Dwayne Johnson Injures Elbow While Filming ‘The Smashing Machine’: ‘A Day Without Pain Is Like a Day Without Sunshine’
Dwayne Johnson got a little “smashed up” while filming his A24 mixed martial arts movie “The Smashing Machine,” the actor and professional wrestler announced in a video posted to Instagram Tuesday.
“Look at that sucker right there,” Johnson said, showing off his swelled right elbow while standing in his kitchen. “It looks like I have a cantaloupe in the bottom of my elbow. I got banged up pretty good today in our scenes, and there might be some soft tissue damage in there. That’s a lot of fluid, we’ll see. I’ve got to get it out of there first before I can get any kind of MRI.”
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It’s unclear whether production will be delayed. Variety has reached out to A24 for comment.
The actor nevertheless seemed in high spirits while detailing the gnarly injury, recalling advice from his father, the late wrestler Rocky Johnson.
“He always used to say, ‘A day without pain is like a day without sunshine, boy,'” Johnson said before asking his followers for any advice on how to treat the injury. “I’ve been banged up in the past before, I’ve had injuries before … but if you guys have any advanced advice on some great anti-inflammatories, please let me know.”
Then Johnson fumbled different pill bottles and medicines before revealing a bottle of his Teremana Tequila, the alcohol brand he launched in early 2020. Pouring himself a glass of ice-cold tequila, Johnson said, “I’ve tried them all. This might be my favorite anti-inflammatory.”
Tapping the glass to the camera, Johnson said, “Cheers. And cheers to the fuckin’ melons at the bottom of your arm. … It feels better already.”
Johnson stars as wrestling and MMA champion Mark Kerr in A24’s “The Smashing Machine,” directed by Benny Safdie. A24 has touted the film as Johnson’s “most dramatic project and role yet.” It also stars Emily Blunt as Kerr’s wife, Dawn Staples.
Speaking to Variety in December about “The Smashing Machine,” Johnson said, “I’m at a point in my career where I want to push myself in ways that I’ve not pushed myself in the past. I’m at a point in my career where I want to make films that matter, that explore a humanity and explore struggle [and] pain.”
He continued, “I’m at this point in my career where I want more. And I don’t mean I want more box office. I mean I want more humanity. And that is why Benny Safdie is the perfect, collaborative, hungry partner for me.”
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