Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is a name that echoes throughout the wrestling world, despite his busy schedule in Hollywood. Fans have always been eager to see him return to the squared circle, and his signature move, the People’s Elbow, has been etched in the memories of fans worldwide. However, it has recently been revealed that the move was inspired by legendary Japanese wrestler, The Great Muta.
The Great Muta was known for executing a quicker version of the running elbow drop without any theatrics, which was popularized by The Rock. The People’s Elbow involved The Rock delaying the strike as he first removed his elbow pads to excite the crowd before hitting the ropes.
Although the move was criticized for being unrealistic and not impactful enough to secure a three-count, it was still loved by fans and is now regarded as an iconic move in wrestling history. The Rock had always credited The Great Muta as the inspiration for his move, and in an interview with ESPN’s Marc Raimondi, Muta revealed that The Rock admitted to copying his move.
During their conversation, Muta joked about asking The Rock for royalties, which The Rock took in stride. The two legends shared a great conversation, and The Rock will always be grateful to Muta for inspiring his iconic move.
I met him before two or three times. He actually admitted that his People’s Elbow was a mimic of my move. So I asked him for royalties. But we were joking and he didn’t pay anything, but we really had a good conversation.
Despite his busy schedule, The Rock still maintains a strong connection to the wrestling world, and his legacy continues to inspire new generations of wrestlers. The Great Muta is set to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this year, and fans agree that he definitely deserves it.
