigger and better things but he always found his way back home eventually and he already paved the way for the generation that came after him and doing it again for the generation after that! What a legendary human being!

@OzzyInSpace Ай бұрын

Rock 10.0 is what pulled me (now 40) back into the ride... And man am I along for the ride like never before. So cool.

@AndrewDaniele87 Ай бұрын

I'm 36 and started watching again when Punk came back, little did I know how crazy things were going to get haha, this is the greatest era since ruthless aggression I'm having so much fun each week

@omaryusef8269 Ай бұрын

Glad he is back.. he saved wrestling for us all.. he is the Great 1 for a reason..

@AndrewDaniele87 Ай бұрын

Ok he elevated it but it was doing really good before, the last 2 years have been excellent

@banntaylor7323 Ай бұрын

I really appreciate the fact that the interviewer knows his stuff about wrestling and that makes this interview/dialog so much better. Respect.

@Ant.Legacy6 Ай бұрын

The "F**k that" era... I like it 👍🏻

@population-_-420 Ай бұрын

No u don't

@Oldschool1943 Ай бұрын

F**k PG era

@deshawnbrayboy Ай бұрын

@@population-_-420Lol who is you?

@oooo1110 Ай бұрын

Final Boss Era

@davidlillian9973 Ай бұрын

😂🤣

@jserr9682 Ай бұрын

This is why Rock is the MAN !!!! heal or baby face HE IS THE FINAL BOSSS!!!!

@anthonycampos8057 Ай бұрын

Oh please. He wouldnt boss Stone Cold Steve Austin around.

@Frank-mt2hf Ай бұрын

@@anthonycampos8057 U meat riding Austin on every comment huh😂

@WHSuperman2005 Ай бұрын

@@anthonycampos8057Rock has way more pull now. Stone Cold can stay on his pod cast. Rock has power in the company now. Stone Cold just has a little influence.

@anthonycampos8057 Ай бұрын

@@WHSuperman2005 I'm talking about if Austin worked there.

@TheOuttaPocketVarietyShow Ай бұрын

I think the "final" in "Final Boss" is intentional and for good reason. Rock knows he only has a few of these left, between his age and his other ventures and obligations. So for him to do arguably the 2nd best work of his career at 51 years old, having to 180 pivot from what he originally thought would get over with everyone and still noticeably shine brighter than anyone else on the roster speaks VOLUMES. He's challenging Cody, Seth, and everyone else in the locker room to step their game up. No more Vi...I mean Voldemort to hold anyone back now. Pretty soon WWE will be on Netflix where there will be even more freedom. No more excuses. A 51-year-old shouldn't be outshining and getting bigger pops with the very same fans that apparently are such big fans of guys like Seth and Cody.

@JACQUEZJOHNSON23 Ай бұрын

It's the rock bruh lmao

@TheOuttaPocketVarietyShow Ай бұрын

@@JACQUEZJOHNSON23 Okay? Being a legend isn't a fail-safe to a generation that really don't know him. Especially in The Rock's case when his movies have been mid and was freshly coming off of how he handled the Hawaii situation. If he was still at the level of over that he used to be, he'd be able to take Cody Rhodes' spot in the main event. The fans didn't let it happen and by every objective metric, Cody (by his own merit) doesn't have the star power of The Rock. But because the fans respect what he's done up to this point, they ain't let it slide. Rock earned his respect with THIS audience being able to change everything on a moment's notice and do arguably the best work of his career as a heel.

@JACQUEZJOHNSON23 Ай бұрын

@@TheOuttaPocketVarietyShow like I said it's the rock

@TheRealAhoy Ай бұрын

@@TheOuttaPocketVarietyShowYou're playing fantasy manager just interchanging people into positions at your own candor. That's very fun, but it doesn't take into account real life 👍 Nobody can do some of the things The Rock can do. If people aren't getting over like he did it's not because they're failing to do stuff or not getting the chance, it's because The Rock was and is a once in a lifetime act. He doesn't need to step back... No one could ever replace him. Performers get over themselves, not because there are spots allotted for it.

@vishesh4715 Ай бұрын

@@TheOuttaPocketVarietyShowhe couldn’t take Cody’s spot in the main event is testament to Cody’s star power. Stop being a nostalgia merchant, though to the rock’s credit he is going toe to toe with the most over wrestler right now.

