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WWE Legend Calls “No Way in Hell” to Dwayne Johnson Revealing He Could Have Pursued MMA Career

Published 11/18/2023, 10:30 AM EST

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Dwayne Johnson is one of WWE’s most well-built and exceptional professional wrestling personalities. The 51-year-old has always been projected and seen as a dominant force that can take on anybody in the ring. Johnson recently claimed that there was a time when he was seriously thinking about an MMA career. 

Many believe that Dwayne Johnson could have actually walked down this path and become successful. Speaking at a recent podcast, a WWE legend said that Johnson wouldn’t have ever gone the MMA way. In fact, he specifically mentioned The Rock’s trajectory in WWE and called out the Brahma Bull’s claim.

Dutch Mantell exposes the lies spoken by Dwayne Johnson

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Dutch Mantell made a name for himself in WWE as the manager “Zeb Colter” for Jack Swagger. He stayed in WWE from 2013-2016. Mantell recently uploaded a video on his YouTube channel ‘Story Time with Dutch Mantell’ titled, “Dutch Mantell on The Rock’s LIES on The Joe Rogan Experience.” He called out Johnson’s claim that he almost started an MMA career. 

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Mantell said, “Thinking about going to a shoot organization is one thing. Actually training and getting in an actual fight is something else.” Mantell pointed out the gap between thinking about joining an MMA organization and the actual challenges of training and real fights in MMA. 

He further added, “I would have to say, I don’t think there’s no chance in hell that The Rock… Oh, he may think about going, but then you’ve got to actually get in there and do something, and I don’t think he would make it. I just don’t.” Mantell’s words cast serious doubts on Johnson’s competence to fight in the octagon. 

During The Joe Rogan Podcast, The Rock talked about how he almost joined MMA. He said, “I have this idea in my head ‘maybe I should train in MMA, go to PRIDE, and make real money and I don’t have to smile.’

In fact, he also claimed that Rock’s attitude towards money would have prevented him from going to MMA in the first place.

The facts surrounding The Rock’s  potential MMA career

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Naming a Russian MMA fighter Fedor Emelianenko who fought around the time, Mantell said in the same interview, “Now, I can’t imagine The Rock versus Fedor Have you ever seen that guy go? He rips those guys a new b**th**e.” Mantell also pointed out Johnson’s monetary approach that would have absolutely prevented him from leaving pro wrestling.

“I’m Gonna Earn This Respect One Way or the Other”- Dwayne Johnson Reveals His Freeing Moment That Defined His Career in a Disclosure to Joe Rogan

He claimed that in 1997 when Dwayne Johnson was allegedly contemplating MMA, the cash flow in the US MMA scene was tight. So much so, that MMA fighters tried to get a stint in pro wrestling to earn a suitable living. He revealed that Dwayne Johnson was handsomely paid for fewer dates by WWE, than most other pro wrestlers. 

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Watch This Story: 50 Years of The Rock: Dwayne Johnson’s Greatest Achievements in WWE

This factor, according to Mantell, combined with his previously mentioned lack of competence, left him with zero chance of making an MMA break. Do you agree with what Dutch Mantell said about Dwayne Johnson? Let your thoughts flow in the comments section.

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Written by:

Sheron Singh

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Oh, let me tell you about myself, I'm Sheron Singh, the WWE aficionado and person behind many of trending WWE stories at EssentiallySports. My journey into the world of suplexes and powerbombs began at the age of 6, thanks to my father and I've been hooked ever since. With a postgraduate degree in clinical psychology, I have the superpower to dissect the emotions both in and outside that squared circle at ES.
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Edited by:

Sherjeel Malik