The Rock Reveals the WWE Legends He Loved Battling Most—And His Picks May Surprise You

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has gone toe-to-toe with the biggest names in wrestling history, but when asked about his all-time favorite opponents, the People’s Champion didn’t hesitate to drop some legendary names.

In an interview with Sports Illustrated, The Rock opened up about which WWE stars pushed him the hardest inside the squared circle—not just because of their star power, but because of their insane athletic pedigree.

The Rock praised Kurt Angle, calling him “an insane athlete” with a wrestling pedigree like no other. He reminded fans of Angle’s Olympic gold medal victory—famously won with a broken neck—and admitted it was “just wild” to step into the ring with someone of his caliber.

He also gave major credit to Brock Lesnar, whom he described as an unstoppable force and one of the most complete athletes he ever wrestled. “You could go anywhere in the ring with him,” The Rock said, noting Lesnar’s raw power and background in combat sports.

Finally, The Rock shouted out Booker T, calling him an “amazing athlete” and one of his favorite opponents to share the spotlight with.

For fans who grew up during the Attitude Era and beyond, these dream matches were more than just fights—they were iconic moments that defined WWE history.