The Rock’s drastic weight loss leaves WWE comeback in serious doubt

On September 1, 2025, Hollywood icon and former WWE superstar Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson had fans doing double takes at the Venice Film Festival. Wearing a light blue shirt and black trousers, the 53-year-old appeared noticeably thinner than he's ever looked before, leading to an avalanche of reactions on social media - amused and complimentary, but alarmed and even upset.

This has led to speculation about his potential return to the WWE ring.

The Rock’s intentional transformation for ‘The Smashing Machine’

The leaner-ness of Johnson is not due to illness; it is a conscious bid for his latest role. As MMA legend Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine, a gritty biopic from Benny Safdie, in theaters Oct. 3. The transformation was even confirmed at the festival by the actor himself who stated that this metamorphosis was inspired by "a voice inside" telling him to step it up, that it was time to take his craft to the next level and that he needed to push the envelope toward more complex and emotionally naked performances.

Johnson reportedly lost about 60 pounds, going from around 300 lb down to around 240 lb, to match Kerr's actual fighter body. A tougher high-protein, low-sugar diet, along with an endurance-focused workout regimen instead of bulking up, led to the drastic change.Also Read: Aespa roars back with a rock-spectacle in Seoul; premieres tracks from 'Rich Man'

Fan reaction, from awe to concern for WWE comeback

Images and videos of Johnson's learner look went viral on social media. Fans poked fun, with one mimicking “The Rock is now pebble,” while others wrote that he looked “AI-generated” or “like a stranger.”

Amidst the comic relief, there was also concern, with one fan commenting: “I hope he’s not ill cause he looks slight.” The variety of reactions simply hints at how entangled Johnson's identity is with that massive frame, and how jarring the disparity appears now.

His physical daredevilness showcases a more existential readjustment to his career. Johnson, during interviews, said he felt boxed in as an action hero and wanted to demonstrate a broader range. His makeup regime has apparently taken up to four hours a day, with 13 to 14 different prosthetics affixed to his face to help him slip into the role of Mark Kerr as convincingly as possible.