Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is set to take on one of his most personal and fitting roles in the upcoming film "The Smashing Machine." This biopic delves into the life of Mark Kerr, a pioneering mixed martial arts and UFC fighter, during his rise to fame in the late 1990s.
Dwayne Johnson, also known as "The Rock"
Directed by Benny Safdie, the film chronicles a four-year period in Kerr's life, highlighting his struggles with addiction and a toxic relationship alongside his professional achievements. "The Smashing Machine" draws inspiration from the 2002 HBO documentary of the same name.
The True Story Behind the Film
"The Smashing Machine" is set between 1997 and 2000, capturing Mark Kerr’s most significant fights in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and international tournaments held in Brazil and Japan. One of Kerr's initial fights took place in Brazil in 1997, and this event has been recreated for the film. Johnson’s portrayal of Kerr is seen emerging from a striking pyramid amidst smoke, mirroring the actual event. Kerr himself found the re-creation amusing.
Kerr received his nickname, "The Smashing Machine," because of his fierce abilities inside the ring following his success at the World Vale Tudo Championship 3 in Brazil, according to the UFC. Kerr made his UFC debut at UFC 14: Showdown on July 27, 1997, in Birmingham, Alabama. After defeating Moti Horenstein and Dan Bobish, he won the heavyweight tournament, according to UFC records. In October of the same year, Kerr secured his second consecutive UFC heavyweight tournament title at the Collision Course event on October 17, 1997.
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Mark Kerr (L) reacts after winning the heavyweight tournament during the UFC 14 event inside Boutwell Auditorium on July 27, 1997 in Birmingham, Alabama. (R) Dwayne Johnson in "The Smashing Machine."
Following his UFC victories, Kerr transitioned to Japan to compete in the Pride Fighting Championships. According to the UFC, Kerr won six of his first eight fights in Pride as a heavyweight. However, losses, depicted in the movie, triggered health struggles. A fight against Igor Vovchanchyn, which ended in a no-contest, particularly affected him.
"That was the straw that literally set me over the top," Kerr told Johnson in a joint interview for Sports Illustrated.
Kerr's Personal Struggles
The film also explores Kerr's struggles with addiction, as he became reliant on painkillers prescribed by a doctor. He began using opioids regularly to numb the blows in the ring and continue fighting. Kerr described taking opiates as a “shortcut” to mask the pain and maintain his performance levels.
“The two components that came together are the expectation that I’m supposed to perform at this level regardless,” he said in a 2024 interview. “And then the training to perform at that level. And when those two came together, it just created a storm where I’m like, I don’t have time.”
“The Smashing Machine” highlights the consequences of his drug use, including an overdose that left him unresponsive. In real life, Kerr overdosed twice, including in 1999. His recovery, which involved checking himself into rehab, is also portrayed in the film. Kerr confirmed in an October 2025 interview that he has been sober for seven years.
A Tumultuous Relationship
The film also delves into Kerr's relationship with his girlfriend-turned-wife, Dawn. The couple often had strained conversations and heated arguments. The film depicts a real-life moment when Dawn attempted to kill herself after Mark told her to leave their home. Kerr has spoken about Staples' struggles and his own selfishness during that time.
“What I was doing at the time was incredibly selfish. Dawn just wanted my love. She wanted to feel important. The only thing important at the time was me fighting, then the second thing that came in importance was the drug and alcohol use,” Kerr said.
They married, had a son named Bryce, and divorced in 2006. Kerr expressed that watching the film was therapeutic, helping him see his part in the difficulties and the impact on those around him, especially Dawn.
Mark Kerr and Dawn Staples-Kerr
He expressed that both of them are different people now and their priority in life is their “beautiful 20-year-old son” and “to be the best parents we can to him.”
Here's a summary of Mark Kerr's UFC achievements:
| Achievement | Details |
|---|---|
| UFC 14 Heavyweight Tournament Winner | Defeated Moti Horenstein and Dan Bobish |
| Two-Time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Titleholder | Won Collision Course event on Oct. 17, 1997 |
| Pride Fighting Championships | Won six of his first eight fights as a heavyweight |
Johnson's Transformation and UFC Fandom
Dwayne Johnson has admitted that he was "really scared" to take on the role of Mark Kerr. He underwent a significant transformation, spending hours in makeup to become the character. Johnson has always been a big fan of MMA and the UFC.
Johnson explained that Mark Kerr’s life represents struggles with pressure, pain, and addiction. He highlighted Kerr’s ability to discuss his feelings and emotions, making him a unique individual.
Benny Safdie is “just brilliant in a way where, I said his superpower is childlike imagination. With DJ, he was just a sponge, he would just soak in everything around him, our conversations about all these different aspects of what was going on at that time,” added Kerr. “And my conversations with Emily, I call her an ’emotional detective,’ cause she just digs for these nuggets and pulls them out.
Johnson wrestled for the WWF full-time for eight years before pursuing an acting career. After accepting an athletic scholarship to play football at the University of Miami, Johnson was a member of the 1991 national championship team but was largely a backup player. Despite aspirations to play professional football, he went undrafted in the 1995 NFL draft, and briefly signed with the Calgary Stampeders before being cut in his first season.
In 1996, his father assisted in helping him secure a contract with the WWF. Johnson quickly rose to global prominence, aided by a gimmick he employed as a charismatic trash talker. Johnson left the WWE in 2004; he returned in 2011 as a part-time performer until 2013 and made sporadic appearances from thereon until his retirement in 2019; in 2023, he returned once again on a part-time basis. A 10-time world champion-including the promotion's first of African-American descent-he is also a two-time Intercontinental Champion, a five-time Tag Team Champion, the 2000 Royal Rumble winner, and WWE's sixth Triple Crown champion.
Johnson's first film role was in The Mummy Returns (2001). The next year, he played his first leading role in the action fantasy film The Scorpion King. He has since starred in family films The Game Plan (2007), Race to Witch Mountain (2009), Tooth Fairy (2010), Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017), Jumanji: The Next Level (2019), and Jungle Cruise (2021), and the action films Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012), G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013), Hercules (2014), Skyscraper (2018), San Andreas (2015) and Rampage (2018). He also starred in the action comedy films Get Smart (2008), Central Intelligence (2016), Baywatch (2017), and Red Notice (2021). Johnson produced and starred in the HBO comedy-drama series Ballers (2015-2019) and the autobiographical sitcom Young Rock (2021-2023).