Dwayne Johnson gets into verbal altercation with WWE fan at Hall of Fame ceremony, Internet calls it 'scripted'

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA: The 2024 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony was supposed to be a night of celebration and honor for the latest inductees, including legendary figures like Lia Maivia and Muhammad Ali.

However, the event took an unexpected turn when Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who was honoring his late grandmother Maivia, found himself engaged in a verbal altercation with a fan, TMZ reported. 

The Rock gets into verbal altercation after paying tribute to late grandmother

The incident unfolded shortly after Johnson paid tribute to his late grandmother, Maivia, who was among this year's inductees. As the Hollywood star made his way backstage, a fan's remarks caught his attention, prompting a heated exchange captured on video.

Social media footage shows The Rock abruptly stopping, turning towards the fan, and demanding to know what was said. The fan's initial comment remains unclear, but the exchange escalated quickly.

The Rock appeared to issue a warning, saying, "That's what I thought," before addressing the fan with an expletive-filled remark, "Watch your f***ing mouth." The confrontation left the usually cheerful actor with a serious expression as he walked away.

Dwayne Johnson appearance at WWE Hall of Fame ceremony held deeper significance

The Rock's appearance at the Hall of Fame ceremony held deeper significance beyond the confrontation. Alongside his grandmother, other notable figures such as Ali, wrestling icons like Thunderbolt Patterson, and the dynamic duo of Mike Rotunda and Barry Windham, collectively known as the US Express, were also honored.

In a heartfelt moment, Lonnie, the late wife of Ali, recounted how The Rock sought Ali's approval in 1998 to adopt the title "The People's Champ", synonymous with Ali's legacy. Following this revelation, she presented Johnson with the prestigious The People's Championship belt.

Internet skeptical over The Rock's verbal altercation with fan

The internet quickly was abuzz after a video of the altercation went viral, with netizens questioning whether it was an orchestrated stunt. One Facebook user commented, "I see the planted fan was a hit."

Another user remarked, "Audience plant is an old trick." One person suggested, "It was a planted fan or just an 'Industry plant' so to speak." Another individual described it as "Great theater."

One person asserted, "Scripted. Had a still cam person, video person, etc." Another wrote, "They set these interactions with fans up before the event happens...." One individual said, "Staged. He paid that man ...."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.