wrestling / News

Bret Hart Recalls Meeting Rock For the First Time, Knowing He Was Going to Be a Big Star

August 18, 2020 | Posted by Jeremy Thomas
The Rock WWE Raw 6-10-2002, Young Rock Dwayne Johnson Image Credit: WWE

In the latest episode of his Conversations With the Hitman show, Bret Hart recalled his first time meeting The Rock and when he knew Rock would be a big star. You can check out some highlights below (h/t to Wrestling Inc):

On his first time meeting Rock: “When I first met [The Rock], I met him in the dressing room. He had played with the [CFL’s Calgary] Stampeders and got cut. And I think Owen was one of the first guys to talk to him about [pro] wrestling being an alternative, like, maybe being an answer. Like, ‘why don’t you do wrestling?'”

On seeing Rock wrestle for the first time: “And all I know is when he started for WWE at the time, I had been off when he started. I had a hiatus at the time. I came back and I remember walking out, and this was in England, in London, and I remember watching Rock wrestle. And he was doing dropkicks. I remember watching him and he was doing everything. He was like a natural born athlete, he knew all the wrestling stuff, all the basic stuff. He had lots of charisma in his comeback. I remember telling somebody, ‘five years from now, he will be the biggest star in wrestling.’ And I knew it.”

On his liking Rock as a person: “He was a guy who grew up in the business, much like I did. His dad was a wrestler and he was, I’m sure he still is now, one of the nicest guys you’ll ever know. And I don’t ever remember him not being a nice guy, just a total class act. He’s a gentleman and a fun guy. I remember he would sing in the dressing room when he was getting changed, and he would sing, and whistle, and stuff like that. You could tell he was talented, and I always liked Dwayne.”