Dwayne Johnson’s association with MMA titan Mark Kerr extends far beyond his forthcoming role in The Smashing Machine.
Long before donning Kerr’s persona on screen, Johnson first crossed paths with the fighter during the nascent stages of his wrestling career in the 1990s.
On the season premiere of Variety’s Awards Circuit Podcast, Johnson reflected on meeting Kerr while still striving to establish his identity in WWE as Rocky Maivia.
"In the mid-90s, I embarked on my wrestling journey in ’96 after my football career concluded. By ’97-’98, whenever we wrestled in LA, we all trained at the same gym. That’s where I met Mark, Coleman, Kevin Randleman, Don Frye. Legends," Johnson recounted.
At the time, Johnson’s wrestling tenure was fraught with adversity. "It wasn’t going well. I was getting booed," he admitted candidly.
He fondly remembered seeking guidance from Kerr. "These guys? Competing in Pride in Japan and earning real money. I remember telling Mark, ‘Hey man, if I ever want to talk to you about this stuff, is that okay?’ He said, ‘Absolutely.’ I was a novice, and he said, ‘Good for you, kid.’"
Johnson also reflected on Kerr’s hidden struggles. "What I didn’t know then were the private battles he faced addiction, depression, shame. You see someone and assume they’re invincible. That’s the lesson appearances can be deceiving."
Johnson revealed the monumental physical transformation required to inhabit Kerr on screen. "This was the most demanding transformation of my career physical adaptation, prosthetics, vocal modulation. He has a very distinct cadence," he explained.
Collaborating with director Benny Safdie, Johnson emphasized the immersive intensity of the process. "Benny said, ‘I want to film this and never cut away from you.’ I understood immediately… If Mark gets punched, I’m feeling it too."
To authentically replicate Kerr’s wrestler physique, Johnson undertook grueling training and body sculpting. "I gained 30 pounds, but it wasn’t just weight it was about cultivating explosive, fast-twitch musculature. He’s a wrestler, not a bodybuilder," Johnson detailed.
He spent months fortifying his neck, traps, and overall frame, maintaining the physique for over three months before transitioning to voice work for Maui in Moana.
"So it was Mark Kerr and Maui. Two colossal projects," Johnson quipped, underscoring the duality of his intense transformation.
