Stamford second grader meets Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson outside WWE headquarters

A Stamford second grader got the thrill of a lifetime during his weekly visit to a sculpture outside WWE headquarters - a chance encounter with "The Rock!"

Mark Sudol

Jan 30, 2024, 10:26 PM

Updated 300 days ago

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A Stamford second grader got the thrill of a lifetime recently.
He met Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson by chance.
Darien firefighter Shane Smith says he and his son Blake go to the WWE championship belt sculpture outside the company's Stamford headquarters every Tuesday after Blake's basketball practice.
"We were here last week, and that's when the whole story happened when he met The Rock," said Smith.
Smith says while he and 7-year-old Blake were at the belt, three SUVs pulled up - and out came WWE wrestling great Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
"All the sudden, The Rock walks by and looks at Blake and he went up to him and he goes, ‘Can I get my picture with you?’ and just nice as could be. It was amazing," said Smith.
The Rock was in Stamford on the same day he joined the board of directors of TKO Group Holdings.
He also entered into a merchandise agreement with the WWE that gave him ownership of his trademark name.
"My phone's been nonstop. He took a picture with him he talked to him he said nice to meet you and then he got in his car and left. It happened so quick," said Smith.
Blake seems to be a bit of a good luck charm.
During our interview, Triple H, one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, stopped to say hello.
"He just rolled up," said Smith.
Blake's luck continued when WWE security invited Blake and his family in the lobby of their new building.
There's a huge picture of Andre the Giant that the family took pictures with.
Smith says people he knows are still talking about his son's time with The Rock.
"Great guy. Just to take 30 seconds out of his day to say hi and just making a little kid's day is amazing. Like a once in a lifetime opportunity," said Smith.