The Rock Believes Tom Aspinall Has What It Takes to Shine in WWE

The Rock chooses reigning UFC Heavyweight kingpin Tom Aspinall as a potential star in the professional wrestling world.

The Rock Believes Tom Aspinall Has What It Takes to Shine in WWE

Tom Aspinall and The Rock (via WWE and Imagn)

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The Rock is arguably the most prolific WWE star of all time. A 10-time World Champion, he conquered the wrestling world before successfully transitioning to Hollywood in 2003, where he became the biggest blockbuster star on the planet. Beyond the ring and the big screen, he also serves as a board member for TKO, the parent company formed by the merger of WWE and UFC. 

That connection makes the close relationship between the two promotions feel natural. Now, it seems that the real-life Dwayne Johnson has been keeping an eye on which UFC fighters might succeed in professional wrestling. He recently gave a glowing assessment of a UFC star he believes could thrive in WWE if they chose to make the switch. 

Since the TKO merger in 2023, the path for crossover has been wide open, but history has shown that even elite fighters can struggle in WWE, where entertainment and performance are just as important as athletic ability. The Rock, however, doesn’t think that would be an issue for Tom Aspinall. 

Speaking in an interview with KISS EXTRA, he praised the current UFC heavyweight champion’s discipline, commitment, and adaptability, saying those traits would make him a strong addition to the WWE roster.

There’s one answer, as The Rock, which is like ‘I’ll Rock Bottom his candy a*s’, but then there’s the other answer, which is, I love Tom, I’ve got a lot of respect for him. I think he’d be a great WWE performer. He’s the kind of guy who’s just disciplined and committed, and he’s a fan, and that’s the thing with the fighters.

The Rock via KISS EXTRA

The Rock also pointed out that while many fighters have attempted to cross into WWE, not all have found success. The most notable example is Ronda Rousey, who made her debut in 2018. She initially enjoyed a strong run, competing in marquee matches at WrestleMania 34 and 35.

However, that momentum faded as her unwillingness to fully embrace storylines and the demands of the business strained the relationship. The former UFC 135lbs champion left the company after SummerSlam 2023.

Moreover, Aspinall himself has expressed interest in jumping into professional wrestling once he retires from MMA. In October 2024, Aspinall told SafestCasinoSites that he found WWE to be exciting and enjoyable, offering the thrill of performing in front of an audience without the same level of danger as MMA. 

For those unfamiliar, Aspinall is regarded as the next evolution in the heavyweight division, having already defeated nearly all of the top ten contenders. He first captured the interim heavyweight title at UFC 295 by knocking out Sergei Pavlovich, then successfully defended it against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304.

Aspinall pushed for a unification bout with Jon Jones, but the fight never materialized as Jones avoided the matchup and eventually retired. As a result, the Englishman was elevated to undisputed champion. Now, he is preparing for his first title defense against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 this October.

The Rock praises his daughter Ava for carving her own unique path in WWE without his influence

It is safe to say The Rock is incredibly proud of his daughter, WWE NXT general manager Ava, and the path she’s carving out in professional wrestling. While speaking to MTV on the red carpet for his new movie, ‘The Smashing Machine’, Johnson praised Ava’s dedication and determination to build her own legacy. 

The Rock and Ava
The Rock and Ava (Wrestling Inc)

He said he is so proud of her as she continues to make a name for herself in the family business. He also highlighted how much it means to him that she’s choosing to succeed without relying on his influence.

I am so proud of her because it’s what I did, and I love what I did, and I love wrestling, I grew up in wrestling. She was born into it, too, just like I was. But the difference is — it’s where I get emotional because she’s like, ‘I wanna do what you do… I wanna carve my own path,’ and that’s the difference, and that was a big deal when I heard that.

The Rock via MTV

For the unversed, Ava signed with WWE in 2020 but didn’t make her on-screen debut until later. Initially performing under the ring name Ava Raine, which was eventually shortened to Ava, she had her first in-ring match at NXT’s Stand & Deliver in April 2023, competing in the opening eight-person mixed tag team bout.

In January 2024, she was promoted to general manager of NXT, solidifying her role as a rising star within the company. As for The Rock, he is currently promoting The Smashing Machine, where he stars as former UFC legend Mark Kerr in Benny Safdie’s upcoming A24 biopic. 

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