@ralph.aguinaldomd Ай бұрын

I'm amazed at how Dwayne's enormous ego and influence can be used to do what's best for business. This the best version of Dwayne Johnson AND The Rock we have ever seen 🔥🔥🔥

@Janthdanl Ай бұрын

You say enormous ego like every top star doesn’t have that lol

@Frank-mt2hf Ай бұрын

The best version of the rock? 😂 did you see him back in the attitude era

@resColts Ай бұрын

He clearly doesn't have an enormous ego

@mrmaclovin255 Ай бұрын

@resColts looks somebody hasn't watched his awful sitcom and hasn't seen his involvement in how Black Adam was made

@resColts Ай бұрын

@@mrmaclovin255 looks like somebody's biased

@panglimabali3902 Ай бұрын

The Rock is not Vince McMahon. When he knows, the fans not reacting what he wants to be..he's not ignoring it, but listening what the fans want, and provide us something better. Everyone loves "Final Boss" Rock now, and i thing that i loved too..the passion & dedication of him to growing "new era" of WWE right now, along with Triple H.

@irishsniper8774 Ай бұрын

Final boss in character but always the peoples champ

@Radiozo Ай бұрын

I havent watched WWE in 10 years but started catching up again about a month ago and like what I see so far

@Jeffrey-uq5te Ай бұрын

Yes The Great One

@hayatojin2886 Ай бұрын

this interviewer was great, dude knows his stuff :0

@cashmontoks Ай бұрын

I sense a new boom period for wwe on the way. The last time I felt this way was in 1997 when Steve Austin gave Vince the stunner for the first time.

@ubermensch9179 Ай бұрын

How old are you?

@faridoonts Ай бұрын

I really love how they respect each other.

@cosmicking7979 Ай бұрын

The Renaissance Era

@deanolewis3962 Ай бұрын

I'm digging this

@TheMagno619 Ай бұрын

Cringe

@KadenHartley Ай бұрын

@@TheMagno619How

@davonwilliams1481 Ай бұрын

WWE on fire 🔥🔥🔥🔥

@shanewatts5115 Ай бұрын

Even though it was a pivot, they had the foresight to change it in time and create what I consider to be the greatest storyline in pro wrestling in decades. That press conference was iconic. It really felt like they called the fans bluff and it's added more layers to the story, elevating the product to unimaginable heights. Pumped for tonight. Massive respect to The Rock, still killing it after all these years.

@MartinMottalebi Ай бұрын

Hearing the words “pro wrestling” is music to my ears ❤

@renlysotherlover294 Ай бұрын

What an interview i have so much respect for the rock and what’s he’s done with the pivot. It has been magical and i feel like we’ve all been blessed

@ec906 Ай бұрын

Rock gotta stay in boss mode

@mr.perksy Ай бұрын

They could stretch out his run and have Cody vs Rock in a future PLE

@AndrewDaniele87 Ай бұрын

@mr.perksy at mitb in front of Toronto! (I might be a bit biased of the location since I'm from there lol)

@mr.perksy Ай бұрын

@@AndrewDaniele87. Could very well be. Or Summerslam in Cleveland browns stadium

@themarinect Ай бұрын

I knew it. I doubted that it was storyline from the beginning. They pivoted into the storyline we have today. At least they listen to the fans once

@trewic8678 Ай бұрын

ur getting worked

@vaellanshanmuru6405 Ай бұрын

I knew it as soon as the rock slapped cody and turned heel lol

@MrLove717 Ай бұрын

@@trewic8678lol , these marks always get worked 😂😂😂they don't realise that the WWE only shows us what they want us to see now people think they got it all figured out 😂

@AndrewDaniele87 Ай бұрын

@MrLove717 I stopped trying to figure out what's real and what's not real, brings me back to before people told me wrestling was fake when I was 7 haha

@charkyicenhour587 Ай бұрын

Soo much fun!! Being throwing around. Bothg sides.

@nomsayinn7135 Ай бұрын

Such a great interview!

@milindmotling4294 Ай бұрын

He always Listens to the Fans The Rock sensed it and also mention about The Attitude Era which the Fans are Saying.He is Truly a Legend ❤

@Popongkee Ай бұрын

Awesome interview. Well-versed interviewer + The Final Boss

@the77th Ай бұрын

Dear Mr Johnson, if you’re reading this which I know you ABSOLUTELY ARE NOT 😂 Please interview like this EVERY SINGLE TIME! this is your most GENUINE INTERVIEW I’ve ever seen! No media training sounding politically correct answers….. not trying to sell me some bs….. just direct clearly constructed answer to great questions……. Your BEST…….. and the interviewer is AWESOME TOO

@Mrgentleguide Ай бұрын

Im a 39 year old I have never bought a PPV this is going to be a exeption the way it is going.

