Professional wrestling executive and board member The Rock surprised members of the WWE organization with his public praise of rival promotion AEW during a tribute video released on Instagram. According to F4WOnline, the remarks caught several company figures off guard because of the specific wording used to validate the competing company’s business impact.
The Rock Praises AEW and Tony Khan in PAC Tribute Video
The controversy stems from a video published earlier this week in which The Rock—legally known as Dwayne Johnson—offered condolences following the passing of professional wrestler PAC. Within the tribute, Johnson described All Elite Wrestling as a company that is growing into a “phenomenal wrestling company” and explicitly referred to AEW President Tony Khan as his friend. Wrestling Observer Radio reporter Dave Meltzer noted that while Johnson maintains a close working relationship with TKO executive Nick Khan, the specific endorsement of a competitor surprised internal stakeholders.
“Rock and Nick Khan are close. I do not believe that has changed. Were there people in WWE who were very surprised at his wording and what he said, especially with him being on the TKO board of directors? Yes, okay. They were very surprised,” Meltzer reported on Wrestling Observer Radio. Meltzer added that while Nick Khan may have received advance notice of the video, the public stamp of approval for a rival brand’s business practices diverged from standard company messaging.
Industry Reactions and TKO Board Position Context
The timing of the video and Johnson’s role as a member of the TKO Group Holdings board of directors brought immediate scrutiny from industry observers and internal staff. Meltzer detailed that the issue was not the tribute itself, but rather the validation given to the competing promotion’s operations. “Not that he did the video, but the wording in the video, where he praised them and essentially gave the stamp of, ‘Yeah, you guys are good for business and work hard, and you’re helping make wrestling,'” Meltzer stated. “That’s not the message I think the company wants out.”
During the same address, Johnson characterized the professional wrestling industry as a “tight-knit group.” He extended condolences to everyone in the AEW locker room, alongside his colleagues within WWE who also shared a history with PAC. He concluded by thanking PAC for his contributions to the sport.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Rock’s AEW Comments
Who did The Rock pay tribute to in the Instagram video?
The Rock released the video on Instagram to send his condolences following the passing of professional wrestler PAC, thanking him for his contributions to professional wrestling.
What specific comments about AEW surprised WWE personnel?
WWE staff members were surprised by Johnson referring to AEW as a “phenomenal wrestling company” and calling AEW President Tony Khan his friend, according to Wrestling Observer Radio reporting by Dave Meltzer.
What is The Rock’s official corporate role with WWE’s parent company?
The Rock serves on the board of directors for TKO Group Holdings, the parent company that oversees WWE following its merger with UFC.
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