Shawn Stasiak Reflects On Working With The Rock On WWE SmackDown Days After 9/11
Shawn Stasiak reflects on working with The Rock on a very special episode of WWE SmackDown.
Shawn Stasiak had a segment with The Rock on the September 13, 2001, episode of WWE SmackDown, a special live episode following the tragedy of the September 11 attacks. Both Rock and Stasiak are generational performers with wrestling in their blood.
Speaking with Nick Hausman of Haus of Wrestling, Stasiak reflected on being the then-Wile E. Coyote of the WWE and working with The Rock on an emotional night.
“I got to work with Dwayne Johnson, The Rock, that night. I was the Wile E. Coyote of the WWE, at the time, you know, the laughingstock and comical relief. It was just fun that I got to rub shoulders with Rock a little bit; I wish I would have had an opportunity to actually work a real program and, you know, develop, but the rest is history. It is what it is. It was bittersweet, you’re, on one end, you’re representing freedom and America, really. A very patriotic night, but it was depressing and sad.
“Again, lots of fear and anxiety going on, but to work with Dwayne was really special for me, too. Again, I wish we had more time or more of an opportunity of working together, but just to have that moment. I was glad to be part of it. It was a stupid, goofy character, but at least it made people laugh, and it put smiles on faces, and it eased up some of the tension that we all felt. So I was I was happy to be part of that.”
Twenty-two years later, The Rock still has a strong connection with the people, receiving a massive pop after returning on the September 15, 2023 episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown. Learn more here.
Shawn Stasiak is looking to take advantage of the fascination with “Meat” in wrestling currently and says he is in possession of ageless meat. Read more here.