@JuneGirl35 Ай бұрын

Cody Rhodes is 38. 39 is considered prime age in Wrestling.

@mr.perksy Ай бұрын

You don’t need to buy a ppv. It’s on peacock or the network for like $6-$10 a month. just have to hope when the deal runs TKO doesn’t go back to the old model where we had to $60+ for a ppv.

@Mrgentleguide Ай бұрын

@@mr.perksy I live in the UK just subed to wwe network.

@AndrewDaniele87 Ай бұрын

Enjoy!

@doubleM1986 Ай бұрын

Wrestlemania 40 will be TRASH. Cody Rhodes vs. Reigns again. BORING.

@kaboom7765 Ай бұрын

Haven't watched wrestling regularly for many many years but I'm going to a watching party for wrestlemania tonight and am fully gassed. WWE has been great recently

@charkyicenhour587 Ай бұрын

Muscles!!! Rolls around the Energy!!!

@user-xr8hy6em3d Ай бұрын

I'll never forget the WWE restaurant in NYC. I was a young mother and my son was about 12 and wanted to go. I was reluctant to see Santa thrown through a table. It was hilarious and i was transformed to a fan. My son will be at WrestleMania 40 and has been an avid fan from 10 years old. Professional wrestling has been and continues to be phenomenal entertainment!

@sandiletwala3001 Ай бұрын

The fact that he appears more shows that he's way more passionate about wwe than Hollywood and honestly he and Roman are killing it together and once this run is done, I will miss it. Enjoy the Final boss while you still can cuz he may never make appearances like this again ❤🐐🐃

@timkruse9912 Ай бұрын

great questions

@BonifideGreatness Ай бұрын

Love Rocky man my all time favorites

@sofiadrosos1308 Ай бұрын

I appreciate his honesty. Good interview.

@AcidGlow Ай бұрын

Good to see the Rock back

@Marz742 Ай бұрын

The Rock turned heel & turned into Rock 10.0!!! Yesuah & we LOVE IT!!! 💙❤️❤️👍💯🔥🔥💪💪

@JackGallagher2014 Ай бұрын

Gutted it’s over he done an unbelievable job and his in ring performance was phenomenal I hope he returns one day

@ChrisTheCringe Ай бұрын

Rock is just taking a break because of his Hollywood schedule. He'll be back sometime around this year.

@billyburleson6238 Ай бұрын

He will at summerslam

@johnevans248 Ай бұрын

crazy to think how much the times have changed… back in the attitude era (when i grew up watching WWF) you’d never see all these types of interviews around wrestlemania time

@tqueen7131 Ай бұрын

This was a great interview

@kelseykjarsgaard5774 Ай бұрын

Hhh also said didn't want rock to get booed as babyface also. He also saw it as his chance to be creative heel again

@o0oStillWeRiseo0o Ай бұрын

The GREAT ONE

@anthonycampos8057 Ай бұрын

fears Stone Cold Steve Austin

@Frank-mt2hf Ай бұрын

@@anthonycampos8057 y tf would he fear him😂

@anthonycampos8057 Ай бұрын

@@Frank-mt2hf because he's his greatest rival

@o0oStillWeRiseo0o Ай бұрын

@@anthonycampos8057 💀

@sychophantt Ай бұрын

Tessitore killing it!

@creamsyrup174 Ай бұрын

Hearing him acknowledge Cody and Seth as top athletes in the world is ease to my ears. Now I can go to sleep without worrying about the final boss being real. Dwayne is insane 🙏

@AndrewDaniele87 Ай бұрын

It's crazy how believable his hate toward them has seemed as the final boss character lol

@iamm1lheadnodmusic Ай бұрын

This guy is amazing man. Great performer, like him or not. He’s fully invested in putting Cody over as the new face of the company.

@SilverSkywalker Ай бұрын

My favorite wrestler ever! I've loved the direction of WWE since HHH took over creative, and having the Rock back now is icing on the cake!

@jckorn9148 Ай бұрын

This is what all of us wanted these last decades. To a fantastic memorable Wrestlemania.

