The Rock Gives Heartfelt Tribute To Scott Hall
The Rock has paid tribute to the late, great Scott Hall and recalled a conversation between the pair before their match on WWE SmackDown in 2002.
Scott Hall sadly passed away on March 14th. The wrestling legend had been in hospital for hip surgery, but complications led to three heart attacks and Hall had to be put on life support.
On that day’s edition of Raw, WWE opened with a graphic paying homage to Hall, breaking the news that he had passed away.
Following the news of his death, tributes poured in from across the wrestling world for ‘The Bad Guy’. One of those came from Hollywood megastar and WWE icon, The Rock.
The multi-time WWE Champion recalled working with Scott Hall in 2002 after he, Hulk Hogan, and Kevin Nash had returned to the company. In the build-up to WrestleMania 18, The Rock and ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin were embroiled in a feud with the trio, which included a one-on-one encounter between Hall and ‘The People’s Champ’ on an episode of SmackDown
In a post on Instagram, alongside a clip of the match, The Rock said pro wrestling had lost a legend in Scott Hall and recounted a conversation between the pair where Hall was surprised to find out the influence he had on ‘The Great One’s career.
“Pro wrestling just lost a legend in Scott Hall.
Scott came from an era of pro wrestling where wrestlers were the biggest and toughest men on the planet.
Scott was a big man who was athletically gifted. Tough as hell. And inside that ring he was an extraordinarily talented and intense athlete.
Before my match here with Scott, I made sure to tell him how much his in ring work influenced me. When I was a rookie in wrestling, I would study Scott’s matches. His style, intensity, crispness and his excellent in ring IQ and psychology. I studied his matches, frame by frame.
He was shocked to hear this from me. We came up in different eras. He knew I was a student of the game, but had no idea he was one of the ones I studied.
He thought that was so cool and we went out there that night and lit it the fuck up inside that ring
It was my honor, brother.
And “thank you for the house”
Go rest high.”
WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan also recently paid his own tribute to Hall, saying the four-time WWE Intercontinental Champion had resurrected his career.