“I’m the Next Rock”: Former AEW Wrestler Makes a Strong Case to Be the Next Dwayne Johnson

Former AEW star and an indie darling, Joey Janela says that he is striving to become the next Dwayne Johnson. In an interview with Chris Van Vliet, the former ‘Bad Boy’ of AEW talked about his future after AEW. Jokingly, the wrestler mentioned his plans to become a Hollywood star, just like Dwayne Johnson.

Ever since his release from AEW, Joey Janela has made headlines with his amazing matches in the indie circuit. His biggest moment after AEW came when he set his leg on fire because of an attempted ‘Flaming SuperKick’. As proven time and time again, the insanity of Janela is the driving factor that makes him click with wrestling fans.

Joey Janela and other superstars joking about being ‘The Next Rock’

In an interview with Chris Van Vliet, Joey Janela humorously commented, “I’m the next Rock, that’s what they are saying, that’s what all the girls are saying… I’m gonna break into acting right now, I’m gonna be the next Rock… and I’ll become that Hollywood Hunk“.

A recent outburst of wrestlers trying their luck as the next big thing to reach for Hollywood fame is nothing new in the pro-wrestling industry. But, after the the popularity that John Cena and Dwayne Johnson have received, the number of superstars has skyrocketed.

Dwayne Johnson transitioning from pro wrestling to acting

‘The Rock’ has become synonymous with Hollywood fame in the pro-wrestling world. Whenever a conversation about shifting one’s career from wrestling to acting is concerned, The Rock is the prime example. But many forget the time and effort that he put into the art of acting and try to imagine a future with adoring fans.

READ MORE: Why is The Rock So Famous?

Starting with the humble beginnings of acting in B-films, Dwayne Johnson showed the world that he is more than just a ”hunk”. Acting in rom-coms and adventure films, he finally found his footing in the action genre. It took ‘The Great One’ almost a decade to shift into his Hollywood persona.

Following The Rock’s transition, many of his co-workers from WWE, like John Cena and Dave Bautista, also hopped on the train. But they struggled to adapt in the first few years. It wasn’t until Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1 that Bautista was a name people remembered as an actor. Also, even John Cena’s career as an actor escalated into the zenith after 2021’s Suicide Squad.

WATCH THIS STORY: From Jumanji to FnF series: The Rock’s Highest Grossing Films

Tell us about your favorite superstars who transitioned perfectly into acting in the comments below.