The Rock Names WWE Opponents He Loved Stepping in the Ring With

The Rock has gone head-to-head with some of the greatest names in WWE history — but a few stand out to him above the rest.

In a recent interview for Sports Illustrated, Dwayne Johnson revealed the opponents he loved wrestling the most, and it wasn’t just about big names — it was about pedigree.

When talking about his favorite in-ring rivals, The Rock immediately mentioned Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle, freak athlete Brock Lesnar, and five-time WCW Champion Booker T. Each one, according to The Great One, brought something special that made their matches unforgettable.

“I loved wrestling guys who are just insane athletes who had a pedigree at other things. And that was always Kurt Angle – insane athlete as you know, pedigree in wrestling, gold medal at the Olympics – wins the gold medal with a broken neck, it’s just wild.”

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The Rock also praised Brock Lesnar, who famously beat him at SummerSlam 2002 to become the youngest WWE Champion in history.

“Brock Lesnar was the same. Just incredible pedigree, athlete, you could go anywhere in the ring with him.”

And while Booker T often gets left out of conversations about legendary opponents, The Rock made sure to show him love too.

“You know who else was an amazing athlete, was Booker T, who I loved wrestling. Amazing athlete.”

These names weren’t just about star power — they were athletes with real credibility and unique backgrounds. For The Rock, that challenge is what made wrestling them so rewarding.

The People’s Champ clearly values opponents who bring more than just entertainment — he respects those who had to earn it outside the ring first.