Damian Priest is a rising star in WWE, who has been making waves on RAW since his debut at the 2021 Royal Rumble. He has teamed up with rapper Bad Bunny to feud with The Miz and John Morrison, and is expected to have a high-profile match at WrestleMania 37. But is he related to one of the biggest names in WWE history, The Rock?
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No Blood Relation Between Priest and The Rock
The short answer is no, Damian Priest is not related to The Rock by blood. The Rock, whose real name is Dwayne Johnson, is part of the famous Anoa’i family of Samoan wrestlers, which includes names like Roman Reigns, The Usos, Rikishi, Umaga, Yokozuna, and many more. Priest, whose real name is Luis Martinez, is of Puerto Rican descent, and was born in New York City. He does not have any known family ties to the wrestling business.
Similar Backgrounds and Inspirations
However, that does not mean that Priest and The Rock have nothing in common. In fact, Priest has revealed in an interview with The Irish Sun that he considers The Rock as one of his inspirations and role models in wrestling. He said:
“And The Rock – just the way he is, not just the wrestling. I came from a similar background. I came from nothing.” Priest explained that he grew up in a poor neighborhood in Puerto Rico, where he faced many challenges and hardships. He said that he learned to fight for himself and his dreams, and that he was always drawn to wrestling as a form of escape and entertainment. He said:
“I grew up in a bad neighborhood where there was a lot of violence and drugs. Wrestling was my escape from all that. It was my happy place.”
Priest also said that he admired The Rock for his charisma, his work ethic, and his success outside of wrestling. He said that he wanted to emulate The Rock’s ability to connect with the fans and entertain them with his personality and skills. He said:
“He’s just so cool and so good at what he does. He’s a great wrestler, a great actor, a great businessman. He’s someone I look up to and aspire to be like.”
Priest also revealed that The Rock is part of his Mount Rushmore of pro wrestling, along with The Undertaker, Triple H, and Shawn Michaels. He said that these four wrestlers influenced him the most in his career and helped him develop his own style and character.
A Potential Future Match?
While Priest and The Rock are not related by blood, they do share some similarities in their backgrounds, their inspirations, and their goals. Priest has shown a lot of potential and talent in WWE, and has impressed many fans and critics with his performances. He has also earned the respect and praise of some WWE legends, such as Edge and Booker T.
Could we ever see a match between Priest and The Rock in the future? It may seem unlikely, given The Rock’s busy schedule and limited appearances in WWE. However, it is not impossible, as The Rock has expressed interest in returning to WWE for one more match, possibly against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 38. If that happens, maybe Priest could be involved in some way, either as an ally or an opponent of The Rock.
Priest has said that he would love to face The Rock someday, as it would be a dream come true for him. He said:
“That would be amazing. He’s one of my idols. To share the ring with him would be an honor and a privilege.”
Whether or not Priest gets to face The Rock in the future remains to be seen. But for now, he is focused on making his mark on WWE and proving himself as one of the best wrestlers in the world.
