In an interesting turn of events, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has replied to a report that people within WWE were surprised by his decision to openly praise AEW while paying tribute to the late PAC.
Johnson addressed the report in the comments section of an Instagram post from Clutch Wrestling, explaining that when someone in the wrestling business passes away, he does not view people through the lens of competition between companies.
“You’re right, brother, and humanity matters to me. I was born into this business and I’ve seen it all, still when one of our own passes away — I don’t care nor do I see “our competition”, I care about the wrestlers and how it affects them. Meanwhile, i’ve been there. To me, humanity matters most.”
The response follows comments from Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, who indicated that some people within WWE were “very surprised” by the wording Johnson used in his tribute, particularly because The Rock serves on the Board of Directors of WWE parent company TKO Group Holdings.
Meltzer stated the issue was not Johnson choosing to pay tribute to PAC, but the praise he offered AEW while doing so.
“Not that he did the video, however the wording in the video, where he spoke highly of them. Essentially gave the stamp of — ‘Yeah, you guys are commendable for business and work hard, and you’re helping make wrestling,’” Meltzer commented. “That’s not the message I think the company is looking to out.”
Johnson originally posted his tribute on September 29, two days after AEW made known that PAC, real name Benjamin Satterley, had passed away at the age of 40.
During the video, Johnson offered his condolences to Satterley’s family coupled with Tony Khan, QT Marshall, the AEW locker room and those within WWE who knew and worked with PAC. He additionally spoke positively about AEW’s growth and emphasized the bond shared by people throughout professional wrestling.
WWE’s own statement following Satterley’s death did not mention AEW.
“As global as professional wrestling is, as global as WWE is, as much as AEW is growing into this phenomenal wrestling company. Wherever you’re wrestling at around the world, we’re still a incredibly tight knit unit and a tight knit group because we all share the same DNA,” Johnson said in the video.
This is what's more not the initial time Johnson has publicly spoken positively about WWE’s rival. The Rock verified that he watched AEW and declared he was happy about the company’s success because competition creates hunger within the wrestling industry, during an Instagram Live Q&A in April 2020.
Johnson became part of the TKO Board of Directors in January 2024. His most latest WWE television appearance came at Elimination Chamber in March 2025.