@Lj-md9ng Ай бұрын

I like the fact that he showed in this interview that this is a work for those who were threatened his daughter

@CripleMusic Ай бұрын

The f* #k that era .... I Love it 😂❤

@michaelreddington658 Ай бұрын

‘Final Boss’ version of The Rock is some of the best work he has ever done in his career.

@jackc5444 Ай бұрын

"He is The Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he" (Deuteronomy 32:4).

@sambitbehera7160 Ай бұрын

And still ❤❤❤❤❤

@jayraider521614 Ай бұрын

This is the Attitude Adjustment Era

@sixarms Ай бұрын

Final Boss is an incredible new version for The Rock

@mr.caples9707 Ай бұрын

Glad he came back. What a great ride it was.

@Grit_Szn Ай бұрын

You can see his transformation from January to this point . Lean defined Rock .

@carlosnieves5093 Ай бұрын

He's looks great physically without question. However he's carrying around more mass than he did during his 2013 championship run. At that time he clearly prepped his body for in ring work for months ahead of time and even slimmed down enough to be as quick and agile as possible. He looked great. Now at 51 with his size now, I doubt he'll be as agile. But my concern is his movement and cardio. I wanna see how he looks come night 1. He not gonna move as well as 2013 and that's fine. He's in a tag match which will help take the load off him and he can take his time. I just hope he doesn't burn himself out during the match. I'm sure he's ready to handle the match though.

@themalachshowiscomedy7615 Ай бұрын

I love ❤the Rock my favorite wrestler I can hear him all day

@luisb84 Ай бұрын

Pause 🖐🏽

@charkyicenhour587 Ай бұрын

Its Like Beating.... The Royal Rumble!!!! Fight the Champ!!!

@shawnpierce6869 Ай бұрын

Love how rock is only one who isn't afraid to say vince mccmahan

@Cyrribrae Ай бұрын

Yea... But basically to bury him. He's basically blaming Vince for things not working out.

@aero2507 Ай бұрын

Talking crap @@Cyrribrae

@SriramViswanathan Ай бұрын

I absolutely loved Rock 10.0, the FinalBoss. The one thing we needed to bring back the excitement in wwe

@SOI-wl2lo Ай бұрын

What a reinvention - absolutely love it; drawing 90s/00s fans (like me) back into the ring!! 😄

@TitansRossi Ай бұрын

I think the plan all along was to do the Rock and Roman Reigns thing, then circle back to Cody vs Roman. Great writing though.

@user-hu2bw2pq4w Ай бұрын

How was this for an interview? Absolute top draw. Substance and execution!

@user-rz1ef6qz9y Ай бұрын

Roman Reigns and Tha Rock ❤️✊️ Love from Nepal 🇳🇵

@MalsawmsangKomlau-tl4dr Ай бұрын

I love the Rock.❤❤❤❤

@mariagracielasayas2875 Ай бұрын

Excellent 💯 Rock is the GOAT

@Slice998 Ай бұрын

The Rock has made this so good that I no longer care if Cody finishes his story or not.

@christophermoultrie4343 Ай бұрын

Legendary

@charkyicenhour587 Ай бұрын

Congrats Rocky!! Giant Champion Francis!! Most Powerful Thing!! Got Tech'ed!!!! 2 Technical Punches!! Properly KO!! TKO!!

@kabilo5072 Ай бұрын

I have a feeling the final boss is just who he is

@emperorkingxavierus Ай бұрын

The rock rules 😎💯

@RobertEmanuel-ib5mq Ай бұрын

The average fan does not realise how good this man is at what he does

@olivercool2308 Ай бұрын

I love how much WWE has been on ESPN lately

@tdstewart8 Ай бұрын

Thank you for giving your true fans BLACK ADAM. Truly wish there was a sequel that involved Henry cavill superman.

@AstralWolf86 Ай бұрын

Lest go Wrestlemania 40!❤

@stevenblackwood9968 Ай бұрын

Tessitore for the win

@chrisdavis6264 Ай бұрын

He’s right Like LA Knight and AJ Styles skit involving police Like it looked real haha

@ChrisbeFoSerious Ай бұрын

Love the interview, just wish this was a post-mania pulling of the curtain

@ChrisDeVarro Ай бұрын

A magician doesn't reveal his secrets, I hate that we are seeing this interview right now. We needed this 2 to 5 years from now... God willing. Regardless tho, it is what it is.

@user-kh6yw2wi1s Ай бұрын

The rock has really saved wwe bringing back the attitude era of him and the goat stone cold no crap pg stuff that even kid's dont want