Joe Rogan Reacts to Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s Shocking Transformation to Play Mark Kerr

Dwayne Johnson's body transformation to play former heavyweight Mark Kerr leaves Joe Rogan shocked.

Joe Rogan Reacts to Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s Shocking Transformation to Play Mark Kerr

Joe Rogan reacts to Dwayne Johnson's physique to play Mark Kerr (via New York Times, People)

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Many actors undergo rigorous training and adhere to strict diets to effectively portray their roles and deliver genuine performances. However, sometimes it takes a toll on their health and leaves them with lifelong health problems. Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has recently played UFC heavyweight legend Mark Kerr in A24’s The Smashing Machine, and his transformation left UFC commentator Joe Rogan shocked.

For the unversed, Kerr was one of the most dominant fighters during the early years of mixed martial arts. He was the winner of the UFC 14 and UFC 15 tournaments in 1997 and was also a four-time ADCC World Champion. Apart from this, he was also a World Vale Tudo Championship winner and competed in Pride FC during its peak.

However, his legacy was overshadowed by the use of painkillers and their subsequent abuse, which led to his downfall. Kerr’s story was defined by both greatness inside the cage and struggles outside of it and this legacy became the foundation for Johnson’s transformation in the role.

The UFC commentator was seen talking about the new movie during a Joe Rogan Experience episode with former heavyweight competitor, Brendan Schaub. However, while talking about steroid use in the UFC, the topic quickly diverted to Johnson’s physique and transformation for the movie. Schaub believed that Johnson had to take more steroids to bulk up and do justice to the role of the former champion.

How about The Rock had to get on more steroids to play him in a biopic? That’s how big Mark Kerr was. Like, ‘Hey Rock, we need you to play Mark Kerr. We need you to get on more steroids.

Brendan Schaub via Joe Rogan Experience

However, Rogan believed that his recent outing in a more petite frame illustrates the downside of using those substances. He also recognized the actor’s age as a vital role in the sudden weight loss. The podcast host believed that after a certain age, excessive use of steroids takes a significant toll on an individual’s health.

Rock lost a lot of weight. He lost a lot of weight. Have you seen him now? He slimmed down. I bet getting that big probably felt like sh*t. He is like 53.

Joe Rogan via The Joe Rogan Experience

While the WWE superstar turned actor has always denied being on steroids, there has been much controversy regarding his mammoth physique. Rogan has, on multiple instances, accused Johnson of taking steroids and has urged him to come clean.

However, The Rock has consistently denied claims of taking steroids in his later life and has been a strong advocate for clean training and hard work. With critics calling it Johnson’s best work to date, the discussion emphasized that this was more than an actor changing shape. It was about embodying a legend’s turbulent journey.

Joe Rogan and Dwayne Johnson talk about social media culture

The UFC has seen countless crossover moments between combat sports and mainstream entertainment, and few figures embody that blend more than Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. He has also remained tied to the fight world through his training and friendships. That connection took center stage when he sat down with Joe Rogan and discussed discipline and the impact of social media.

Joe Rogan and Dwayne Johnson on JRE
Joe Rogan and Dwayne Johnson on JRE (via YouTube)

During an episode of the Joe Rogan Experience, Johnson spoke about toxic social media culture acting as motivation for training. Rogan joined him in his distaste for modern social media and discussed how people make assumptions without understanding the facts. However, he also believed that there is a good side to it, as it allows people to connect and learn about current world events easily.

These people that you don’t know chiming in about everything. The good part of that is that there is a sharing of ideas, and there is a way of communicating that never existed before, and people learning so much more about things than ever before.

Joe Rogan via The Joe Rogan Experience

While supporting Johnson’s view, Rogan also offered a broader perspective by pointing out that social media is not entirely destructive. He emphasized that the platforms also connect people, spread inspiration, and allow athletes to share their stories directly with fans. Together, their conversation highlighted the dual nature of social media.

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