The Rock called out for 'blatantly lying' about MMA on Joe Rogan Experience, makes 'key mistake'
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson managed to anger MMA fans during a recent appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience after making several mistakes discussing the sport.
Johnson made his name as a wrestler in the WWE, becoming one of the promotion's biggest stars.
He's since transitioned to acting and is a leading man in Hollywood with several blockbusters to his name.
Things could've gone very differently if he'd pursued a drastic career change in the 90s.
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While chatting to Rogan, Johnson revealed the low pay in his early days as a professional wrestler almost tempted him to PRIDE Fighting Championship in Japan.
He explained while chatting to Rogan: "I started seeing all these MMA guys going over to PRIDE. At that time, I was making $150,000 dollars wrestling 235 days a year. Do the maths on that and how much you're making per match.
"We start hearing, 'These guys in PRIDE are making $250,000, $350,000, $500,000.' I thought then, 'F**k, I don't think I'm going to make it in WWE. People are booing me out of the arenas. I can't be myself.
They're telling me to f**king smile, I don't want to f**king smile. That's not who I am.'"
Johnson then claims he spoke to Ken Shamrock, who joined WWE after a spell in the UFC, about PRIDE.
He continued: "I start talking to Ken Shamrock, I start talking with Mark Kerr, 'tell me about PRIDE.'
"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.'
"I'm going to get f**ked up, knock one of my lungs loose [laughs], but if I find the right coach and train… I have this whole thing in my head.
"I'm talking to my wife at the time, 'I think this is the way to go. I can make real money while these fans are booing me for $150 grand.'"
While the story is an interesting one, MMA fans on Twitter think they know why it's completely false.
Shamrock did eventually fight in PRIDE, but it was in 2000 after he left WWE in
1999.
One person said: "Shamrock went to WWE because there was no money in MMA at this time."
Another tweeted: "The Rock trying to get cool points from Joe Rogan is sad to see."
While a third put: "It must be a wrestler thing. First it was Hulk Hogan, now this."
Daniel Marland