Vin Diesel Says The Rock ‘Shined’ in UFC Biopic After Years of Tension

Vin Diesel just gave a rare public nod to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson—and it’s about more than just old Fast & Furious tension.

In an Instagram post, Diesel praised Johnson’s performance in The Smashing Machine, the upcoming A24 biopic about UFC legend Mark Kerr, and reflected on their past as both collaborators and rivals in Hollywood.

The post wasn’t just about The Rock. Diesel opened up about his personal relationship with Mark Kerr, calling the former UFC champion one of his earliest friends when he moved to California.

“Mark Kerr was one of the first friends I made when I moved from New York to California. We hit it off immediately… he is genuinely one of the kindest, most warm-hearted people you will ever meet.”

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Diesel also revealed that Kerr played a role in launching his action career by helping train him for his role in the first XXX movie. But what turned heads most was Diesel giving real props to The Rock—a man he’s famously clashed with over the years behind the scenes of the Fast & Furious franchise. Instead of reigniting old tension, Diesel chose respect and reflection.

“Let me celebrate Dwayne. People don’t understand what it takes to uphold a global perception every single day… What followed became one of the most dynamic pairings in cinema, two strong personalities who pushed each other and created something unforgettable.”

Diesel said Johnson fully committed to the role of Hobbs and “left an indelible mark on Universal’s character hall of fame.” His message wasn’t just about the past—they’re both in different lanes now, but Diesel made it clear he’s rooting for The Rock’s success in The Smashing Machine. He also celebrated Kerr’s long-overdue recognition, tying it to the power of storytelling:

“Watching Mark Kerr get inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame because his story was finally told was such a proud moment… Mark Kerr is so deserving of this moment… and Dwayne really did it… He brought us back in time and shined doing it.”

Diesel gave love to the film’s cast as well, shouting out Mark Coleman’s inclusion and Bas Rutten’s performance as “stellar.” Diesel gave love to the film’s cast as well, shouting out Mark Coleman’s inclusion and Bas Rutten’s performance as “stellar.”

This feels like a full-circle moment—past grudges seemingly left behind, respect given where it’s due, and recognition for a story that’s long deserved the spotlight.

Do you think this could mean a real truce between Vin Diesel and The Rock? Would you want to see them reunite on screen? Drop your take in the comments and let us know what you think of The Smashing Machine hype.