Former WWE manager Dutch Mantell recently delved into the early friendship between Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Harvey Whippleman (Downtown Bruno) during their time in Memphis, TN.
Reflecting on the mid-90s era when The Rock wrestled as Flex Kavana in the USWA, Mantell highlighted how The Brahma Bull and Whippleman forged a strong bond.
Despite humble beginnings, their friendship blossomed, with Whippleman even offering The Rock a place to stay during challenging times, as depicted in the NBC sitcom “Young Rock.”
During an episode of the Smack Talk podcast, Mantell elaborated on Whippleman’s gesture, revealing that The Rock faced financial struggles while wrestling for Jerry Lawler’s promotion.
Grateful for Whippleman’s generosity, The Rock cherished their friendship and the support he received during those difficult days.
Recalling The Rock’s gratitude towards Whippleman, Mantell shared a heartfelt anecdote from their time in Memphis:
“He was just so broke at one time that he was talking to ‘Downtown Bruno’… And what happened, he was just so broke at one time that he was talking to ‘Downtown Bruno’ who turned into Harvey Whippleman. He was talking to him one day and he didn’t have a place to stay. And Harvey, little Bruno said, ‘Hey man, you can come stay with me.’ He went over there, and he said he saved his ass.”
Amidst reminiscing about his past, The Rock recently entertained fans in Memphis with another electrifying Rock Concert.
However, amidst the jubilant atmosphere, The People’s Champ concluded his promo on a serious note, issuing a stark warning to Cody Rhodes ahead of their impending confrontation.
As anticipation mounts for The American Nightmare’s response on RAW, the unfolding saga between The Rock and Rhodes promises to captivate audiences in the weeks to come.
