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Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson recently expressed his gratitude towards the NXT faction Gallus for their invaluable assistance in helping him prepare for his first real match in over a decade at WrestleMania XL.
In an ESPN feature leading up to his tag team match alongside Roman Reigns against Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins on April 6, it was disclosed that Johnson, working with WWE, utilized warehouses in Los Angeles and Hawaii as training facilities. At the Los Angeles venue, Johnson engaged in simulated matches with Gallus, consisting of Scottish trio Wolfgang and real-life brothers Mark and Joe Coffey.
Given the tag-team nature of his WrestleMania match, Johnson required three wrestlers to practice in-ring sequences and refine his timing. The training sessions were overseen by WWE Hall of Famer Michael “P.S.” Hayes, along with former NXT and WWE tag-team champion Bobby Roode, who currently serves as a producer. Veteran referee Chad Patton ensured the sessions were conducted safely, with WWE medical personnel overseeing the rehearsals.
Joe Coffey shared a photo from one of these training sessions on April 25, prompting a response from The Rock, who thanked the trio of Scots for their crucial role in preparing him for his match against Cody Rhodes.
This isn’t the first time that WWE has enlisted veterans from its developmental system to assist Johnson in preparing for major matches. In the lead-up to his WrestleMania main events with John Cena in 2011 and 2012, Johnson trained with Joe “Curtis Axel” Hennig.
While Gallus hasn’t been prominently featured on NXT television in recent months, former NXT and NXT UK Tag Team Champions Mark Coffey and Wolfgang have remained active, competing in matches on the Florida house show circuit and making occasional appearances on Main Event. The exposure to The Rock’s training regimen is sure to benefit them as they continue their careers in WWE.
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