What WWE’s The Rock said after his tribute to the late AEW star PAC tells its own story

WWE/AEW

The Rock paid tribute to the late AEW star PAC in a recent social media post, with reports that it left some in WWE ‘very surprised’.

PAC passed away on September 27, the day after competing at AEW All Out, with the company paying tribute to the late star on Dynamite.

Tributes came from across the professional wrestling world, with The Rock sharing his own thoughts in video form on Instagram.

With F4W Online reporting that some within WWE were “very surprised” that The Rock referenced AEW as “growing into a phenomenal wrestling company” and noted that Tony Khan is a friend, the legendary star himself has shared his thought that tell us more about the businessman and professional wrestler:

It goes beyond “WWE vs. AEW”

In a response to Clutch Wrestling covering the story of WWE’s reaction on Instagram, The Rock would state:

“You’re right, brother, and humanity matters to me. I was born into this business, and I’ve seen it all, but when one of our own passes away, I don’t care nor do I see “our competition”, I care about the wrestlers and how it affects them. I’ve been there. To me, humanity matters most.”

“Humanity matters most”

It’s easy to get lost in the emotion when a star as beloved as PAC passes away, sharing beliefs of what should or should not be done, or how they should be remembered, even if all the details are yet to emerge.

In all that, there’s a tendency to forget humanity. AEW and WWE may be businesses, but the people who work for them are all human, feeling the shock in real time, just as the fans did. Then, there’s the family of the late star, all of whom are now having to deal with a tragedy that is difficult to understand.

WWE may have been “very surprised” that The Rock mentioned AEW and Tony Khan, but that isn’t the point of what he was saying.

“A tight-knit group”

For the focus to be on The Rock’s references to AEW, Tony Khan and QT (Marshall) misses the words he says about the community of professional wrestlers that he has been a part of for much of his life. It was inspirational to hear the star share these words in a difficult time.

Indeed, his post on Instagram was shared alongside a caption which included the words:

“Despite pro wrestling being globally popular, it’s energy is still that of very unique subculture and breed of passionate performers who support each other because we all know the daily hardships and the nightly pressures of chasing squared circle dreams.”

That community may be something that many fans will no doubt recognize, but can occasionally be lost when it comes to discussions of the major companies. These friendships spread outside of whoever has signed a given star, born of not only being in the same company but also in the same profession.

The loss was felt around the world

Prior to signing with WWE in July 2012, PAC already had a well-regarded independent wrestling career that saw him compete around the globe. It’s a journey he would continue after his departure in 2018.

During his time as an independent wrestler, WWE star and AEW talent, PAC built up relationships and friendships around the world, with many of those sharing tributes after his passing.

Friends, colleagues and fans all remembered the star. The Rock referencing AEW and Tony Khan in his tribute came with honesty and respect, despite how it may have been received.

With a heavy heart.

PAC, as with many of the stars who have passed over time, will continue to be remembered, and his loss reflected upon by those who knew him or were a fan of him.

The Rock speaks of how “global professional wrestling is” and the shared DNA of those who pursue their dreams. This friendship and bond goes beyond one company, whatever that organization may be.

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• AEW
• wwe
• The Rock
• Pac

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