10 Fascinating WWE Royal Rumble 2013 Facts
3. Curtis Axel Helped Get Rock In Shape For His Match With Punk
Wrestlers will tell you that there's a difference between being in shape and being in "ring shape". The most fittest of the fit could mess themselves up trying to get through a wrestling match if they weren't physically prepared for the rigors of it.
Dwayne Johnson hadn't wrestled in the ten months since WrestleMania 28, and needed to re-acclimate himself to the squared circle prior to his Royal Rumble showdown with CM Punk. To help Rock, Curtis Axel (then known as Michael McGillicutty) worked extensively with him in training sessions to prepare for the comeback match. One third generation wrestler helping another.
As a measure of gratitude, Rock would put over Axel's talent and humility in a tweet after the fact. In doing so, Rock cast a bright light on an individual in Joe Hennig that was long overdue for a chance to shine.