Vin Diesel Praises Dwayne Johnson And Mark Kerr Following Release Of ‘The Smashing Machine’
Vin Diesel took to social media on Wednesday to share a heartfelt tribute to both MMA legend Mark Kerr and actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The post comes following the release of the biographical drama The Smashing Machine, in which Johnson portrays Kerr. Diesel used the opportunity to highlight his longstanding friendship with Kerr and to publicly praise Johnson’s performance, signaling a positive turn in the relationship between the two action stars.
In his post, Diesel revealed a personal connection to the subject of the film that many fans were unaware of. He explained that Kerr was instrumental in the early stages of his own career as an action star, dating back to his move to California.
“I wanted to take a moment to talk about The Smashing Machine,” Diesel wrote. “What most people don’t realize is that Mark Kerr was one of the first friends I made when I moved from New York to California. We hit it off immediately, and the reason is simple: he is genuinely one of the kindest, most warm-hearted people you will ever meet. He actually trained me for the first XXX, so in a beautiful way, he was there at the beginning of my action career. That’s the kind of friend he’s been from day one.”
“Dwayne Really Did It”
Diesel also dedicated a significant portion of his message to Dwayne Johnson. The two actors have had a well-documented history of professional tension, but Diesel’s comments focused entirely on their successful collaboration and Johnson’s recent work. He shared an anecdote about how a fan’s suggestion originally led to Johnson joining the Fast & Furious franchise.
“And let me celebrate Dwayne,” Diesel wrote. “People don’t understand what it takes to uphold a global perception every single day. I remember asking our global family who they’d love to see me work with, and a woman named Jan left a comment saying her dream was for me to collaborate with Dwayne. What followed became one of the most dynamic pairings in cinema, two strong personalities who pushed each other and created something unforgettable. When he stepped into Hobbs, he did it with full commitment and left an indelible mark on Universal’s character hall of fame.”
Regarding Johnson’s portrayal of Kerr in the new A24 film, Diesel offered high praise, stating, “Mark Kerr is so deserving of this moment… and Dwayne really did it… He brought us back in time and shined doing it.”
Hall Of Fame Recognition
Diesel concluded his post by reflecting on the broader impact of the film, specifically noting Mark Kerr’s recent induction into the UFC Hall of Fame. He expressed pride in seeing his friend’s story finally shared with a wider audience and acknowledged the contributions of other MMA figures in the movie, such as Mark Coleman and Bas Rutten.
“Speaking of hall of fame… watching Mark Kerr get inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame because his story was finally told was such a proud moment,” Diesel wrote. “This is a man who would often tell me about the kids he was teaching to wrestle, to fight, to take ownership of their lives usually for no money at all. The fact that Mark Coleman was included in the film was such a treat, and Bas Rutten’s performance was stellar.”
The Smashing Machine, directed by Benny Safdie, was released in theaters on October 3, 2025. Mark Kerr was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame earlier in the summer of 2025.
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