Ken Shamrock breaks silence on major appearance by Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson in non-WWE wrestling show
Former WWE star Ken Shamrock has opened up on Dwyane "The Rock" Johnson's surprise appearance in a non-WWE show in 2020. Johnson surprised a lot of fans when he showed up via video at a TNA Wrestling event to induct Shamrock into the promotion's Hall of Fame.
The 60-year-old wrestling and mixed martial arts legend was honored by TNA Wrestling in 2020, and Johnson was the one who inducted him into the IMPACT Hall of Fame. It was a shocking appearance by The Great One since WWE and TNA didn't have the relationship they have now back then.
In an interview with Chris Van Vliet on Insight, Shamrock was asked how The People's Champion ended up inducting him into the Hall of Fame four years ago. The former NWA World Heavyweight Champion chose him because of how influential The Final Boss was in his career.
"I was being inducted into the Hall of Fame and you can only get so many [chances] to actually have somebody say something about you. I felt like The Rock was a very big opportunity for me. In pro wrestling, there was one of those things in your career where you know that one thing helped you get where you needed to go. I felt like the matches with The Rock was a huge part of bringing me into that world of wrestling and becoming relevant," Shamrock said. [H/T: chrisvanvliet.com]
The UFC Hall of Famer added that he also helped a young Rocky back then, so they formed a bond that is still strong to this day. He said:
"He was struggling. He was with The Nation [of Domination], kind of in a group of people, and no identity. I felt like when we were put together, we both got to really kind of become a figurehead in pro wrestling. I was already something in MMA, had already built that no question. But coming into this world, the fans had to identify me as something, and working with The Rock gave me that opportunity because that was the real first opportunity for me to work a program with somebody, a long working program with somebody and I felt we did a tremendous job."
Ken Shamrock and Rocky feuded with each other for the majority of 1998. Shamrock left WWE a year later, while the former Rocky Maivia became one of the biggest pro wrestlers in the world atop the Attitude Era with Stone Cold Steve Austin.
Ken Shamrock was originally called The Rock
Speaking on VladTV earlier this month, Ken Shamrock revealed that he was originally called The Rock, and it was even in his WWE contract. However, Shamrock didn't care when Dwayne Johnson wanted to use the moniker after his dreaded run as Rocky Maivia.
"I was Ken 'The Rock' Shamrock when I came out to fight. I wouldn't say [he stole], but he had no clue. Absolutely no clue that I was named The Rock. Fact is, when I came to him, I kind of joked about it that I had that carved out in my contract. I kind of laughed about it, and he was like, 'Oh, what? Really?' And I was like, 'Brother, don't worry about it, man! It's not a big deal. I don't care!''' Shamrock said. [0:31-1:02]
Ken Shamrock had a better-suited nickname in store for him. He was mostly known as The World's Most Dangerous Man in pro wrestling and mixed martial arts.